The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-10-16
5IRlf fL1 NDlf dffRA
II Operators Do Not Meet Their De-
mands. Soft Coal Mines VIII Be
Closed, Preparations on for
Long and Bitter Struggle.

Gnrdclt0 cOaf operators IN new
York on Tuesday or Wednesday
to consider the strike situation.
While the operators declare
they will. not recede from their
present position of offering 10
per cent. increase in wages and
no more, the strikers are not ex-
pected 10 withdraw from the
stand they have taken. Instead
of the strike ending, a long and
bitter struggle is in prospects.
1t is said today that if the
strike is not settled before cleo
ton the companies viii withdraw
their cffer of a 10 per cent. in
crease.
1t is also rumored that next
April, when the bituminous
yearly scale expires, the United
Mine Workers will present to
the operators the alternative of
granting to both hard and soft
coal miners q large increase in
wages or facing a general strike
of all the miners In Pennsyl-
vania, Virginia, Maryland, West
VIRGINIA. Ohio. Tennessee and
Indiana.
A canvass of the operators OF
the Wyoming Valley today
shows that there is considerable
opposition to- granting the min
ers any more concessions than
those outlined in the original Of
fer, namely. 10 per cent. in
crease, without any conditions.
One operator said the only way
the strike can be settled is for
the strikers to accept the 10 per
cent. without any provisions.
Hazleton, Pa, Oct. 15.-The in
dividual coal operators who
could be seen here today declin-
ed to discuss the action taken by
the Anthracite Miners conven-
ton at Scranton yesterday.
Neither would they say what
steps the employers would
probably take.
It is evident from their reti-
cence that the individual nine
owners are waiting to see what
the large coal-carrying railroads,
that mine coal, will do.
1t Is reported : in the coal
regions tonight that the presi-
dents of these roads viii hold q
conference in New York tomor-
row for discussion of the action
of the convention.
There was a story afoat today
that the operators will accept
the conventions decision, but
nothing has come to the surface
in this region on which to base
the report.
The United Mine Workers of
ficials say they are now agaiI
waiting on the operators, and
that they will continue to clos'
up the collieries that have beer
in operation since the strike be
lgan, four weeks ago. 'eis~
There are many reports in cir
culation that if the strike con
tinues much longer a break il
the ranks of the idle men vii
occur.
President Mitchell an his as
lsistant officials, however, reas
sert their confidence that tn
men, both union and non-union
will remain away from the mine
until after the strike is declares
off.
| There is. a fear prevalent il
this region that if some Of tn
men do return to work tronbl
viii probably arise through ei
forts of the strikers to persuad
the men to remain on strike.
! All the collieries that ar
] working still remain heavil
lguarded.
Scranton, Pa, Oct. 15.-In re
sponse to a request fora stats
ment as to his views on the al
swer of the United Mine Worl
lers' to the operators propos
tion, T. A. Watkins, president /
the Temple Iron compan.
which company is largely inte
/. ested in coal minings tonigl
-lgave out somewbat length
statement nc hich he says
: mart: