The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-05
THE STRIKE SITUATION
NO PROGRESS MADE TOWARD A SET
ELEMENT OF THE TROUBLE
ANOTHER OFFER BY OPERATORS
and Confer With the Mines on All
Grievances Posted-The Miners Pay
no Attention to it-Not n single Break
Being Withdrawn.

Philadelphia, October 3.-There were
no developments OF special iInporta 1ca
today in the miners strike. An inter-
esting feature was the Reading Com
pany's notice TO its employees that il
addition to its offer OF 10 pe1 cent. in
crease ii was willing TO enter into ar
bitration with them relative TO any
grievances they may have.
None of the strikers. however, have
indicated their intention to return 10
work.
A rumor gained wide circulation to-
day that President Mitchell, of the
United Mine Workers. mad in confer
ence with the presidents OF the coal
carrying railroads agreed upon a set
tlement of the strike. When informed
of the rumor Mr.. Mitchell promptly
denied it and said he had been in con-
ference with neither railroad officials
or coal operators.
4 A secret conference of the leading
officials of the miners organization
was held at Hazleton. AT its conclu-
sion President Mitchell said the Ques-
ton. of calling a joint convention had
not been considered. He added that
out Of $4,000 mine workers. only about
5000 are at work and these, he said,
would be out in a short time.
The time limit Of the Lackawanna
company's offer Of increased wages
will expire tomorrow, but the strikers
generally express their determination
to pay no heed to the offer.
Hazleton, Pa, October 3.-Another
day has come and gone without devel-
oping anything new~ln the strike of
%Iv-a1 - <Nf IDzr1, -r-l
vania- Although most of the big COM
panieS have offered the mine workers
10 per cent. net increase in wages, not
a move has yet been made by any of
the strikers towards a resumption of
work. The way the men have thus far
stood the ground without showing sIt
weakness in any part of the ranks is
considered remarkable by many per-
sons in this region. That a break will
come sooner or later, however, is be-
lieved by many to be certain.
Today President Mitchell was in
formed of the wide circulation of a
story to the effect that he had reached
an agreement with the presidents Of
the coal mining and coal carrying rail-
roads and after verbally denying the
report he issued the following:
ITO the miners and mine workers Of the
anthracite region:
I'VE have just been informed that
the report has been circulated at Ash
land to the effect that in a conference
at New York this morning between
the coal presidents and myself an
agreement was reached which will end
the strike.
"I desire to notify all mine workers
that the report is incorrect and that ]
have not been in conference with the
presidents of the coal companies and
have no agreement with them. I wish
To, 10 vhof II coid 6aN
ago-that there would be no settlement
| of the strike until a convention of the
anthracite miners is held. You are
| further, requested to pay no attention
| to statements Of this kind and to con-
| inue the strike until such concessions
| are made by the operators as will JUS
| tify us in calling general convention
| when you will be regularly notified Oh
| the date and place at which the con-
vention will be held"
Shenandoah, Pa, October 3.-The
| Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
| Iron Company today posted notices al
| all of it's collieries and in conspicuous
| places in the towns and mining
| patches announcing net increase o1
| 10 per cent in wages and a willingness
| to hear the grievances of it's employees
| The local and district organizers
| were on the alert and in less than five
| minutes after the company's proposal
| had been posted, a warning to the mine
| workers was circulated. In this towr
| and vicinity Organizer c. S. POTTER
distributed circulars printed IN En-
| glish, Polish and Lithuanian languages
| calling on the strikers to pay no at
| tention to the company's offer, but te
1 await the decision of the mine work.
| ers' convention. The impression here
| tonight is that none of the strikers
| will attempt to return to work unai
so ordered by President Mitchell.
| The Eighth regiment is tonight
| making preparation to break camp
] General Goblin late today ordered ths
| regiment to start for home tomorrow
| Company /, of the Twelfth left today
! Major, FArQuhar, provost marsha
| has ordered the guard to patrol tn.
eastern section CT the borough near In
| dian Ridge couiery. He says tn
strikers there ar, showing an ugly dis
position.
Do not get scared if your heart trou-
bles you. Most likely you suffer from
1 daI