New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-05
STRIKERS RANKS SOLID.
PROSPECT OF A LONG FIGHT
IN THE COAL REGION.
MINERS NOT Likely To RETURN TO
WORK WITHOUT RECOGNITION OF
THE UNION-THE READING
COMPANY'S OFFER.
CONIPANY'S OFFER
TPT TELEGRAPH To TIE rnrsrvr.

ny TELEGRAPH To TUE TRtRrVrr
Pottsville, Penn. Oct 4-Everythine poi,,.
tonight TO protracted struggle in the a7rbr,-
cl'e coaI belt Fewer men were az work to-day
ana the labor leaders We're more aggressive than
ever. They have solidihed the miners for tba
recognition of the union. while the operators ara
willing TO concede almost everything but that
The outlook this evening is for long contes,
unless the Reading company goes a step further
ana offers 10 recognize the miners union II
looks as If that company might take this ad-
vanced step. but it is doubtful if the labor lead
ers would accept IL. Recognition by his com
pany alone and the return Of its men 60 their
employment would break the force Of the strike
and supply the market with large amount OF
coal There IS a rumor that the Reading is
favorably disposed toward meeting its employees
whether they come as employees or as union
men, and that the officials will never ask
whether a committee represents the union or
not They will simply satisfy themselves as 70
whether or not they are bona dde employees
Ihis. however. is not satisfactory 10 the men to
whom the company has offered 10 per cent ad-
vance on their net wages and an adjustment OF
their grievances. The company's offer has a
peculiar significance. as 1t is stated that nons
or the employees presented any complaints to
the officials As one Of the important demands
of the miners is the abolition of the s. 10 basis
NAii0 tot4NC II dI dulilSSuN b| Nl- company IndE
it will consider that matter The fact that the
Reading company is the only one in the SchuyI-
Kill territory that has yet offered any conces-
sions TO its men cOmplcates the situation and
makes the adjustment difficult. as the labor
leaders do not want the men to return To work
until all the companies consider an advance In
fact the settlement of the entire question hinges
on this matter according to the situation this
evening and there are labor leaders who say
that the Reading has been selected to make
these offers to bring declaration from the men
MEN THINK THE OFFER RUsE-
The companys notice has had no effect what
ever, and, instead of influencing any of the men
to return. it was the cause Of making them
more bitter in their demands for recognition OF
the union. The men are OF the opinion that the
promise Of additional increase Is a ruse to
get them back TO work. If the company should
accomplish this. then they say that an they
have gained so far would be lost. The com
pany. they assert, has not even stated now long
the increase would last. which is the direct cause
of the men refusing pay any attention TO the
notices
To-day the west end of the county was Sc
curely tied up by the 200 men of the Lincoln
colliery going out. In that section they are all
native American miners. and vet the strikers aFs
in full control. Now the Panther Creek Valley
alone remains The strike sentiment is rapidly
gaining there. and q complete shut down is ex-
pected Soon 1t is believed by the leaders that
the mine workers viii not be able to resist the
appeals made TO them. and to hear that they
have laid down their tools viii be sur
prise al any moment. The National organizer,
George Harris. said this afternoon that 1.O0O
men in that valley have already been taken into
the union He says he expects the Panther
Creek region 70 be completely tied up by the
eEd of this week, IL is estimated that there
were only 1000 men and boys ut work In the
whole SChuylkin region to-day The Reading
company had only colliery in operation. the
North Franklin. az Trever,On. and here serious
trouble is feared. The company own thirty nine
COllierieS, and thirty-eight Of them were idle to-
day. Prominent citizens say that If attempt
is made TO work at any Of them before salts
factory settlement is reached trouble viii ensue.
There has been no move as Vet the part Of
the individual operators, who still holding
out against the big coal mining companies. 10
post notices of advance in wages 10 the men
in this region These operators want the railway
companies to reduce their tonnage rates nrst-
Meetings ere held again to-day. all Of which
were we'll attended AT every Of them the
men again pledged themselves not to pay any
attention any offer the mine owners may
make to them. Nothing short of recognition Of
the union. they say. will bring about settle
ment of any kind ard then it viii have 70 be
made at the convention, If one is held II no
convention is held, the only settlement they will
accept is one that their leaders agree TO
It is admitted by all parties to-day that Of
$4,000 miners in the anthracite belt, tuiy
10000 are now out John Fahey, president Ot
the SChuylkill district said to-day that there
are only a few small mines still working in the
region. and that his organizers will close these
in a few DAYS. He added that over 5000 min
ers and boys are now idle in the SChuylkiU ter
rftory to say nothing of trainmen. shop hands
and many others The conflict has now settled
down largely to a question or endurance, and a
famine NAV be one of the agencies 10 bring
about a settlement through the force Of public
opinion