New-York tribune., 1900-09-30
LOOKING TOWARD NEW YORK
COAL OPERATORS AND STRIKER.
AWAITING DEVELOPMENTS.

Hazleton, Penn, Sept. 29.-"we are closing
the mines and awaiting developments" was all
that President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers would say tonight, when asked
whether he had received any information from
New-York or elsewhere as to what the operators
are doing in their efforts to settle the coal strike
Although he automatically evaded the question.
there is a strong belief here that Mr. Mitchell
is kept fully advised OF the progress of negotia-
tions
If the reported advance of 10 per cent has
been finally agreed on IL has not so far as can
be learned. been offered to any Of the mine
workers in the anthracite region Taking Mr.
Mitchells statement that 10 per cent ad-
vance would not be satisfactory as an indica-
tion that 1t would not be accepted by the
miners organization. it is thought in some
quarters here that there would be break in
the ranks OF the strikers which It would be
difficult to stop. should the offer to their en-
ployes be made by the operators. On the other
hand President Mitchell and his colleagues are
positive in asserting their belief that the men
now Idle will not waver, and that they will stand
together until the joint convention of the three
anthracite districts calls the strike off,
The only element the union might fear is
the body Of non-union men who quit with the
organized workers The opinion prevails that
union men. The exact number of members in
the United Mine Workers organization in the
entire anthracite coal region has never been
officially stated, but the labor officials say that
they have than 100000 men enrolled
These figures disputed by the coal opera
tors.
The entire Lehigh Valley was about as ouiet
to-day it possibly could be. Rain is falling
here tonight The number Of collieries
were working as were in operation yesterday.
Both sides in the contest claim accessions to
their ranks in the Hazleton district
President Mitchell. speaking on the general
situation from the strikers point of view. said:
The first break has been made at the New
Philadelphia colliery, at Panther Creek, in the
Schuylkill Valley, where the miners OF that
operation have Joined in the strike The action
OF the men at New-Philadelphia will undoubted-
ly result in a complete cessation of work in all
the mines located in the Panther Greek Valley.
The newspaper reports that the operators have
conceded an advance of 10 per cent have
aroused great interest in the ranks OF the
ing authentic information from the officials OF
the organization There more men idle to-
day than at any time since the inauguration
OF the strike, and have every reason to be-
lieve that the tie up Will soon be complete
About $4,000 man are now on strike.
The work OF the labor leaders in getting the
mine workers out continues. Organizers are
constantly in the field forming new local unions
and mass meetings are held in several parts OF
the region every afternoon or evening. This
afternoon big meeting held in West
Hazleton, which was attended by fully 1000
miners. President Mitchell. National Commit
teemen Frederick Dilcher of Ohio; G. W. Pur-
cell. of Indiana, and Benjamin James of Halle
ton, addressed the meetings. The men were told
to stand together until their demands or a.
portion of them were granted"
President Mitchell said to reporter for The
Associated Press falA fO
the soft coal region of Central Pennsylvania re-
questing mine workers there not to load coal
cars which are destined for the anthracite coal
market has had the desired effect. The num-
ber Of coal cars going into the bituminous field
had greatly increased. which, with other in
he did