New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-06
HOPE OF A SETTLEMENT.
LNDITIDUAL OPERATORS TO
OFFER INCREASED WAGES
EFFECT OF THE CONTEMPLATED AZ
IION IN DOUBT-lIANY THINK IT
WILL BREAK THE STRIKE

Tilkesbarre. Penn Oct 5-Th4 time has A..
rived in the coal strike when it VIII airr@r a.A
quickly or drag along probably for rpauv
months and ir is for TIE strikers 70 decide which
II is to be What is practically = general orsr
OF Io per cent increase in net earnings win ha
made 70 the men Tomorrow This oTer has al
ready been made by the PhiIadel7hia and Read
ing. the Lehigh and Wilkesbarra the Delaware
LackawanDs and Western. and the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company Tomorrow the most prom
1neut individual operators VIII follow suit Many
OF the miners have said they would ba satisfied
with an increase Of 10 per cent and were eon-
tent 70 waive recognition Of the union Tor the
present President Nichols of the Frs, DIS
trict. which is composed of Luzzrue and L.acsa-
wanna counties and hes $4,000 miners. said last
night that the men would ne satisfied with three
concessions-sn increase of 10 per cent. rsauc-
tiou Of the price Of powder - 81 - q key and
pay every two weeks The big companies have
granted all of these except The last. and the
notices posted by the individual operators ~
morrow VIII, IT is expected reduce powder %
81 70 and give the reu an increase of 10 par
cent IN their net earnings As for the pay every
two weeks, the strikers can have thar IL they d.
sire tt- The seui-monthIy payment bfu Is a law
and can be enforced without strike arbitrs-
ton II is understood that many companies are
willing 70 pay fortnightiy II their employees
want II
So. under the conditions which VIII exist to
morrow all viii be granted thar the strikers
have said they desire. Opinions difer as TO
what viii be done Many say that the decision
Of the Individual operators 10 advance wages IN
the one thing required TO bring the strikers and
the operators-rogether. They do not give much
consideration 70 the fact that the susquehauna
the Pennsylvania and the Delaware and Hud-
son companies have not issued notices and say
these companies would quickly do as the others
have done il they saw any prospect OF a settle
meut Other students Of the situation declare
that the strikers have tied the region I'd 50
thoroughly that they are now eager to prolong
the strike in the hope Of getting more conces-
sions out OF the operators. Inquiries OF the min
ing officials make it evident that the companies
viii offer no more except as a iast extremity.
The general opinion here Is that II viii BE- wise
for the miners TO accept what Is now offered To
them. Already a number are anxious 70 return
10 work and there have been several applica-
tions 10 the local unions for relief These ap-
peals for aid win increase rapidly in the next
week or two, and will compel the unions TO
draw their national treasury President
Mitchell is anxious to avid This II possible and
il is question, also, how long the strike fund
would last Most OF the strikers can take care
OF themselves until November l. but then the
union must aid them The local lodges have
/ little money. and could DO practically nothing
Il is the opinion OF many who understand tha
/ situation thar everything points 20 speedy
| settlement, and II Is thought that President
Mitchell will call convention Of delegates from
all the colIieries within few days- lr is be-
1eved that when that convention Il called. u
not before. the three big compauIes-uhe Della
ware and Hudson. the SusquehanUa and the
Pennsylvania-whiCh have made no ouer Viii
issue notices similar 70 those already posted by
other companies
The men over the entire region are srth hgur-
ing on The powder reduction. and 10 Is hard 20
make them understand il really cuts no figure
in their wages, they get a 1o per cent IN
crease on their net earnings The companies
will simply add 10 per cent 70 the miners net
wages after all expenses ara deducted