The sun., 1900-10-15
STRIKING MINERS
DECIDE TO
ACCEPT increase
But They Name Conditions
Which May Block
Negotiations.
DON'T WANT SLIDING SCALE
IL Must be abolished, and Other
Grievances Must First be Arbi-
trated. Strikers Will Wait
and Then Return to
Work In a Body.
DON'T WANT SLIDING SCALE

scranton. Pa, Oct. 14.-The anthra-
cite coal miners now on STRIKE hlter d
,wn d.vs, convention late Saturday aft
a,noon decided TO accept the 10 per cent
nnt increase in wages offered by the
nine owners providing they will con-
tinur The payment Of the advance untll
nrxt April and will abolish the sliding
srnlc. Ii the operators consider u"
,ronosition unacceptable, the miners are
Willing 10 arbitrate the questions at IS
suc. They also decided to continue NC
strike until the operators agree TO the
conventions proposition. The resolutions
are rs follows:
The Resolutions.
I'VE. yorr committee, Respectfully sub
nit the following preamble and resolu-
lions for your consideration:
.Whereas. The anthracite coal op-
orators have posted notices Offering an
4 advance OF 10 per cent over wages for-
"A merly paid and have signiiied their will
jngnoss to adjust other grievances with
n their own employees; and
.Whercas, They have failed to specify
q the length Of time this advance would
remain in force and have also falled 70
Il abolish the sliding scale method or de-
trrtnining wages, we would recommend
tAnt this convention accept an advance of
10 per cent providing the operators will
"A continue its payment until April j, 1901,
n and will abolish the sliding scale in the
n I.chigh and Schuylkill regions, the scale
a of wages in the two lust named DIS
VI ;ricts to remain stationary at 10 per Gent
u above the present basis price, and that
q the companies will agrce to adjust othel
n grievances complained of with commit
81 toes of their own employees.
"Should this proposition be nnaccepta
N bic to the operators we recommend thal
u the convention propose that all questions
at issue be submitted to Il fair and i'm
& partial board Of arbitration.
I'VE would further recommend tha
n under no circumstances whatever shoult
n there be Il resumption Of work ut any o.
the collerics until the operators sgnlf!
their acceptance Of this proposition am
"A You are notified officially that the strik'
y IS ended and all return to work in
body on the same day"
Judging by the unanimity of the min
4Is III accepting the above resolutions am
by the determined stand taken by the op
81 orators it is generally believed that
a long contest between the strikers and tn
4 mine owners is not unlikely. There wa
n grcal enthusiasm in the convention whe
Y The counter proposition to the operator
was carried and three cheers were give
n for President Mitchell. The resolution
We're drafted by committee of IL nj
pointed ut the morning session, of whic
the national president was chairman.
Mitchell Interviewed.
Mr.. Mitchell, in an interview on tn
II ,f tb,, eaiI
The action Of the delegates in col
vention in accepting an advance of !
per cent providing they receive assn
ances that the advance will continue
force until April | next year demol
Strates that the miners are considelat
of the public interest involved and nj
disposed to be concliatory and yet Il
mine owners refuse to join hands wit
the miners in bringing the strike to
close. The responsibility for the suffcril
that will entni. on the poor in the lar:
eastern cities will rest entirely with Il
operators. The operators have now /;
opportunity to prove that the propositit
offered by them was made in good fait
If they are willing to pay 10 per ce
advance, they certainly ought to co
tinue to pay for six months. The mil
workers will all remain on strike un
they are officially notified by the office
of the union that the strike is decar
mt an end. There will be no exception
this rule.
Il cannot understand any good reas
why the operators should not accept t
conditions named in the miners rcsol
tions. / of course hope that there W
be Il speedy termination Of this contc
and | believe that in the future the d
orators will be disposed 10 treat wi
4 more consideration their employees III
they have in the past.
Il am entirely satisfied with the acti
taken by the miners. They did not {
eide the question with IL view to plct
ing me. but took the step because il 5!
istied them. II was in their hands. Il
they showed an extraordinary spirit
fairness"
When Mr. Mitchell was asked in wi
manner the operators would be Motif,
in view of the fact that they do NOT II
a ognize the United Mine Workers. he 81
Fl the employers would probably find il {
81 through the newspapers,
n I'VE gathered most Of our nformati
as To what the operators are doing"
"a said, from the newspapers, and l 81
pose they are doing the same"
Al Both OF Saturdays sessions We're agi
NJ held in secret. AT the morning sessi
% the entire wage scale was discussed
all its phases, and in order that sor
# thing tangible could be brought bef,
# the convention n committee of 13 was
pointed for the purpose Of drafting il
resolutions the suggestions made by
# delegates. This committee consisted
President Mitchell, the presidents of I
# ti-ts ~. and ~. 2. far secretary