The sun., 1900-10-20
PRICE OF POWDER
BLOCKS SETTLEMENT
Of THE BIG STRIKE
Men Apparently Want to Arbi-
trate the Question Of
Cheap Powder
MARKLE COLLIERY RAIDED
Strikers Make Descent on the jed
do Mines at OakdaIe and En-
deavor to Force Cessa-
tion of Work
There.

lIazlcton, Pa, Oct. 10.-'rhc settlement
of the big strike of anthracite mine
workers is undoubtedly blocked by the
question Of the price miners viii be asked
in future to pay for powder. Employers
have agreed to give their men 10 per
cent more in wages than they were paid
before the strike began. but they insist
that III figuring the net advance Of lO per
ccut tar reduction or Si...l Eeg iii the
price of powder Shall be taken into con-
sidcration.
The miners apparently want to go back
To work for the ~ per cent advance and
then arhitrale The question whether they
are to get their powder cheaper as an
additional concession. 1t is not believed
that the mine owners will grant any such
demand, and their refusal may mean the
indefinite prOlongation of the strike.
Since the Philadelphia conference of
railroad officials and operators, President
Mitchell has become very reticent, main
tanning an absolute silence on the powder
question. When he was asked the direct
question whether another convention will
be called to ascertain the wishes of the
men ON the newest complication, he re-
Piled Il prefer not to answer that"
When he was asked what the prospects
htiS lbl un tuIiy tiuihS WI tht Sltihts ht
said, NO man in America is more desir-
Gus OF more anxious to end this contest
than myself. and l have done all in my
power to bring about an honorable settle
ment."
This noncomnittal answer of the leader
of the strike helps to strengthen the inn
preston that the labor war is not so near
a solution as it was thought to have been.
The spirit of jubilation that prevailed
in this region has given way to feeling
of disappointment This is apparent ev-
erywhere.
MarkIc Mines Raided.
About 800 strikers made descent on
the No. Jcddo mines of q. b. Markle X
Co. Mt Oakdale and made an effort to
close the colliery ut that place.
The march was well planned and was
kept Il strict secret. The mnrchcrs came
from this city and from McAdoo aud
Audcnred on the south side and Ecliley,
Highland and Frecl0nd on thc north
side. Each local union marched indie
pcndcntly to a point On the Jeddo road
near Gakdale.
4 signal of three pistol shots was fired
ly one side and answered by the other
Then the two bodies advanced and mel
in front Of the breaker in Oakdalc There
WAS Il force of sherlI's deputies on duty
n bnt they were kept i'll the background
lhc sheriff himself did not arrive unit
the affair was nearly over.
As soon ms John Marllc, managini
II partner of the firm. heard of the marcl
he went to Oakdale from his home il
n 'leddo, about mile distant, and cxpcs
II tulatcd with the strikers, urging them t,
II dlSperse. They, however. remained il
"a the vicinity Of Oakdale, marching up ant
~ down the road. Finally they went bacl
# home.
# No one was seriously hurt, but one MAJ
II going to work was set upon by strikers
M ana beaten, and others were menaced
M lhe strikers claim they shut the collier.
| w. hui the information given out at thu
Narkle office was to the effect that tn,
lnine is still working.
4 Al Shamokin preparations are still be
# ing made by the Philadelphia and Read
lMN8 ing Coal and Iron company, the Miner;l
4& l.aliroaISand Mining company and tn
S mon Coal company for an early resump
3 iph nt work at their respective collieries
. Engineers and liremen have been orderet
sH mo The mines to repair the pumps am
z hginrs and the mules are being brough
pack To the collicry stables. +,