Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-09-18
Statement Issued from Headquarters
at indianapolis Giving the Miners
Side of The Controversy-Conl OPP
orator Pnrdec Declares Demands
of Miners Are Absurd.

president
Detectives Arriving.
Detectives are said to be arriving in
small numbers on every train and
fully $50 are reported in various
mines in this neighborhood. An agent
for barbed wire company stated
Saturday that he had sold thousands
of pounds of wire to the operators.
This indicates that the mine will be
fenced in and barriers erected around
the breaker houses beyond which no
intruder would dare venture.
Important Conference.
The first important conference of
strike leaders was held at Mine Work.
ers' headquarters Saturday. Benja-
min James, Organizers COPYRIGHT
and Dempsey and President Duffy, of
district No. z, were present. At the
conclusion of the conference, which
took place behind closed doors, Mr..
James said:
ION the basis Of the numerous reliable
reports received by me from all parts of
the Hazleton region, I assert that there
will be complete tie-up on Monday morn
ing. Various statements have been given
out by the operators for the purpose of
deceiying the men, but you can state posi-
lively that all hands will go out"
Statement by Miners Omcials.
Indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 17.-The
following statement to the public was
issued from the United Mine Workers
headquarters Saturday. .----,-,---.,
Indianapolis, Ind, Sept is, 1900.-In view
of the lingering impression that seems to
exist in the public mind, that we are try
ing to force the coal companies to recog-
nize the United Mine Workers of America,
we desire to state that prior to the offer
of arbitration made by US, and before the
strike order was issued, we made the fol-
lowing proposition to the coal companies
through the services of an intermediary
who voluntarily offered to act in that ca
pacity:
rnittees Of their own employees in the same
town, on the same date, place and data to
be mutually agreed upon.
''2. That, falling to accept the first propo-
sition, the companies post notices stimuli
taneously not later than September 20; that
wages asked for be granted and the other
evils complained of remedied.
Concerning the proposition to arbitrate,
an offer was made by the employees tof the
coal companies and sent out from Halle
ton on September z, and following that the
half Of the employees. sent telegram to
each of the railroad companies controlling
anthracite mines, offering to submit the
whole question to arbitration.
The kilograms were sent from the Postal
telegraph office at Indianapolis at 12:15,
midday, Wednesday, September IL, and no
answer has yet been received, while the
order to strike would not take effect until
Monday, September II, giving ample time
to accept any proposition to arbitrate.
(signed) JOHN MITCHELL. Presi-
dent; w. B. WILSON, Secretary reasur-
er, United Mine Workers of America
sixty Per Cent. May Strike.
Philadelphia, Sept. ia special to
the Evening Telegraph from Hazleton,
Pa, says; Judging from the best in
formation obtainable it is probable
that about so per cent. Of the IA, 900
miners employed in the anthracite coal
feldswin lay down their tools Saturday
night. Possibly the United Mine Work.
ers may develop greater strength than
this, but there are conservative judges
who predict that the strike will not at
tain to such formidable figures.
Fear sympathetic Strike.
Philadelphia, Sept. 17.-Now that
the coal market is face to face with a
strike in the upper anthracite region,
the answer to the question as to
whether the miners in the Schuylkill
district will strike sympathetically is
anxiously awaited. Should the trouble
not extend to the Schuylkill mines, no
grave coal famine is to be feared,
though the collieries there could fully
meet the normal demand.
Calls Demands Absurd.
Philadelphia, Sept. 17.-Calvin Par
dee, who has been a coal operator for
8s years and is at the head of Latti-
mer and Harwood collieries in the Le-
high region of Luzerne county, ex-
presses the opinion in an interview
that the demands made by the United
Mine Workers are absurd and that a
sufficient number of collieries can be
kept running to break the force of the
strike, no matter how long it lasts,
while the miners will gain absolute
~ nothing in the end.
Good Advice to Miners.
Shamokin, Pa, Sept. 17.-At meet
ing of the executive board of district
No. at this place proclamation was
issued to the miners of Northumber.
land, Schuylkill, Columbia and Dau.
phin counties, advising them to remain
at home next Monday, obey the law
avoid the use of Intoxicating liquor
and not to become involved in quarrels
of any description. The clergy, bust.
ness men and public at large are asked
to aid in the fight against the opera
tors. The men were advised to be very
careful when soliciting men to refrain
from work and also advised that no
one shall be coerced.
Operators to Meet Daily.
Scranton, Pa, Sept. 1.-THE super
intendents of the different mining
companies here Saturday were again
in conference, and from now on they
will meet daily. They have thorough
~ reviewed the situation, and while
deploring generally the strike of their
employees, they do not see how it is
Is IL Qo0fctor