The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-10-19
STRIKERS 70 ACCEPT RAISE
WITH TWO PROVISIONS MADE.
Must BE No Sliding ScaIe-ScaIe to
Extend TO Next ApriI-WiII Extend
Strike Unless Accepted by Mine
Operators.

Scranton, Pa, Oct l5.-The anthra-
cite coal miners now on strike. after a
two days convention, have decided to ac-
ccpt the 10 per cent net increase OF wages
offered by the mine-owners providing they
will continue the payment of the advance
until next April and will abolish the slid
ing scale. If the operators consider the
proposition unacceptable the miners are
willing to arbitrate the questions at issue.
They also decided to continue the strike
until the operators agree to the conven-
TONS proposition The resolution is as
follows:
eve, your committee, respectfully sub
NIT the following preamble and resolu-
tons for your considerations:
Whereas, The anthracite coal operators
have posted notices offering an advance of
10 per cent over wages formerly paid and
have signifed their willingness to adjust
grievances with their employees;
Whereas, They have failed to specify
the length of time this advance would
remain in force, and have also failed to
abolish the sliding scale method of de-
eN'iiAiiiiiS NoStos VIC NOulQ
That this convention accept an adj
vance of 10 per cent providing the oper-
ators will continue its payment until April
], 1901, and will abolish the sliding scale
in the Lehigh and Schuylkill regions, the
scale of wages in the two last-named dis
tiicts to remain stationary at 10 per cent
above the present basis price, and that
the companies will agree to adjust other
grievances complained of with commit
tees of their own employees
should this proposition be unacceptable
to the operators, we recommend that the
convention propose that all questions at
issue be submitted to fair and impartial
board of arbitration.
I'VE would further recommend that un-
der no circumstances whatever shall
there be a resumption of work at any of
the colieries until the operators signify
their acceptance of this proposition and
you are notified officially that the strike
is ended, and all return to work in a body
on the same day"
Judging by the unanimity of the min
ers in accepting the above resolutions
and by the determined stand taken by
the operators, it is generally believed shat
a long contest between the strikers and
the mine-owners is not unlikely There
was great enthusiasm in the convention
when the contemporaries to the oper-
ators was carried and three cheers were
given for President Mitchell. The reso-
lutions were drafted by a committee of l3
appointed at the morning session, of which
tha national Il,
Later.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. ia canvass
of the operators of the Wyoming valley
today shows there is considerable OPP
position to granting the miners any
more concessions than those outlined
in the original offer, namely: 10 per
cent increase without any conditions.
The individual operators especially are
opposed to tieing themselves up to any
agreement. One operator said the on
ly way the strike can be settled is for
the strikers to accept the 10 per cent
without any provisions.
Superintendent Charles of the Lee
high Coal company said: Not much
dependence can be placed on the men
when it comes to arbitration. This
was shown in the case of Mr.. Markle.
He favored arbitration, but at the behest
of Mr.. Mitchell his miners repudiated
their agreement with their employer.
4 The demand of the strikers that the
operators should agee to pay the in
creased wages for fixed period is too
arbitrary, and the operators will hardly
agree to it,"
! Despite the views of the operators
/ the impression here is that the strike
will be ended this week
= Shamokin, Pa, Oct. lathe terms
of the Scranton convention are not ac-
ceptable to operators and representa-
tives of coal carrying companies in this
place and Mount Carme The Read
ing officials do not think the sliding
scale will be abolished by the company.
while operators are averse to signing
a contract binding them to pay the 10
per cent increase until April. No or
ders have been received as yet from
headquarters of any companies in
structing superintendent to resume
work tomorrow. Miners say they will
not go to work until officially advised
by President Mitchell.