The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-10
MINERS HOPE
The STRIKE MAY &
BE AYERTED.
Action Of the Executive Board Of the
United Mine Workers Looks
Like o Settlement
WILL Be AGREED UPON.
Over a Million Affected by the Trou-
ble-Will Await for a Response
From the Operators. Z

u d - r. ~ I'd.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Sept. s.-The
national executive board of the United
Mine Workers OF America adjourned
sine die to-day. without promulgating
a formal endorsement OF the applIca-
tlon for the miners In the anthracite
district for permission to strike. At
the close Of the session. President John
Mitchell said: There Is practically no
change in the situation since last night.
II the operators don't meet our de-
mands within given time the strike
will be ordered upon the cdorsement
OF Secretary Wilson and myself. :.
Whether the time allowed Is 1--WE
days or longer, u decline to say AS
set out In our statement OF yesterday,
influences are at work to bring about
settlement without ordering the men
to lay down their tools. Imust again
decline to say what these Influences
are, for the reason that making this
information public would at once do
stroy their effectiveness.
No Political Influence at Work.
"If there are any political influences
at work I know othing OF them. and I
don't think 1t has come to the knowl-
edge Of the board members. 1twould
be very bad policy for the national
officers OF the mine workers to ask the
Interccssion OF any political party. and
this most certainly has not been done.
We are simply trying to get for the
miners OF our organization and those
not affiliated with US honest wages"
AS soon as he arrived at his office
this morning. President Mitchell sent
word to the telegraph offices that II any
messages had been received for him
during the night they delivered at his
office. After waiting reasonable
time for response, the board was
called to order. No messages came.
and this is taken as an Indication that
negotiations are still pending. Up to
the time the members OF the board left
the office OF the president there had
been no communication with the lead
,crs OF the anthracite districts. Summed
UP. the situation. according to the ad-
missions OF President Mitchell is this:
Negotiations are Undoubtedly on
foot for 4 settlement OF the differences
without n strike. So lone as these
are pending. the miners will not strike.
for the reason that the operators
would tc left Ioopholc to escape from
the position they How occupy by saying
the men had gone out at time when
there was u chance that an amicabie
settlement might have been brought
about"
Sympathy for. the Miners.
Public sympathy Is an absolute me-
cessity In so far as the miners are
concerned a delay. until 1t Is seen
tha, their wages will not be raised by
the operators without q fight; that their
grievance upon the powder question,
wherein they complain that they are
paying 81 more per, keg at pluck me-
stores than Is asked In the open mar
ket: that they are not allowed 4 check
weIghman at the tipple ana must accept
the weights OF companies that exact
from them more than $500 pounds for
4 ton which is sold on y basis OF 2.24O
pounds 10 the ton, is bound to start
q sympathetic movement that will
reach out the entire lepgth and breadth
OF the country.
Approximately 100000 men are ex-
pectcd to go out at the bidding OF the
executive board. There are among the
miners men who viii provide for them
selves through n short. sharp decisive
fight, but mon who are working ut
wages ranging from 80 cents to 81 s5
per day. and cannot provide fora per-
lod OF idleness. hence the organization
Is met with the burden Of taking care
OF not less than half million people
during the struggle.
Waiting for Statement.
Owing to these circumstances. the
members OF the board admit they must
wait until the last ray Of hope for n
settlement without inviting n situation
that may result In the loss Of lie, de-
struction OF property and the temporary
paralysis OF innumerable industries. Is
expected.
1t has been evident from the first
session of tho executive board that
unless there was n change In the att-
tude OF the operator and nn inclination
to at lcast recognize the officers OF the
mine workers union. and agree to q
wage scale, strike would be endorsed.
This same position was maintained
throughout the deliberations Of the
board. and this left at the time OF ad-
journment and doubt still exists, but
these men who have been In session
are needed in the :arIous parts Of the
country for the business OF the organ
ization, and In order to simplify. mat
ters, the declaration OF strike Is left
In the hands OF President Mitchell and
Gorrntory yVItsnp '#Ha .H.sa#