The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-19
PEACE IS NOT YET.
Between the Coal Miner and
the Operator.
POWDER QUESTION RISES
Mitchell Is Fairly Reticent but
Clearly SuIlen.

Hazleton, Pa, Oct 1s.-As far as end
ing the coal miners strike is concerned,
not a move in that direction was made
by the United Mine Workers officials
today. President Mitchell is absolutely
silent on all questions pertaining TO the
termination of the contest and it is not
believed that he will have anything to
say on the subject until he calls a meet
ing Of the national executive board for
the purpose of issuing a formal declara-
ton calling the strike off. When that
shall be depends, 1t is understood, G. -
ly upon the operators.
The feeling is prevalent here tonight
that the decision of the operators meet
ing at Scranton today TO insist that the
reduction in the price of powder must be
taken into consideration in determining
the net 10 per cent increase in wages has
complicated matters somewhat. Further
delay in reaching an amicable ADJUST
ment of the question is now feared. The
result would be precisely the same as
that which obtained when the first no
tees of the coal companies were posted.
Then, as now, the Reading company was
the first to post a notice of an advance
in wages and was quickly followed by
other large coal companies, and nearly
all the smaller individual operators. af-
ter which Mr.. Mitchell issued the call for
the Scranton convention. Up to tonight
four companies in the Hazleton district
have posted notices accepting the Scran-
ton convention demands. They are the
Lehigh Valley Coal company, operating
a half dozen collieries in this vicinity;
Pardee & Co., two collieries; Van Wyck-
lie & State, two collieries. and Pardee
&; Co., one colliery. Mr.. Mitchell s ex-
tremely reticent. 1t is supposed he de-
sires to hear from district officers before
making any public expressions as to the
probability of an early resumption of
work.
A meeting Of the United Mine workers
was held here today. and arrangements
were made for holding labor demon
stration in this city next Monday. The
feature Of the demonstration will be a
parade, followed by a mass meeting at
which President Mitchell will be the
principal speaker. The mayor of this city
who refused to allow the strikers to pa
rade two weeks ago, has granted per-
mission for the demonstration next week.
Scranton, Pa, Oct. B-Representatives
of nearly all the big coal companies of
the region conferred here today and made
an agreement to amend the notices al
ready posted by attaching the following:
I'm further explanation Of the above
notice, this company desires to say that |
1t is its intention TO pay the advance in
wages above noted until April 1. 1901, and
thereafter until further notice"
The following statement was issued to
the press: The representatives. of the |
large coal companies after their meeting |
today stated in reply to inquiries. that |
they had offered their men a ten per cent |
advance as indicated by the notices they |
had posted. that this notice specifically |
stated that the reduction Of powder from
s.. rs to $50 would be considered at arriv- |
ing at the wages of their contract miners |
1t wa sexpected when the notices were |
April l, and indefinitely thereafter, but |
!nasmuch as there seems to be some mis-
in this matter, they had |
agreed to add to their notice a clause to
the effect that it is their intention to
pay the advance in wages until April 1,
1901 and thereafter until further notice"
National President Mitchell District |
President T. 3. Nichols, District Secre-
tary Depsey and National Organizer |
Fred DHcher Of the United Mine Workers, |
have all been quoted as saying that the
resolutions of the Scranton convention
a straight advance of ten |
pc recent for all parts of the region, and /
that the matter of having this increase
made up in part of a decrease in cost of
powder. in these upper regions where
powder is sold for s275 keg. was not |
agreed to. The powder question, they |
one and all said, was left out OF the
present negotiations. with the understand
ing that it would form one of the griev-
ances to be adjusted in the conferences
which the officers say the operators
agreed to have with their men to take
up any grievances the ymay have
President Mitchell when informed by |
telephone of the action of the operators
stated that he would have to decline to |
discuss it's probable effect in regard TO a
settlement until he had given the matter
careful consideration. He would not say
whether or not il would be possible to
deal with the difficulty without calling I
another convention.
President Nichols, whose whole district
S affected by the powder question, said
this evening that IL looked 70 him as If
another convention was necessary. 81 do !
not know that the delegates will consent
70 waving their demand for a straight
Increase and allowing the substitution OF
his clause about powder which the OPP
orators are so insistent about said he
But without their consent. I do not see
low the matter can be adjusted. To me
{ looks like a prolongation of the fight"
The Gibbon Coal company's drift. which
supplies fuel for the city schools, started |
l this morning full-handde. with the ap-
'roval OF the United Mine Workers. II
: understood that the company shall
nine only sufficient coal 10 ill its con-
ract with the school district The men
ire to receive the straight ten per cent
ADVANCE Fifty hands are employed.