The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-10-18
MINERSMAXE REPLY.
Convention Takes Action on the
Operators Offer.

decided to accept the advance of ten
per cent. offered by the operators.
Coupled with this acceptance, how
ever, were certain counter PROPOSE
tions which it is almost certain the
operators will refuse to accept and
which render nugatory all the efforts
so 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 OPP
orators agree to the conventions
proposition. The result is as follows:
Want Time Specified.
1--WE, our committee, further respectful
ly submit the following preamble and reso-
lutions for your consideration:
whereas, The anthracite coal operators
have posted notices offering an advance
of ten per cent. over wages formerly paid
and have signifed their willingness to ad-
just our grievances with their employees.
Whereas, They lave 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 it's payment until April l.,
1901, and will abolish the sliding scale in
the Lehigh and "Schuylkill regions, the
scale of wages in the last two named dis
triCts 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 a fair and impartial
board of arbitration.
1--WE further recommend that under no
circumstances whatever should there be
a 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"
Long Contest Predicted.
Judging by the unanimity of the
miners in accepting the above resolu-
ton and by the determined stand
taken by the operators it is believed
that a long contest between the strik-
ers and the mine owners is not I'M
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 a committee of 10.
appointed at the morning session, of
which the national president was
chairman.
MitcheIrs Views.
Mr.. Mitchell; in an interview on the
outcome of the convention, said:
1.-THE action of the delegates in convention
in accepting an advance of ten per cent.
providing they receive assurances the ad-
vance will continue in force until April J
next year, demonstrates that the miners
are considerable of the public interest in
volved and are disposed to be cOnciliatOry,
and yet the mine owners refuse to join
hands with the miners in bringing the strike
to a close. The responsibility for the suf-
fering that will be entailed on the poor IN
the large eastern cities will rest entirely
with the operators. The operators have
no " an opportunity to prove that the prop
Osltion offered by them was made in good
faith. If they are willing to pay ten pei
cent. advance they certainly ought to con-
tinue to pay for six months. The mine
workers will all remain on strike until
they are officially notified by the officers
of the union that the strike Is declared at
an end. There will be no exception to this
rule. | Canno understand any good rea-
son why the operators should not accept
the conditions named in the miners reso-
lutions. l, of course, hope that there will
be a speedy termination of this contest.
and l believe that in the future the Oper-
atorS will be disposed to treat with more
consideration their employees than they
have in the past. l am entirely satisfied
with the action taken by the miners. They
did not decide the question with a view OF
pleasing me, but took the step because II
satisfied them. 1t was in their hands, and
they showed an extraordinary spirit OF
fairness"
When Mr.. Mitchell was asked in
what n 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.
The following telegram was sent
Saturday night to the mine workers
of the anthracite region:
Reports are being circulated in some
sections that the strike Is settled and that
the men are expected to return to work.
You are hereby notified that no settlement
has been made, and no attention should
be paid to any reports of this kind. When
a settlement is effected you will be noti-
fled by circular under seal of our organiza-
ton and signed by the national and district
officers.
JOHN J.MITCHELL,
"President United Mine Workers of Amer
lea"
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 at 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 afloat 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