Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-11
Wages RAISED 10 PER CENT
BY Part Of the Anthracite Coal
Operators. ~
THE END is NOW DEEMED NEAR
Independent Operators Begin to Join
Move for Settlement with workers--
0ner Follows Secret Mseting-Mob
and Deputies Clash.

hazietOn, "a, Oct. S.-The hide
pendent Coal Operators association OF
the Wyoming Valley and the Parde,
companies of Hazleton have decided "a
grant their striking employees an ad-
vance of 10 per cent in wages. BY this
action the chief obstacle in the way OF
q compromise in part is removed. Hith.
erto the independent operators have
refused to consider any concessions
declaring such move was impossible
till tonnage rates were reduced. 1t is
reported here also that the coal rail-
ways had decided on such a reduction
One of the largest individual operators
In the Hazleton region said, however
that he had not heard of such a plan.
John Markle. the strikers most de-
termined opponent, has gone to New
YORK. He refused to say whether
he would follow the example of the
other independent mine-owners.
Another rumor is current here,
which, IL true, would go far toward
making the strikers cause victorious.
1t is that il the railways continue to
haul non-union coal to the seaboaro
the Brotherhood of Railway Men will
call strike on all the offending lines.
This would effectually tie up the an
thracite region. something the strikers
have not succeeded in doing.
Oier Follows Secret Meeting.
The independents offer of an adj
vance was announced after a secret
meeting OF coal operators at the Office
OF A. Pardee & Co. The notice posted
at all their collieries reads:
This company makes the following
announcement to its employees 1t will
adjust its rates of wages SO as to pay
to Its mine employees on and after Oct.
1, and until further notice. net in
crease of 10 per cent on the wages
heretofore received.
Note-lt is understood in the fore
going that powder will be sold to
miners for $3.50 per keg, and that the
difference between this rate and the
old rate OF S1.75 shall be taken into
account In figuring the net advance of
40 per cent noted above for the class of
work"
An analysis Of the 10 per cent in
crease offered shows that the average
miners wages would not be increased
fuliy 10 per cent should he return to
work, but 1t is argued that 1t is better
than nothing and that 1t is victory.
What impelled the individual opera
tors to call of their revolt was not
given out.
Mob and Deputies In Battle.
The first shooting ARRAY between
deputy sheriffs and strikers in Luzerne
county happened near Hollywood. At
o'clock p. m. Sheriff Harvey and a
force OF deputies len Lattimer with
carloa. Of miners for Harwood Ten
minutes later they were attacked by a
crowd OF 200 men and women, who
hurled sticks and stones at the work.
men.
The stories of what followed differ.
Sherin Harvey says he stopped the
train when several shots were fired
Dy the strikers and charged the mob
with his men. The strikers and women
ned at once. hiding in the underbrush
to escape arrest. Several miners. the
sheriff says, were struck and injured
by the missiles thrown by the mob.
One striker, 1t Is reported, was
wounded. but his name is not known.
The strikers say the strain stopped
when the deputies saw the crowd.
They declare the deputies at once
charged crowd of breaker boys ON
. neighboring hill, shooting as they
advanced. When the strikers had been
driven back the deputies returned to
the train and the run to Hollywood
was completed in safety.