The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-05
COAL OPERATORS YIELD.
THEY OFFER AN INCREASE OF TEN
PER CENT IN WAGES
NOT ACCEPTED BY THE STRIKERS
The n offered q Reduction I'm
Price OF Powder to be Counted In the
Increase of Wages-The Union Not
Recognized by the Operators-More
Miners Out Yesterday Than Even
Before-None Return to Work


Philadelphia, September 30.-An offer
of an increase Of 10 per cent. in miners
wages was made today by the Phila-
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company, and this move, it is said, will
be followed on Tuesday by similar no
tics at every cohiery in the anthra-
cite region.
The Philadelphia and Reading COM
pany operates 80 coliieries of these
q have been shut down owing TO the
insufficient working force.
Indications are that the men will
stand by their Organization and stay
away from the mines.
The following notice bearing date Of
October LIST, was posted early today
in the vicinity of all the collieries of
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company in the anthracite re-
gion:
philadelphia and Reading
Iron and Coal Co,
October 1st.
This company will pay an advance
Of 10 per cent. on n wages of all men
and boys employed at its collieries.
This advance takes effect today.
"R. c. LUTHER,
General Superintendent"
Beneath this notice another was
posted which read as follows:
Fellow Mine Workers-United Mine
Workers of America:
DO not pay any TO this
notice posted by Luther of the Phil
adelphia and Reading Coa 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:
70. D.. PCIT -
Mr.. Potter is an officer in the dis
trict branch OF the United Mine Work
ers CT America. The regular Reading
Company advance for the last half of
September and the first half of Octo-
Der had previously been fixed at 6 per
cent. above the $3.50 basis. The scale
for the preceding thirty days was at
the $3.50 basis. The advance of 10 per
cent. offered in the posted notice by
the Reading company is separate and
distinct from the natural scale in
crease and hence the total increase to
the miners would fbe 16 per cent.
Philadelphia, Pa, October 1.-The
mine operators of the Wyoming, Lack
awanna and Lehigh regions today at
a meeting at iWilkesbarre followed the
action of the Reading Company in Of
fering an increase of 10 per cent. in
wages to the mine workers. They
furthermore decided to reduce h
charge for powder from $2.75 ito $3.50
per key. The latter price has prevail
ed at the Reading company'S mines
for a long time. The action Of the
W~ilkeSbarIe meeting means an increase
of 10 per cent. to all mine workers ex-
cept miners. The latter will earn an
increase of about 10 per cent. by rea-
son of the reduced cost of powder.
The meeting was attended by repre-
s~entatives of all the leading railroad
companies which own mines in the
regions named. Some of the independ-
ent operators oppose the proposed in
crease unless the coa carrying COM
panieS reduce the tolls on their pro-
duc to tidewater.
The strikers, however. show no in
dication of accepting the offer. None
returned to work today at the Read
Company'S GOLFERS in response to the
notice OF higher wages, in fact many
who had been at wor there quit and
joined the ranks of the strikers. AS a
| result there were fewer colIieries in
operation today in the SchuylkiN re-
| gion than at any time since the strike
was in~augurated. In the other re-
gions there were also additions to the
strikers forces.
Notices of the increase in pay were
posted throughout the entire anthra-
cite region, but the opinion is genera,
that few, if any of the strikers, viii
return to work. The strikers say they
have other grievances to be adjusted
besides wages and powder charges
and they further say they want rec.
ognition of their union.
President Mitchell, of the United
Mine workers, will visit Wilkesbarre
tomorrow to addr eSS a mass meeting
and review a parade Of the miners.
Wilkesbarre, October IA promi.
mem operator said tonight that wher
the strikers come to examine the no
tice posted they would receive it NOR
favorably. "A 10 per cent. net increase
is granted all employees outside Of TIL
miners, and with powder reduced t.
S1.50 a keg, the miner will earn in {
month a 10 per cent. increase.
Wilkesbarry, Pa, October 1.-THE
coal operators of the Wyoming, Lack
aw7anna and Lehigh Valley region.
held an important meeting in this cit!
this afternoon and decided to offer thu
miners an increase of 10 per cent. il
wages and also to reduce n cost O
powder to the miners from 1915 to SIS
per key.
The whole situation was thorough.
discussed. The powder question wa
the chief subject of debate and mex
came the recognition of h union. S
far as can be learned none of the Op
orators We're in favor of recognizin:
the union in amy way.
This evening W. A. Lathrop, tn
chairman of the meating, gave out tn
following:
'Lehigh Valley, Company.
"Wilkesbarre, Pa, October 1.
NOTICE"
This company makes the following
to its mine employees: