The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-06
PROFFER NOW
IS GENERAL



limited at this I'm its report to the oper-
ators.
There was a story very generally
credited throughout the city yesterday
to the effect that the individual opera
tors--were promised concessions, with
the understanding that they would
agree not to affiliate with the new Del
aware Valley and Kingston road. u.
L. Fuller, who went to New York with
the committee and was close to it in
all its doings, denies this story en-
phatically and declares the new road
did not at all figure in the conferences.
The Reigning Question.
Just what effect the calling off of the
individual operators strike will have
on the miners strike ia now the reign
Ing question. Through The Tribune,
yesterday, National Organizer Fred
Dllcher, of the United Mine Workers,
stated as one OF the reasons why the
ten per cent. offer was not to be con-
sidered that it was not a general OF.
fer. Yesterday when he was informed
of the action of the individual opera
tors he said, "Well. the chances of a
convention are better than they werc.'
He then fastened to apprise President
Mitchell that the individual operators
had joined in the ten per cent. offer.
Secretary John r. Dempsey. who was
at the conference of the United Mine
Workers officials of the three districts
in Hazleton Wednesday night, reit-
Grated yesterday in the most emphatic
terms that the question OF calling a
convention to consider the ten per cent.
offer was not passed upon. Now. how
ever, Mr.. Dempsey say. the chances
are that a convention will be called.
Every day there bobs up anew some
thing to corroborate The claim so gen.
orally made that the powers that be
in the coal world had an assurance
with President Mitchell before the ten
per cent. offer was made, that such a
proportion would be effective in set
fling the strike. President Mitchell
declares almost daily that he has no
understanding with the coal men. or
any one representing them, but as
vet he has not gone so far as to say
that no official or. mediator of the
United Mine Workers has given the
coal men such assurances.
Story was Revived.
Yesterday the story was revived by
a statement from one high in the
councils of the coal men that a thor
ough understanding was had with the
United Mine Workers leaders that a
ten per cent. raise offered direct to
the employees would result in the set
tlement of the strike, and that the
United Mine Workers not only would
not allow the recognition of the union
to stand as bar to The settlement,
but that they would from the very
first step in the negotiations, insist
that the official recognition OF the
union was not to be considered
A report went out from HaZleton
| Thursday night to the effect that the
United Mine Workers officials at the
Wednesday night conference particu'
larly gave their approval to pro-
position to settle the strike on the ten
per cent offer, and that as soon as
the individual operators fell in line and
posted notices, convention would be
called to consider the offer and have
the offer accepted.
Dispatches going out from Halle
| ton yesterday and bearing every evil
| President Mitchell, told that Mitchell
would be satisfied to have ,the strike
settled at once, without waiting fol
further concessions. and that when {
convention was called Mitchell and hi!
fellow officers of the national organ
ization will be found quietly but ener
getically swinging the miners into lint
for settlement.
1t is significant that those who at
tended Wednesday nights meeting sa!
positively and emphatically that th
ten per cent. offer was not even dis
cussed. This may be true, but If it il
true it is certainly remarkable. SOM
are led to consider it to be what !,
| statecraft is characterized as "diplo
matte evasion" To admit that it wa
even mentioned would be admittin!
that the notices We're brought home t
the board.
No Official knowledge.
The board wants to appear as hav
ing no official knowledge of the offer
A notice of an offer of increased wage
posted on a colliery here and ther
would not warrant the officers of tn
union in assuming that a proffer o
strike settlement had been made.
Now, however, with the offer on all
or great ajority of the collieries
the board will likely permit itself t.
have knowledge thereof, and when i
is discussed, as it will be at once, if |
hasn't been already, the proceeding
will not be ordered "expunged from tn
record" The board will admit that
was discussed.
In fact, it is safe to predict that
will ask the miners to meet in genera
convention to discuss it and act upol
it, So far, Mr.. Mitchell, of the Unite,
Mine Workers, has made no mismove
on the diplomatic checker board.