Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-10-18
THE MINERS STRIKE.
The Convention Of Mine Workers
Consider the Operators Offer.
RESOLUTIONS that WERE PASSED.


Operators Decline TO Di.cusa Miners Ac-
tion--An Impression at Wilkesbsrre
That the Strike win soon End
Miners Terms . OF Acceptable.
Scranton, Pa, Oct. 15.-In order to
settle the great strike in the anthra-
cite region the operations will have
to yield another point. The conven-
ton of the United Mine Workers OF
America closed Saturday afternoon,
after passing resolutions agreeing to
accept the ten per cent. raise in wages
that had been offered providing that
the companies agree to maintain the
new rate for specified period and to
abolish the sliding scale of wages pre-
vailing in the Lehigh and Schuylkill
districts. If these propositions prove
unacceptable, the mine workers are
willing to submit the questions at is
sue to board of arbitration. They
unanimously agreed that work should
not be resumed in any colliery until
all operators have accepted.
These resolutions were adopted
after a long, heated discussion. 1t
seemed at one time as though the del
egates would repudiate the leaders
and insist that they must have redress
for other grievances before returning
to work. In the end John Mitchell,
president of the organization, and his
associates on the executive board pre-
vailed and resolutions that met their
approval were rushed through. They
had no intimation that the companies
that have hitherto paid by a sliding
scale would be willing to adopt the
regular rate paid in the Lackawanna
and Wyoming valleys, but they be-
lieved that this concession could be
obtained. Mr.. Mitchell has held that
the general raise of ten per cent. con-
stituted a great victory for the men
and that it should be accepted.
Decline to Discuss Miners Action.
Hazleton, Pa, Oct. 15.-The indi-
vidual coal operators who could be
seen here yesterday declined to dis
cuss the action taken by the anthra-
cite miners convention at Scranton
Saturday. Neither would they say
what steps the employers would prob
ably take. 1t is evident from their
reticence that the individual mine
owners are waiting to see what the
large coal carrying railroads that mine
coal will do II is reported in the coal
region that the presidents of these
roads will hold conference in New
York to-day for discussion of the ac-
ton of the convention.
There was story afoat yesterday
that the operators will accept the con-
vention's decision but nothing has
come to the surface in this region on
which to base the report.
The United Mine Workers officials
say they are now again waiting on the
operators and that they will continue
to close up the colleries that have
been in operation since the strike be-
gan four weeks ago. There are many
reports in circulation that if the
strike continues much longer break
in the ranks of the idle men will oc-
cur.
President Mitchell and his associate
officials, however, reassert their con-
fidence that the men. both union and
non-unlon, VIII remain away from
the mines until after the strike is
declared off. There is fear prevalent
in this region that il some of the men
do return to work trouble would prob
ably arise through efforts of the strik-
ers to persuade the men to remain on
strike.
All the collieries that are working
still remain heavily guarded.
Impression That Strike WIZ ,oon End.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Oct. ia canvass
of the operators of the Wyoming val
ley yesterday shows that there is con,
siderable opposition to grant the
miners any more concessions than
those outlined in the original offer,
namely ten per cent. increase without
any conditions. The individual opera
tors especially are opposed to tying
themselves up to any agreement. One
operator said the only way the strike
can be settled is for the strikers to
accept the ten per cent. without any
provisions.
Superintendent Chase, of the Le-
high Coal company, said: "Not much
dependence can be placed on the men
when it comes to arbitration. This
was shown in the case of Mr.. Markle.
He favored arbitration, but at the
behest of Mr. Mitchell his miners re-
pudiated the agreement they made
with their employer. The demand of
the. strikers that the operators should
agree to pay the increased wages for
a fixed period is too arbitrary and
the operators will hardly agree to it,
Despite the views of the operators
the impression here is that the strike
will be ended this week.
Terms Nat Acceptable to Operators
Shamokin, Pa, Oct. 15.-The terms
of the Scranton convention are not
acceptable to operators and represent
atives of coal carrying companies in
this place and Mount Carmel. The
Readinp officials do not think tho