Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-09-29
DAY OF lNACTION.
Striking Miners Are Quietly
Awaiting Developments.
No Doubt That Operators win offer
10 Per Cent, Advance.
Senator Hanna Said 10 Be Working for Settle.
mont Ct Strike.

Hazclton, Pa. Sept 2S-Notwith-
standing the rumors Of settlement and
of concession on the part of the opera
tors, there was no change in the great
coal strike situation here, tOday. 1T
was probably the most inactive dav
that President Mitchell and his Off
cial STAFF have spent since the strike
began. The day gave promise " de-
veloping important events at the Unit
ed Mine Workers Headquarters but all
those interested were doomed 10 dis
appointment. That President Mitch
ell was waiting for information from
New York cannot BIG denied. as he in
tinated several times during the day
that something might develop before
night In the forenoon NE had two
lengthy conversations over the long
distance telephone, and between ana
o'clock, this afternoon, h was at the
wire for more than half an hour. no
whom he talked he declined to say.
In discussing the reported 10 per cent.
advance offered the men by the opera
tors, Mr.. Mitchell said: Under the
sliding scale. such an increase practi-
cally amounts to nothing; what the
men would gain in one day they might
lose the next"
BY the sliding scale IL meant that
wages are fixed according 10 the mar
ket price Of coal. If there is an advance
in the price the miners share in it and
should there be a decrease the min
ers correspondinEly share such dc-
crease.
If an increase Of 10 per cent. in
wages is offered the miners it Will
probably be done BY means VI posted
notices. ana the personal visitation az
representatives, of the mine owners and
not to the United Mine Workers, he
cause the operators say they viii
never recognize the organization. If
the men so informed desire to consider
the proposition they would have a
meeting Of their local union called for
the purpose If having the officers of
those bodies notify the three district
presidents. These presidents would in
form the national president. As Nj
Mitchell is not empowered To accept
anything less than alI the miners dc-
mands. he could do nothing but in
struct the men to refuse the offer.
III the strikers should fen that they
ought to entertain the proposition they
can ask the national president through
a local union meeting and then dis
trict convention tn call joint CON
vcnti1n for three districts. The request |
however. would not BE- compulsory. thu
national president being allowed 10
use his Judgment
The demands Of the men We're fixed |
BY q Joint convention nf the three dis |
tricts They cannot accept anything |
less than those demands without a two |
thirds vote Of three districts in joint |
convention, which can settle any
question concerning the strike.
quiet continues to prevail throughout |
the whole LehiGh Valley region. Tho !
J. s. Wentz GO. Colliery AT Hazclhro0k /
shut down. today. There We're fcw |
changes in the working forces Of the |
Collcries which have not been shut
down
A big mass meeting was held alt I
Beaver Meadow, tonight. where the /
only colliery in the south side. that IF /
Coke Brothers. is in operation. y
Speaking of the general strike situ-
alton. tonight. Mr. Mitchell said.
This has been the greatest indus
trial contest between labor and capital |
in the history M America The man-
ner in which tn mean have Voluntarily
responded for The strike demonstrates.
beyond the possibility Of a doubt. that
the conditions under which they labor
I'd 50 long We're 50 unbcarahle that tn
continue working meant tp surrender
absolutely all hope Of maintaining
themselves and families as the Amrl-
l.1f.,-., .lr !
number If men VINO responded tp the
strike order is fully up to anticiplt.ons.
If the - per cent. increa+" men
toned in the newspapers is correct,
while far from satisfactory. ID is thu
greatest victory ever achieved by or-
ganizcd labor ana Won under the most
adverse circumstances. l. of course.
have nothing to say as to what action
Will be taken As tn the acceptance or
rejection Of any proposition. This
must be determined by the whole body
IF anthracite miners themselves. our
organization will not make the mistake
which has wrecked many other organ
cations Of assuming the power to de-
.ermine through its officers The happi-
ness or misery. the veal or woe. Of the
100 900 men and women ana children
dependent upon the anthracite Goa! in
lustry for a livelihood.
eve take the position in this CON
est as we have in all others, that cap
tai Il entitled To fair compensation on
honest investment, but that no insti-
ution has a legitimate right to exist
which does not afford labor a sufficient
ate Of wages to enable those depend
ng upon it to earn a fair living"