The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-05
STRIKERS DETERMINED
OFFER OF INCREASE OF WAGES HAS
NO PRECEPTIBlE EFFECT
RECOGNITION OF THE UNION
By the Mine Operators Insisted Upo
CNoBreak I'm the Ranks OF the strikers.
barre - One Hundred and Thirty
Thousand IN LIne-President Mitch
ellis Address-Perfect Order Now
revail

Philadelphia, October NO break
striking mine workers, though addi-
uonal offers OF an advance OF 10 per
cent in wage were posted through
out b region In fact there were
many indications today OF an intention
on the part OF the strikers to insist on
other concessions and to remain out
until n operators give recognition TO
their national organization.
The feature OF the day was the pa
rade and mass meeting OF mine workers
at Wilkebarre arranged with the object
OF demonstrating the strength of the
United Mine Workers.
President Mitchell was expected 10
indicate in his speech to the miners
his view on the 10 per cent. increase
conceded by the operators. but beyond
noting it Is a victory lie had nothing
to say on that point. Neither did he
intimate anything as to the probability
of an early convention Of miners, and
after the meeting when questioned on
that subject he said that not a local
union had requested the calling Of a
convention.
A significant move in this direction
however. developed tonight at Shenan-
o where all the branches of the
United Mine Workers held meetings
n selected delegates to a convention
to be called later by President Mitchell.
This is the first announcement of the
selection of convention delegates.
The entire region was quiet today
and very few mines We're in operation.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, October 1.-The pa
a and mass meeting OF the striking
miners in this city today was the
greatest demonstration ever held in
northeastern Pennsylvania President
Mitchell and party arrived from Ha-
Zleton shortly after 1 o'clock and were
met at the depot by a large and en-
thusiastic crowd. The parade required
an hour n twenty minutes to pass a
given point. 1t is estimated that there
We're 10000 men and breaker boys in
line. The great bulk Of the paraders
was made up of stalwart men. As a
rule they were we'll dressed and some
of them from their appearance might
be taken for a body OF farmers.
Many banners and t-ransparencies
were carried by the men. Among the
most noticeable were these: We want
III dinner pals filled with substantial
fighting a cause hat is just and right
STAND by President Mitchell and the
Union;' "Our union must be recog-
nized;" Twill no longer be slaves"
"2240 pounds for a ton;" w want
two weeks pay"
The breaker boys carried banners
which read, 1--WE need schooling but
must work." Saw us from the whims
of the sheriff and deputies" "Dowr
with OPPRESSION w will stand by
Mitchell"
President Mitchell reviewed the great
army of marchers on the river com
mon. He was generously applaudet
by the marcherS.
When the last of the marchers sweep
past President Mitchell and his col.
leagues were driven to West Side parl
where the big mass meeting was held
Nearly 10000 persons were massed IL
front Of the stand when the labor
president began to speak. Mr.. Mitchell
said:
"The greatest strike in the history o
the world is drawing to a close. AL
ready the great coa carrying railroad:
have agreed to increase your wages II
per cent, which is a great victory il
itself. True, it is not enough, it doe.
not satisfy US. but the time is not fal
distant when the anthracite coal miner
will receive as much for their labor a.
any other class of workmen in tn
world.
"This strike will not besdecIared of
by me. 1t shall not be ended until
convention Of anthracite miners shall
so decide. Every union and every col
liery will be asked to send one or NOR,
delegates to a convention to determin,
the question for themselves. I shall
not decide the question of your goinl
back to work. You must vote on tina
yourself. I will not pretend to deter
mine o u fate or that OF the 5000
who are directly affected by this strus
GLE"