The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-29
TEN PER CENT
INCREASE FOR
THE STRIKERS
Not Satisfactory, for the Reason that
it is Basel on the Sliding Scale
Says President Mitchell.
GREAT VICTORY FOR LABOR.
No Disturbances and Few Changes in
the Working order-Unbearable
Condition Of Miners.

HAzLEToN. Pa, Sept. 2S.-Not.
withstandIng the rumors Of settle.
ment and of concession upon the part
of the operators, there was no change
In the great coal strike situation here
to-day.
That President Mitchell was waiting
for Information from New York cannot
be denied, as he intimated several
times during the day that something
might develop before night. In the
forenoon he had two lengthy CONVERSE
tions over the long distance telephone
and between four and five o'clock this
afternoon he was at the wire for more
than half an hour.
This has baen the greatest industrial
contest between labor and capital in the
history of America" said he. "1hc.
manner In which the men have volun-
tarily responded for the strike demon
strates beyond the possibility OF a doubt
that the conditions under which they
labored so long were SO unbcarable that
TO continue working meant to surrender
absolutely all hope OF maintaining
themselves and families as the Amcri-
can citizens believe they should.
Greatest Victory for Labor.
If the ten per cent. increase mention
ed in the. newspapers is correct, while
far from satisfactory, 1t Is the greatest
victory ever achieved by organized lab
or and won under the most adverse cir
cumstances. Our Organization will not
make the mistake which wrecked many
other organizations OF assuming tl,.
power to determine through Its officers
the happiness or misery. the veal or
woe of the 100000 men and women ard
children dependent upon the anthracite
coal Industry for livelihood.
I've take the position In this contest
as We have in all others, that capital is
entitled TO fair compensation on honest
investment, but that no Institution has
I legitimate right to exist which does
not afford labor a sufficient rate OF
wages to enable those depending upon
1t TO earn n fair living" l.-
In discussing the reported 10 per cent.
advance offered the men by the oper-
ators, Mr.. Mitchell. said:
Increase Would Amount to Nothing.
Under the sliding scale such an In
crease would practically amount 20
nothing. What the men would gain In
one day they might lose the next"
By the sliding scale is meant that
wages are fixed according to the market
price of coal. II there is an advance in
the price the miners share in 1t and
should there be 4 decrease the miners
correspond!ngly share such decrease.
Quletness continues to prevail
Throughout the whole Lehigh Valley
region. The ]. S. Wcntz & Company's
'colliery at Halle Brook shut down to-
day body OF men having marched
from Freeland to that place anu induc-
ed the men working In the Wcntz COL
liery to dult. There were few changes
In the working forces of the colllerles
which have not been shut down.
A large parade OF miners from the
surrounding towns was 10 be held in
Hazlcton Tomorrow, but the mayor re-
fused to permit 1t to take place He
would give no reason, but 1t Is believed
he took this step TO avoid disturbances.