The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09


board of the United Mine Workers of
America adjourned tonight at 7 o'clock
until tomorrow, after issuing a statement
postponing the ordering OF a strike pend
Ing the result of negotiations Officials
say influences are at work TO adjust the
trouble. but decline 10 say what they
are.
This action means that the miners of
the anthracite region may not strike to-
morrow, although danger OF a strike has
not been removed. The men are ordered
TO remain In readiness to go out The
mine workers officials refuse to say how
FAR negotiations have progressed or by
what means they are being carried on
with the operators.
Al o'clock this evening a message
was sent to District President Nicholas,
at Hazleton, Pa, as follows:
Information reaches this office that
miners In the anthracite region are ceas-
ing work In anticipation OF strike be-
Ing declared today The national board
directs me to advise that inasmuch as
negotiations are stIll pending for set
tlemcnt. all miners continue work as
usual until they receive official notice to
suspend work and to hold themselves In
readiness to respond snould our efforts
TO effect settlement prove a failure"
Opposed 20 strikes.
The statement issued BY the board re-
citas the applications Of districts nine
seven and one. OF the anthracite region
to engage I'm a strike because OF a refusal
OF their employers TO meet their demands
and. continuing, declares the opposition
of the United Mine Workers to a strike
except as last resort. stating that IT is
the desi-e OF the organization TO adjust
all differences, SO far as possible. by ar
bitration and conciliatlon.
strikes between labor and capital" the
statement says. ARE like wars between
nations. they bring hardships privation
and want 10 the workers. and loss OF
profits 20 the employers: yet. when In
Vulnerable wrongs have been heaped upon
people. which they have patiently sub
mitted to for years. using every honor
able means at their command to remedy
the evils complained Of without resort
ing to strikes. and all their Efforts for
relief have been arrogantly refused, or
silently ignored. they would be false 20
themselves. their families and their fel-
low-citixens II they failed TO resist any
further encroachment upon their rights,
even 10 the extent OF striking for months,
" necessary. with all the suffering & en-
tails. I'm an effort TO remove the evils for
all timc 10 come. This Is the case In tha
anthracite region.
wages Have Not Kept Pace.
'''rhe miners wages have not kept pace
with the cost of living. and IN some in
stances have been reduced They have
been required TO deal in the company
stores. and accept wages based upon an
antiduated sliding scale, that Invariably
slides downward; they have had their
wages reduced by an arbitrary and ex-
ofbifant system of dockage. they have
been compelled 20 wait for their pay
weeks after the time specified BY law and
IN open violation OF the same. and IN many
other ways their rights and liberties
have been trampied upon; ia many in
stances they have been compelled 10 take
their children from school az very ten
drT aNc. IN violation AZ law. and pat
them 10 work IN the breakers IN order
To earn sudlcicn, food to support their
families.
An - ihes. tmpositions have been IA.
ilcuilN Borne anul they are no longer
beamhle The miners have sought confer
eurC after conference with thair employ
crH. hoping to meet them and obtain an
aneliaration ~ their can.nti5n Their ar
p.ais have been igaorca. They have pur-
sued every conceivable coneliato-y meth
90 made numerous propositions. and have
oHerrJ ta Submit che NhoIc situation te
Arbitration au3 au their efforts have bccs.
iu vain. They row make sppbcafiou So
this hoard Ger permission 80 strike. In
accordance Wtyh ths laws ~ oar uulat-
We greailv 3epiore the circumstance
which eompei ls TO order a stllks in ttAt
aela. bur wiz fsel that we aaye aore an
we possibly saA to aNoii e0efact wSth
the exception at ~'ieht hApo that mas
uat BEEN faiiaWr8 ta "a trHutte taal iusian.
strike order Deferred.
In oriar that tfe operators may have
IA further opportunity fa avert the afytfe.