Evening journal., 1900-10-12
Operators Declare That Demands
Of Wyoming Valley Will Pre-
vent a Settlement
THEY CANNOT BE ACCEDED TO
Illinois Miners Will Give Their
Brethren Financial Assistance
il II Is Needed

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 12.-The conven-
tion of the anthracite miners now on
strike throughout the entire hard coal
fields in Pennsylvania convened in this
city this morning, for the purpose Of
considering the ten per cent net in
crease in wages proffered them by
nearly all the mine operators in the
region. What the outcome of the con-
vention will be is all matter of speeu-
lation, and the opinions expressed by
labor leaders are widely divergent. The
delegates to the convention have all
sorts of instructions from their local
unions on the proposition of the oper-
ators. It is said that most of them
will vote to reject the ten per cent in
crease unless the operators make fur
ther concessions.
Many of the miners will not favor
the advance unless the operators give
a guarantee that the increase will be
kept in force for fixed length of time,
others want the union recognized be-
fore they will accept the proposition,
while not few insist upon concessions
I'm the other grievances. The belief is
general that. in the absence Of any
uniform instructions among the dele
this convention are rather slight. 1t
is the impression Of several labor lead
ers that at least a second convention
will have to be held before any definite
action will be taken looking toward an
early ending of the contest.
President Mitchells remarks at We'd
nesday's mass meeting, in which he
told the mine workers that the ten per
cent was not satisfactory and that
they ought to make concessions in the
other grievances, is taken by many
persons as a hint to the miners to re-
ject the mine owners offer. Mr.. Mitch
ell, however, denied this, and said he
had no intention of influencing the
men one way or another. He said he
was merely voicing the sentiment Of
himself, his colleagues and the many
strikers with whom he has come in
contact during the past week. In
speaking of today's convention Mr.
Mitchell yesterday said:
THE convention will be one of the
most remarkable labor meetings held
in the history of coal mining. For the
first time in over 80 years representa-
tives Of all colleries on strike will meet
in convention to discuss matters Of
vital interest to them. The proposition
submitted by the operators. TO. advance
their wages ten per cent WILL of course,
be the paramount question. The calm,
conservative conduct of the men dur
ing the strike will characterize their
actions. The anthracite miners, as a
result of their long years of hardship,
have become thoughtful and studious,
and have a thorough knowledge of the
mining industry in all it's phases. It
will undoubtedly be their desire to leg
islate in the interest of the miners Of
every section Of the region. The con-
vention will be free from passion or
excitement and capable of doing bust
ness as prudent business men,"
w. d. Ryan, secretary-treasurer Of
the United Mine Workers of Illinois.
arrived here yesterday. He said the
miners of his state have at least s40,-
600 in their treasury, and added that If
the anthracite miners needed help that
fully S250,0O0 would be sent in a few
hours. President Mitchell says such
assistance is not needed at present.