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

Hazleton. Penn, Sept 2e-'ewe 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
doing in their efforts to settle the coal strike
Although he automatically evaded the question,
there is q 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, 1t has not so far as can
be learned. been offered to any Of the mine
workers in the anthracite region. Taking Mr.
MitchelPs statement that 10 per cent ad-
vance would not be satisfactory as an indica-
ton that IT 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 10 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 viii stand
together until the Joint convention OF the three
anthracite districts calls the strike of
The only element the union men might fear IS
the body Of non-union men who quit with the
organized workers The opinion prevails that
C6eck
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 more than 100000 men enrolled
These figures are disputed by the coal opera
tors.
The entire Lehigh Valley was about as quiet
to-day it possibly could be- Rain Is falling
here tonight. The same number OF colIieries
were working 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
SchuyIkfu Valley, where the miners OF that
operation have ioined 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.
Inc newspaper reports tnat the operators have
CONCEDED an advance OF 10 per cent have
aroused great interest in the ranks OF the
strikers. The people are standing united. await
ing authentic information from the officials OF
the organization. There are more men Idle to-
day than at any time since the inauguration
OF the strike. and I have every reason 70 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 q big meeting was held in West
Hazeton, which attended by fully 1000
miners President Mitchell. National Commit
teemen Frederick Dilcher Of Ohio; c. ". Pur-
cell. Of Indiana, and Benjamin James of Halle
ton, addressed the meetings. The men were told
10 stand together until their demands or a
portion Of them were granted"
President Mitchell said to a reporter for The
Associated Press to-day that his telegram to
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-
Der Of coal cars going into the btuminous field
had greatly increased. which. with other in
he did