The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-02
POLITICAL PRESSURE BROUGHT TO
BEAR IN FAVOR OF ASETTLEMENT
FRESH RUMORS OF COMPROMISE
To be offered by h Coal Operators.
To Propose Q 10 Per Cent. Increase In
Wages, but Not to Recognize the
Unfon-Admftted That q Third Party
Is at work-More Accessions t Their
Ranks Cardinal Gibbons to be
Arbitrator

| Workers. today sent a telegram TO the
central Pennsylvania bituminous coal
| fields, which possibly may have the
effect Of bringing the soft coal mine
worker into the contest which the
anthracite workers are now waging
against h mine owners. The tele-
gram was sen to Richard Gilbert, Sec
| rotary of district No. >, Clearfield, Pa.
1t was as follows:
ISS circular letter ~instructing all
mine workers in central Pennsylvania
that they are not TO load Goa for ship
ment into markets formerly supplied
by anthracite operators. We are in
formed mat the Philadelphia and
Reading, the Delaware and Hudson,
and the Jersey Central railroads are
now attempting to defeat the anthra-
cite strike by sending their cars into
central Pennsylvania to have them
loaded with bituminous coal. Please
comply with this request at once"
President Mitchell said he had been
watching the bituminous % field
| closely for just such a move as he al
leges a been made by h railroads
| IlCIluIOllCu ~ lIIS i cSIc1 III dilo diC NoCo
| not fear that they will make much of
a success in getting the soft coal into
the anthracite market. The miners in
the central Pennsylvania region, he
continues, are in thorough sympathy
with fellow in the eastern
part of the state and he feels sure that
as 500 as they find that the coal they
may be loading or asked to loa is to
take the place of hard coal they will
refuse to handle it.
Labor leaders do not anticipate any
suspension of work in the soft coal
field unless the operators insist upon
sending coal to the anthracite market.
They also say that the Philadelphia
and Reading, the Delaware and Hud-
son, and the Jersey Central railroads
being unable to fill their contracts for
hard coal, are prevailing upon their
customers to accept the soft coal
wherever it can be used as a substi-
tute.
Considerable interest is being mani
tested as ITO the effect of President
Mftchelrs action in attempting ito de-
feat the alleged move of the a car
rying roads.
"A DAY OF RUMORS.
This was a day of rumors. Around
strike headquarters there were stories
in circulation that Archbishop Ryan
and Senator Hanna were coming here
~ - SIuCl Nj NAA1 SA WAN
coal carrying roads had agreed to ar
bftrate all differences and that the
strike had been settled. The last men
toned rumo: was the only one which
the labor leaders paid any attention to,
and in correction with it they sent a
telegram TO the presidents. of the
union in three districts comprising the
entire anthracite coal field of Pennsyl-
vania. The telegram is as follows:
Report is current that operators
nave made concessions in wage scale
and will attempt ito induce mine work
ers to resume work. Please advise all
miners in your district that no atten-
tion should be given to these reports
and that they will be officially mott
fled should any offer of settlement be
made. Under no consideration what
ever should work be reSume unless
authorized by a convention represent
ing all mine workers in the anthracite
field. 1t is vitality important that all
miners stand firm and determined and
not be deceived by those whose inter
ests it is to defeat the purpose fol
which the strike was in~augurated."
In speaking about the rumor of a
settlement, Mr.. Mitchell said the strike
could not he ended without him know
ing it and that he a no knowledge
of any effort that might now be in
progress which would lea Ito an i'm
mediate settlement. Mr.. Mitchell's at
tentiOn was called to a dispatch in
which J.. p. Morgan is credited with
; saying that he (MitchelD would &C.
cept a 10 per cent. advance. Mr.
Mitchell said:
| ut is absolutely untrue. L am no
empowered ito accept anything less
than what the miners i'm convention
decided to ask for. Anything under
those demands must he acted upon by
a regular convention of delegates rep
resenting the anthracite miners"
: Mr.. Mitchell also denied having any
knowledge of the opening of negotia'
lions mentioned by President Trues
: dale, of the Delaware, LackawannE
/ INK Western railroad, He does no
| know who the third person is that Mr.
Truesdale Speaks of and says he has
not been approached in any way.
REDUCTION IN MARKIE'S FORCE
Ms entise Hazeltop region wa.
quiet today and the only noticeable
changes in the strike situation was a
the coqlierfes of G. B. Markle & CO
AS predicted by the strike leaders yes
terday, there was a considerable re
| duction in h forces working at tn
various collierieS operated by this firm
Treasurer Wilson, of the United Min,
Workers, arrived today from Indian
apolis. He said nothing definite hac
yet been done with regard to the pay
ment of benefits to the striking men
The question, he said, will probabl,
be settled within the next few days.
TO OFFER A 10 PER CENT. AID
VANCE
Hazelton, Pa, September 27.-Th.
Associated Press at 10 o'clock tonigh-
secured from President Mitchell tn.
admission that he believes tha thu
mine operators have agreed to maxi
the striking mine workers an offer OF
a 10 per cent. increase in a
Further than this Mr.. Mitchell decline:
TO talk. He has beer reticent all day
on the subject and several times de
z clared that he knew nothing of the
/ rumors OF a settlement of the strike.
Philadelphia, September 27.-The
towering feature of the coal strike sit
: uation today, and one which attracted
: the attention Of all interests involved
was the widely circulated report that
l 1~egotiations are pending, and rapidly
nearing completion for an amicable
settlement of the strike. While the
: fdenuFty of the person Or persons who
are said TO be at work endeavoring TO
bring about the immediate and peace