The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-10-14
SLIDING SCALE MUST GO
Coal Kings Must Agree to Pay the In
crease Until April.
FYOU REJecTwE'RE READY TO ARBITRATE
So Declare the Delegat S. Also They Decide
to Continue the Strike Unil the Opera
tors Agree to the Conven-
TONS Proposition.
(By the Associated Press.)


Scranton, Pa, Oct 13.-The anthracite
coal miners now on strike. after two
days convention late this afternoon de-
cided to accept the ten per cent net in
crease in wages offered by the mine
owners providing they will continue the
payment of the advance until next April,
and will abolish the sliding scale. If the
operators consider the proposition Inac-
ceptable, the miners are willing to arbi-
trate the questions at issue. They also
decided to continue the strike until the
operators agree to the conventions pfopo-
Sition.
The resolutions are as follows
1--WE, your committee, respectfully sub
NIT the following preamble and resolu-
tions for your considerations
Whereas, the anthracite coal operators
have posted notices Offering an advance
of ten per cent over wages formerly paid,
and have signified their willingness to
adjust other grievances with their own
employees; and
Whereas, they have failed to specify
the length of time this advance would re-
main in force, and have also failed to
abolish the sliding scale method of deter
mining wages; we would recommend:
THAT this convention accept an ad
vance of 10 per cent, providing the oper-
ators will continue its payment until April
list, 1901 and will abolish the sliding scale
in the Lehigh and SchuyllIill regions; the
scale of wages in the two last named dis
tricts 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 unaccept-
able to the operators, we recommend that
the convention propose that all questions
at issue be submitted to fair and impair
tial board of arbitration.
1--WE would further recommend that I'M
der no circumstances whatever should
there be a resumption of work at any Of
the colleres 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 body
on the same day
Judging by the unanimity of the miners
in accepting the above resolution and by
the determined stand taken by the oper
ators, it is generally believed that a long
contest between the strikers and the mine
owners is not unlikely. There was great
enthusiasm in the convention when the
counter proposition to the operators was
carried, and three cheers were given for
President Mitchell. The resolutions
were drafted by committee of thirteen
appointed at the morning session, of
which the national president was chair
man.
Mr.. Mitchell in an interview with a rep
resentative of The Associated Press on
the outcome of the convention said:
''The action of the delegates in conven-
tion today in accepting an advance of 10
per cent, providing they receive assur-
ancos the advances will continue in force
until April 1st, next year, demonstrates
that the miners are considerable of the
public interest involved and are disposed
to be conciliatory.
81 cannot understand any good reason
why the operators should not accept the
conditions named in the miners reso-
luton. l, of course, hope that there will
be q speedy termination OF this contest
and l believe that in the future the OPP
orators will be disposed to treat with
more consideration their employees than
they have in the past"
The statement BIZ the press committee
regarding the proceedings of the conven-
ton, SAYS
while the motion was pending, Presi-
dent Mitchell addressed the convention,
and took occasion to deny, positively, the
statements made b. some of the metro
politan papers charging that political in
fuences were dominating the conveu ton,
and that the representatives of any poll
teal party had been in conference with
him.
when the question was put the resolu-
tions were adopted unanimously by a
rising vote, amid ringing cheers. At 4;15
the convention adjourned sine die"
President Mitchell and the other nation
al officers now here will return to Halle
ton on Monday where the temporary ma
tional headquarters are located.