The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-02
AN INCREASE OF WAGES
TO BE OFFERED COAL MINE STRIKERS
AS A COMPROMISE
COAL OPERATORS IN CONFERENCE
Over Question of Increase OF Wages.
Probability That the strike Will be
Over In q Few Days-Neither Side
VIII Give Out any Information-Per-
feet Quietness In the strike Re-
gions -AnotherC olliery Closed Down
YESTERDAY.

Yesterday.
Philadelphia. September 2S--The
coal strike remains unsettled. Reports
Of conferences of mine operators and
Of leading officials of the coal carrying
roads were plentiful. Beyond the gen.
eral statement that the principal point
under discussion was the advisability
or practicabiEty of granting the mine
workers a 10 per cent. advance in
wages, very little OF the details of the
meetings could be CLEANED.
The operators generally expressed
the opinion that the increase could not
not be granted and the operating ex-
penses met unless there was an ad-
vance in the price of coal. The larger
operating companies, however, took
rather a hesitating view of the propo-
sition TO ful Their increase the price OF
anthracite, contending that the compe-
tition Of bituminous coal was now too
sharp.
President Mitchell, of the United
Mine Workers, is reticent on the gener-
al question of accepting a 10 per cent
increase without other concessions and
declined to be interviewed on that
| point.
Meanwhile the strike leaders are con-
tinuing their efforts to induce working
miners to join in the strike. Quiet pre-
| vailed today throughout the mine re-
I gion.
Shenandoah, Pa, September 2S.-
Il G. n~sf HN001~ lA-
up from PottSville and held a lengthy
conference with General Goblin at the
latters headquarters. His trip is said
to have been caused by the reports
that the strike was approaching a set
Element.
1t is understood that general and the
sheriff discussed the question of re-
moving the troops.
So far as can be learned tonight the
| soldiers will remain here tomorrow and
Sunday, but how long after is not
known This question may be decided
at a conference between General Go
bin n representatives of the various
| operators in this vicinity which has
been fixed for tomorrow afternoon. AS
Sistant Adjutant General Elliott, chief
| of staff of the division, after an inter-
view with General Goblin, said he felt
confident that the strike is nearing a
settlement and that the necessity for
the troops would soon be obviated.
New York, September 2S.-The Her.
aid tomorrow will say: One of the men
who has participated in the plans for
the settlement of the anthracite coal
; strike and is familiar with all the facts
and attendant circumstances a in an
interview last (Friday) night:
THE run-OrS that negotiations look
ing to the settlement of the strike are
off is un..ue. My belief is that the
strike will come to an end some time
early next week. 1t will not be ended
by a blare of trumpets OF by sweep
ing general orders, but by the men
quietly going to work in colliery after
colliery, day after day at the 10 per
cent. advance. There is no inclination
to recognize Mitchell in any way, but,
as a matter Of fact, the miners really
deserve the 10 per cent. advance and
they probably would have obtained it
anyhow when the question first came
up, if SO many of the members OF the
different boards Of directors of the
mining companies had not been away
on their vacations"
Wilkesbarre, Pa, September 2S.-An
important meeting of the coal opera
tors of the Wyoming and Lackawanna
valleys was held at the office of the
Lehigh Valley Coal Company in this
city today. All the representatives OF
the big coal companies with collieries
in this section were present.
w. A. Lathrop, general sperintend-
ent of the Lehigh Valley Company, the
| chairman of the joint association OF
coal operators of the Wyoming and
Lackawanna regions, presided.
After the conference was over sever
al of the operators Were k for in
formation, but they were very reticent
Superintendent Lathrop said:
I'VE discussed a scheme of advanc-
II inn tho u-orac Of oil tho man rhrnIr OH
out the region at least 10 per cent The
powder question was also discussed,
but we are not prepared to give out
any information regarding our DELHI
erations On the subject"
From another reliable source it vas
learned that the presidents of the Goa
companies in New York sem a draft
of the proposed settlement of the strike
to their representatives here, with in
I Structions to meet in conference and
discuss whether it would be advisable
to make terms with the strikers, on
the basis stated. Differences of Opin-
ion developed as to whether the ope-
rators could stand the increase in
wages. IL was reported that repre-
sentatives of the L~ackawanna Compa.
ny thought they could.
From what can be learned the oper-
atorS were not opposed to granting a
reduction in the price of powder, blu
there was a strong feeling expressed
against an out-and-out recognition OF
the liners union.
HaZleton, Pa, September 28.-Not-
: withStanding the rumors of settlement
and of concessions upon the part OF
the operators, there was no change in
the great coal strike situation here
today. 1t was probably the most in
active day that President Mitchell and
his official staff have spent since the
strike began. The day gave promise
Of developing important events at the
United Mine Workers headquarters,
! but all those interested were doomed
to disappointment That Mitchell
vas waiting for information from
New York cannot be denied, as he in
timated several times during the day
that something might develop before
night In the forenoon he had two
lengthy conversations over the long
distance telephone. and between 4 and
5 o'clock this afternoon he was at the
wire for more than half an hour. To
whom he talked he declined to saw.
but he CAV out the information that
he had nothing to impart. When he
was pressed, however, TO say some
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