The sun., 1900-09-29
PRESIDENT MITCHELL
DENIES THAT BIG
Strike IS ENDED
Conferences Held in Various
Cities Regarding a
Settlement.
MORE MEN LEAVE THE MINES
1t is Claimed That 10 Per Cent. In
crease in Wages Would Not
be Satisfactory to the
Striking Coal
Miners.
MORE MEN LEAVE THE MINES

Philadelphia, Sept. 2S.-The chief
topic in the strike question now is the
possibility of effecting speedy settle
ment. A New York dispatch says con-
ference of coal operators was held there
20 discuss terms. A dispatch from Wilkes
barre says:
"The representatives of the big coal
companies in the Wyoming and Lacka-
wanna valleys had a meeting in the oii1ce
of the Lehigh Valley Coal company in
this city. Chairman Lathrop OF the Lee
high Valley company presided.
ut is understood that President Trues-
dale of the Lackawanna company has
referred to the superintendent the plan
OF settlement of the miners strike as pro-
posed by the presidents of the coal carry
ing railroads. Up to this time the rep
fesentatives of the companies in this sec
sion have had arbitrary power, and be-
gore any move was made by the presi-
dents Of the companies the high officials
In charge Of mines were consulted. But
It would now appear that the presidents
of thc companies have rcfegated all pow
ars to themselves. The large individual
operators were not represented at the
conference.
"One individual operator stood outside
Asked if he was taking part in the de-
liberations, he said: NO. The individual
operators will cut no figure in the set
tlement if a settlement is made. Every
thing depends upon the big companies.
What they say goes
1T is said that some of the repre-
sentatives of the companies here, while
they will not oppose the granting of an
increase of wages or reduction in the
price of powder, will advise against rec
ognizing the miners union.
'After much discussion the views Of
those attending the conference were tel
egraphed to their superiors in New York
and the meeting adjourned"
What Mitchell Says.
A dispatch from Hazleton says:
president Mitchell emphatically de-
MED that the strike is ended. He has not
been officially notified by anybody rep
rescnting the operators of the reported
offer of 10 per cent increase in wages,
md he says he is not in negotiation with
any one.
'There is no doubt that Mr.. Mitchell
has unofficial knowledge of efforts on the
part of the coal carrying companies and
other interests to end the strike, but on
this subject he will not say a word.
Everything is very quiet here, and the
apparent excitement all over the country
regarding the settlement of the strike is
not reflected here.
mi. Mitchell held two rather long con
vcrsations over the long distance tele
phone. He declined, as usual to say
who he was talking to. When asked il
10 per cent increase would be satisfac
tory, he declared that it would not"
From Scranton comes this dispatch:
Central Superintendent Loomis of the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
mining department is in conference will
the Individual Coal Operators associa
tion, embracing the mining heads of al
the hig coal carrying roads. He ha'
been delegated to bring before the indi
vidual operators the basis upon which th
strike Of the coal miners may be settled
Before going to the meeting he admit
ted that it was proposed to give 10 pc
cent increase on all the wage demands o
the miners. 1t is learned that this basi
is not altogether agreeable to the indi
vdual operators, some of whom regard i
MS being unequal. and they will ask o
the coal carrying roads some freight con
cessions.
1.-The meeting is secret, and no positiv
information is obtainable."