Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-10-19
STATE THEIR TERMS.
Miners Convention Acts on Offer of
the Operators.
Acceptance Of the Ten Per Cent. Raise
Will he Made Providing other
Concessions Asked Are
Granted.

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 15.-Prospects
for settlement of the anthracite coal
miners strike are apparently as far
off as ever. This in spite of the fact
that the miners convention on Satur-
day, after two days of deliberation,
decided to accept the advance of ten
per cent. offered by the operators.
Coupled with this acceptance, how
lever, were certain counter PROPOSE
tions which ii is almost certain the
operators will refuse to accept and
which render nugatory all the efforts
80 far made toward an agreement.
The proposition of the miners is that
they will accept the increase in wages
provided the operators will agree to
continue the payment of the advance
until next April and will abolish the
sliding scale. If the operators con-
slider the proposition unacceptable the
miners are willing to arbitrate the
questions at issue. They also decided
to continue the strike until the op-
orators agree to the conventions
proposition. The result is as follows:
1--WE, your committee, further respectful
l1y submit the following preamble and reso-
1utions for your consideration:
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 ad-
just our grievances with their employees.
Whereas, They have failed to specify
the length of time this advance would re-
main In force. and have also failed to abol-
ish the sliding scale method of determining
wages, we would recommend:
THAT this convention accept an advance
OF ten per cent, providing the operators
will continue its payment until April l.
1901, and will abolish the sliding scale in
the Lehgh and Schuylkill regions, the
scale OF wages In the last two named DIG
dricts to remain stationary at ten per cent
above the present basis price. and that the
companies will agree to adjust other griev-
.ances complained of with committees of
their own employees
Should this proposition be unacceptable
to the operators, We recommend that the
convention propose that all questions at
issue be submitted to fair and impartial
board OF arbitration.
I'VE further recommend that under no
circumstances whatever should there be
resumption of work at any of the col
lieries until the operators signify their ac-
'ceptance of this proposition and you are
notified officially that the strike is ended
and all return TO work in a body on the
same day"
Judging by the unanimity of the
miners in accepting the above resolu-
'tion and by the determined stand
taken by the operators ii is believed
that a long contest between the strik-
.ers and the mine owners is not un-
likely. There was great enthusiasm
in the convention when the counter
proposition to the operators was car
ried and three cheers were given for
President Mitchell. The resolutions
were drafted by committee of -.
appointed at the morning session. of
which the national president was
chairman.
When Mr.. Mitchell was asked in
what manner the operators would be
notified, in view that they do not
recognize the United Mine Workers,
he said the employers would probably
find it out through the newspapers.
Individual Operators silent.
Hazleton, Pa, Oct. 15.-The individ-
ual coal operators who could be seen
here Sunday declined to discuss the
action taken by the anthracite miners
convention ut Scranton Saturday.
Neither would they say what steps
the employers would probably take.
1t is evident from their reticence that
the individual mine owners are wait
ing to see what the large coal-carry-
ing railroads that mine coal will do.
1t is reported in the coal region that
the presidents of these roads will hold
a conference in New York to-day for
discussion of the action of the con-
vention.
There was a story afoat Sunday
that the operators will accept the con-
vention's decision, but nothing has
come to the surface in this region on
which to base the report. The United
Mine Workers officials say they are
now again waiting on the operators
and that they will continue to close
up the collieries that have been in OPP
Grafton since the strike began. four
weeks ago. There are many reports
in circulation that If the strike con-
tinues much longer break in the
ranks of the idle men will occur. Pres
ident Mitchell and his associate Off
cials, however, reassert their conf
dence that the men, both union and
nonunion, will remain away from the
mines until the strike is declared off.
Think Strike VIII End.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. ia can
vass of the operators of the Wyoming
valley shows that there is consider
able opposition to granting the miners
any more concessions than those out
lined in the original offer, namely, ten
per cent. increase without any con-
ditiona.The individual operators espe-
-cially are opposed to tying themselves
up to any agreement. One operator
said the only way the strike can be
settled is for the strikers to accept
the ten per cent. without any provi-
'sions. Despite the views of the op-
orators, the impression here is that
the strike will be ended this week.