New-York tribune., 1900-08-24
MAY BE EGREATCOAL STRIKE
ANTHRACITE MINERS INsISTENT IN DE-
MANDS-NFETING ON MONDAY EX-
PFCTFD TO DECIDE MATTER.


Hazleton. Penn. Aug % (speciap-A general
strike OF the United Mine Workers Of the anthra-
cite coal regions is more imminent now than at
any time within recent years They have pre-
pared long list OF grievances from which they
claim they are suffering, and they have asked the
operators TO meet their delegates at joint con-
ference 10 be held here next Monday, when the
situation IS to be gone over with the view Of grant
ing 10 the men some concessions which VIII re-
ueve the situation among the miners The oper-
ators have so far refused TO recognize the union
and say that they will not meet its representatives
This indicates that the anthracite coal fields are
on the eve OF a bitter struggle which VIII eVentu-
ally result in a strike. The operators seem TO nave
a perfect understanding with respect TO the ques-
ton Of having 5oint conference with the men
and they are unanimous in their decision not 10
meet the miners. II is expected that unless there
IS a decided change in The situation strike WIN
be declared IN less than a month. or ABOUT th0
middle OF September. Most Of the operators pe-
neve that it coming the business men rear H. puI
81 Is demanded by the worzmen, though the latter
say they deplore its necessity.
Jo,n 7 Mitchell president of the United Mine
Workers has come to the anthracite fields from
his home. in Indianapolis. and has virtually ad-
vised A strike If the operators refuse 10 meet theIl
He says that he deploTes It, but there Is no
other way open TO the men He has aooresaeu
large meetings OF miners and the latter are better
orF-alzed now than before in twelve years. II
the coal operators do not meet us next Monday,
ff they refuse discuss with US our grievances OK
won't adjust them. then 1 say strike says MI,
Mitchell This advice has been made known all
through the coal regions. Mr.. Mitcheh ADVISES
thorough organization and this has been largely
accomplished in the last ten years.
A new generation Of miners has grown up since
the last great strike which entailed SO much SUI
ferng on the anthracite coal fields. and the younger
element is particularly anxious 10 Try CONCLUSIONS
with the operators. Within the last lew years
thousands Of foreigners have come into the haru
coal region and they are just as anxious Tor Sllhe
as their brethren Of English, Welsh American or
Irish descent. There Is a conservative pOl t1oii
which is inclined TO advise against such a course
out this IS largely in the minority. The grievances
Of the miners Of long standing ana are teiSeIS
enumerated by the committee which presented lhein
70 The operators They assert that the neceSsaIles
NJ life have been increased from 20 to 40 per cent
in cost. while wages have not been increased ana
that the system under which they are palu anu
their wages regulated is such as TO work 10 liiel
disadvantage. They claim that semi-month4y pay
rnent of wages Is refused them that the system
OF dockage works great injustice to the miner
that favorits is shown TO certain individuals WHO
get the best work IN the mines: that they are
charged g 70 for keg Of powder Tor when + INC
Is s0pTce 6in Ga Ic6 doctors as are designated by
the operators They declare that the ACCUMULATION
has sunk the anthracite miners in the depths OF
poverty and distress which are Simply un @ %
They say that the operators have Tor years re-
fused better treatment because or the sharp COM
he wages Of soft coal miners have been increased
20 per and their hours OF labor reauSeG 20
except as last resort but that the time has ra ar
dent Mitchell. in addition gives figures TO justify
the side Of miners He says in the eI
81 s. and Short time at that There they woEa p
eaeratoT have advanced the price of hard coal and
that the miners are by righL entLleo 70 ~ SroTo
fifty thousand seventy-five thousand men VIII Do
ofbeT western officers of the United Mine Work
ers the ground, end TO TINS me & opGI ders
Should be able to regulate their own affairs They
declare that the Western labor leaders are WORKING
tthracite workers of Eastern Pennsylvania. They
inois coal; that they pay the hard coal miners all
they can afford that the system as TO tfat no
favorffism is shown; that there are few company
@ @ a agnd t9gg wn it 10 c6ss 0sy ore TO
duce OF anthracite than OF oituminious coal,
and that as 10 short time, the men would not De
willing work six full days week all the year
around even II they had chance -,
The operators who have been spoken 10 say that
the miners have exaggerated their grievances, and
VINO are working for the interests of the Western
general strike in this region would force soft coal
the front never before, and that 1t would give
come. 1t is in anticipation of what will happen,
they say that SO many miners nave & gone 5 lo me ne
the Reading Railway Company to work six three
many otReTs @ Win Work the same hours This is in
troubles with the miners.
OWNERS MAY ATTEND MINERS MEETING.
There is considerable speculation among agents
in this city whether the coal operators in
Pennsylvania Will give any recognition to the
miners the joint conference which is to be held
in Hazleton on Monday. When the Mine Workers
Convention last week extended the invitation to
the operators It thought that of the
mine would attend, but since then. 1t IS
said, there has been change IN sentiment. The
miners however, profess have small hopes of
the operators giving them recognition. They be-
lieye they will be ignored they last year
al Scranton The miners say the operators are
preparing for the worst and that all last week
and this week they have been working the mines
fun time with a view to getting much coal
possible to the surface, that in there is
strike they will be prepared for It. The operators
on the other hand, there is unusual activity
at the mines. The collieries are always busy at
this time Of the year. they say preparing coal for
the Eastern and Western markets An agent said
yesterday:
It IS all nonsense 10 talk about a strike Owing
10 a dulness in the trade miners have virtually
been on strike the last nine months. In that time
they nave averaged only about nine days a month.
a man that works only nine days q month has all
the strike he wants, az least think So
The leaders Of the United Mine Workers do not
look the affair IN this light. They saw the