The evening times., 1900-10-15

NEW YORK, Oct. 15.-A high officer OF
one of the principal coal mining compa-
nies said today that the coaI-carry!ng
railroads. which control most of the
| mines in the anthracite region, would in
a few days agree to the guarantee that
the 10 per cent increase in the miners
wages should be kept in effect until April
1 next.
The independent operators. in all
probability, viii follow any action of the
large companies. This concession TO the
chief demand made by the strikers in
their convention at Scranton should this
| officer thought. end the struggle.
Dispatches from the mining regions
both yesterday and today said that a
meeting OF coal operators would be held
| in this city today. All the presidents OF
tie coal roads said positively that No
| such meeting would be held. They were
generally very reticent as to the negotia-
tions for the conclusion of the trouble,
but ii is evident that that conclusion is
| expected very soon.
One story current and generally cred
tied in Wall Street was TO the effect that
/ the disposition of the railroads to ac-
cede to the miners demands had its orr
| gin il reports that the Philadelphia and
Reading would announce on Wednesday
| that ii would make the april agreement
! with its men.
| Minor details remain for settlement
The matter of the sliding scale of wages
/ is considered OF little Importance by the
| operators here. 1t prevails almost en-
tirely in the Schuylkili and Shamokin dis
tricts, and is matter for local settle
ment.
Opinion at WiIkesbarre
WILKESBARRE, Pa. Oct 15--Today ii
/ is hoped there Will be some official ex-
preston on the part of the operators re
garding the strikers proposed condition
for settlement. although the operators
here say they refuse to make any agree
ment with the union until the big carry
ing companies are heard from and con-
ciusions would he only guesswork. They
control the situation, and until they make
a statement everything must remain In
allegiance.
Reports point 10 a meeting of the rail-
road presidents in New York today to
consider the proposition from the men
The individual operators Will also meet
and agree On united action. The indi-
Yidual operators in this region would NOT
consent to discuss the decision of the
men, but, in an indirect way, spoke as
though the proposition did not meet v "A
their approval. The agreement TO make
the adVancs good until April l they view
IN the ligh- OF an attempt TO secure their
recognition OF the union, and at the end
OF the term of agreement they fear an
other strike VIII be preeipitated.
From their statements, the operators
seem firm in the stand they took few
weeks ago that no further concessions
will be granted. One operator went so far
as 10 say the companies will spend their
last dollar and allow their breakers to rot
before they will sign any agreement with
their erhpioyes. IN justification of their
stand. they point to Markle & Co. who
had an agreement with their men but,
which, they say, at the behest of the
President of the United Mine Workers.
was broken.
Until the big companies take some ac-
lion there is room for hope and as the
agreement the men ask for only holds good
five months many believe that the presi-
dents of the carrying roads who have all
along manifested desire to settle the
strike will order a settlement Today will
likely bring about important developments
in the situation.
HAZLETON, Pa, Oct 15-Operators in
this region say that they know nothing of
the reported convention of railroad pres
idents and mine managers TO be held in
New York today. None of the local op-
erators had gone to New York Up TO
noon.
The few coIIierfes working in this re-
gion resumed work this morning all am
ply protected by deputies and with \ suf-
fcient quota of workmen to conduct op-
erations in a limited way
Prospect of Resumption.
P0TTSYILLE, Pa, Oct. 15,-Opinion is
gaining ground that the Reading Coal
and Iron Company will agree to do away
with the sliding scale and have its thirty
nine collieries in line for quick resump-
tion- Miners think they can all go TO
work in few days. and details will be ar
ranged before next pay day. News from
the Lehigh coal regions is that all the
eleven co!lierjes are al work in Panther
Greek Valley and that the other compa-
nies will promptly agree to the miners
terms, and ali go to work within a week.
SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 15.-There Will b =
a settlement Of the anthracite miners
strike during the present week, or else
there will be steps taken toward The com
plete industrial paralysis of the Eastern
and Middle Western States.
This formed the basis of a statement
made last night in the headquarters of
President Mitchell by District President
John Fahey, of the Potts lille -Shamokin
district OF the Mine Workers Union He
declared that If the coai operators were
not favorable TO the new terms df Settle
nent embodied in the resolutions ,ef the
miners convention adopted late on Sat
urday, accepting 1c per cent incre Ease in
wages, and providing that the sliding
scale be abolished in the Lehigh and
Schuylkill regions, they would give the
corporations a genuine strike, one from
which they would not soon recover.
Mr.. Fahey said this in the presence of
President Mitchell The fact that Presi
dent Mitchell remains in Scranton over
today and that the national board mem
bers-Dileher, Farley, Soppitt, and Pur-
ceIl-are here with him. is regarded as
meaning they are expecting some impcr-
tant word from the operators, moi direct
to them, but through the mine workers
to whom it is expected the several com
panies will address notices today accept
ing the terms of the convention
This morning it was announced that
President Mitchell had received from
$40 To Niagar., Falls and Return $40
Via PennsyEvania Rai1roat