The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-10-06
OFFER AN INCREASE.
Operators in the Anthracite Region
Present Terms.
Will Pay Miners an Advance of Ten
Per Cent. Over the Present
Scalc-NNOn't Recognize
the Union.

wages based on the present scale, eff
fective October 1, and that the op-
orators will arbitrate any grievances
employees may present. There is no
condition to be attached as to the
men returning to work before the ar
bitration shall begin, so it is to be in
ferred that the men are privileged to
meet in convention and adopt any
plan OF action they may deem advis-
able before entering upon arbitra-
ton. 1t is supposed the miners will
come together as members of the
union, fin the minimum of the conces-
sions they will be content with, and
then go forth as individuals to treat
with their employers through COM
mittees of employees. The arbitrations
being concluded satisfactorily, if they
will be, the committees of employees
will report back to the convention of
United Mine Workers that they have
come to settlement, and the strike
will then be declared off. This would
avoid the recognition of the union by
the operators, and at the same time
permit the union to regulate the
GSIlllS VI SClticIlcul.
Posts Offer of Increase.
Philadelphia, Oct. Am offer of
an increase of ten per cent. in miners
wages was on Sunday inaugurated by
the Philadelphia g. Reading Coal G.
Iron company, and this move, it is
stated, will be followed on Tuesday
by similar notices at every colliery in
the anthracite region. 1t is expected
by the operators that this increase in
wages will be satisfactory to the men,
and they believe many of the strikers
will take advantage of the offer and
return to work. Mining operations
will, in this event, be given an impetus
ano the operators expect there will
then be gradual resumption until
the collieries will again have their full
complement of employees. The Phila-
delphia & Reading company operates
80 collieries, and of these ~ have been
ing force. Whether the miners will
accept the proffer of the company and
return in sufficient numbers to OPP
crate the mines cannot be foretold.
Reports received from several points
in the schuylkill region. where the
Reading collieries are located, rather
indicate that the mine workers will
follow the instruction of their organ
-ization officials and remain away from
the mines. President Mitchell. of the
United Mine Workers, received no no.
tice of the intention of the operators
to offer the increase in wages. and
. the intimaton is thus given that the
miners organization will receive no
recognition from the operators
Miners Warned.
Philadelphia, Oct. 1.-The following
n9tice. hearing date of October 1, was
posted Sunday in the vicinity of all
the collieries of the Philadelphia &,
Reading Coal and Iron company in
the anthracite region. 1t was signed
by Superintendent Luther, of the Phil
ade,phia & Reading company:
"Ths company will pay an advance of
ten per cent. on the wages of all men and
boys employed at its collieries. This ad-
vance takes effect to-day
Beneath this notice another was
posted which read as follows:
"Fellow Mine Workers: United Mine
Workers of America-Do not pay any at
tentlon 10 lnlS nOtlCe posted Dy Mr.. luther,
of the Philadelphia & Reading. Coal and
Iron company, but wait until you hear
from President Mitchell, of the United
Mine Workers of America, or until you
have decided by your own locals what
Is right for you to do.
&C. B. POTTER"
Mr.. Potter is an officer in the dis
trict branch of the United Mine Work.
ers of America. The regular Reading
company advance for the last half of
September and the first half of Oc-
tober had previously been fixed at
six per cent. above the $3.50 basis,
The scale for the preceding 30 days
was at the $3.50 basis. The advance
of ten per cent. offered in the posted
notice by the Reading company is
separate and distinct from the nat
ural scale increase, and hence the
total increase to the miners would be
16 per cent.
Mitchell Not Surprised.
Hazleton. Pa, Oct. 1.-The posting by
the Philadelphia & Reading Coal &
Iron company of a notice granting an
increase of ten per cent. to all the en-
ployes of its SO col.ieries in the Schuyl-
> kill valley. did not cause any apparent
commotion at the headquarters of the
United Mine Workers here Sunday.
President Mitchell did not know of the
action OF the Reading company until
Informed of it by reporter. He did
not express the least surprise. He re-
fused to discuss the advance, but it is
understood that he knew the ten per
cent. increase would be made and was
anxious to see in what manner the in
formation would be conveyed to the
men. The action of the Reading COM
pany in directly notifying it's men
through posters indicates that the op-
orators viii not retede from their po-
sition of refusal to recognize the union.
; There is considera BILE talk that the
posting Of the notices. will cause a
break in the strikers ranks. 1t is pre-
dicted that if this does happen it would
mean the end of the strike in very
( short time. The labor leaders a gain re-
iterated that there will be no break
and that the strikers are under perfect
control. President Mitchell said he did
not order the mine workers notice to
be placed along with that of the Read
ing company, but he thought it was
done as a result of his warning to the
strikers last week to the effect that
they should not go back to work until
ordered to do so by the union officials.
Moruus. Ito Honn.od