The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-19
Strikers Want Straight Increase Of
Ten Per Cent. and Also Reduc-
tion in Cost of Powder.
MR.. MITCHELL N0NC0MMITTAL
WAITING TO HEAR REPORTS FROM
THE DISTRICT PRESIDENTS.
Cheaper Powder and 10 Per Cent
Cent. Increase, an Operator Says.

SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 1s.-Representa-
tives of nearly all the big coal companies
Of the region conferred here to-day and
made an agreement to amend the notices
already posted by attaching the following:
"In further explanation Of the above
notice this company desires to say that II
fslits intention to pay the advance in wages
above noted until April, 1, 1901, and there
after until further notice"
The following statement was issued to
the press:
"The representatives of the larger coal
companies after their meeting this after
noon stated, in reply TO inquiries, that
they had offered their men a 10 per cent.
advance, as indicated by the notices they
bad posted, that this notice specifically
stated that the reduction of powder from
$2.75 to s1-50 would be considered in arriv-
ing at the wages of their contract miners.
1t was expected when the notices were
April ], and Indefinitely thereafter. but In
asmuch as there seems to be some mis-
understanding in this matter, they have
agreed to add 10 their notice a clause to
the effect that Ii Is their intention to pay
the advance in wages until April ]. 1901,
and thereafter until further notice"
The conference was held in the Office of
the Temple Iron Company, in the Board of
Trade building. and was attended by the
following: General Superintendent f. f..
Loomis, Of the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western; General Superintendent w. A.
Lathrop, of the Lehigh Valley; General
Superintendent NJ. II. STAIRS. of the Scran-
ton Goa Company (Ontario & Westerly;
President, William Connell, of the Connell
Coal Company, who is chairman of the in
dependent operators committee; General
Manager w. A. May. OF the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company (Erie); General Super
intendent w. J.. Richards. of the Lehigh
and Wilkesbarre Coal Company; General
Superintendent Morris Williams. of the
Susquehanna Coal Company pennsylvania
Railroad); General Superintendent Sidney
Williams. of the Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany erie g. Wyoming); General Superin-
tendent j. l.. Crawford, of the Temple Iron
Company; General Superintendent Reese
G.. Brooks. of the Langcliffe, Lafing and
Greenwood coal companies.
National President Mitchell, District Pres
ident T. d. Nichols, District Secretary John
L. Dempsey and National Organizer Fred
Dilcher, of the United Mine Workers, have
all been quoted as saying that the resolu-
tons of the Scranton convention contem-
plated a straight advance of 10 per cent.
for all parts of the region, and that the
matter Of having this increase made up in
part of a decrease In the cost of powder
liz these upper regions. where powder is
sold for ST. a key, was not to be agreed
to. The powder question. they one and all
said, was left out OF the present negotia-
tions. with the understanding that it should
form one of the grievances to be adjusted
in the conferences which the offer says
the operators agree to have with their men
RI take mr. anv priovanoaS fhau
have"
President Mitchell. when informed by tele-
phone of the action of the operators, stated
that he would have to decline to discuss
its probable effect regarding a settlement
until he had given the matter careful con-
sideration. He would not say whether or
not it would be possible to deal with the
difficulty without calling another conven-
ton.
President Nichols, whose whole district is
affected by the powder question, said this
evening that 1T looked to him as If another
convention was necessary. II don't know
that the delegates will consent to waving
their demand for a straight increase and
allowing the substitution of this clause
about powder which the operators are so
insistent about" said he. But without
their consent do not see how the matter
can be adjusted. To me it looks like a
p~rolongation Of the fight"
The Gibbon Coal Company's drift. which
supplies fuel for the city schools, started
up this morning full handed with the APP
prevail of the United Mine Workers. 1t is
understood the company is to mine only
sufficient coal to fill its contract with the
school district. The men are to receive the
straight 10 per cent. advance. Fifty hands
are employed.