New-York tribune., 1900-09-29
COAL STRIKE UNCHANGED.
BOTH SIDES AWAITING WORD FROM
NEw-YORK
PROPOSED 10 PER CENT INCREASE NOT
SATISFACTORY TO STRIKE LEADERS
OPERATORS AGAINST REC
oGNITIoN OF UNION.

| OPERATORS AGAINST REC
oGNITIoN OF UNION.
| Hazleton Penn. Sept. 2S.-Notwthstandng
the rumors of settlement and Of concessions on
the part of the operators, there was change
| in the great coal strike situation here to-day
| II was probably the most inactive day that
President Mitchell and his official staff have
| spent since the strike began Those who eX-
pected important developments at the United
Mine Workers headquarters were doomed to
disappointment That President Mitchell was
waiting for information from New-York cannot
be denied, he intimated several times during
the day that something might develop before
night In the forenoon he had two long con-
versations over the long distance telephone. and
between and o'clock this afternoon he was
at the wire for more than half hour. To
whom he talked he declined to say. but he said
he had no information to make public. When
he was urged. however. to say something on the
general strike situation he said:
This has been the greatest Industrial contest
between labor and capital in the history of
America. The manner in which the men have
voluntarily responded for the strike demon
strates beyond the possibility of doubt that
the conditions under which they labored SO long
were unbearable that to continue working
meant to surrender absolutely all hope of main
tanning themselves and families as the American
citizen believes they should The number OF men
who responded TO the strike order is fully up to
anticipation.
If the 10 per cent increase mentioned in the
newspapers is correct while far from satisfac-
tory. it is the greatest victory ever achieved by
organized labor, and won under the most ad-
verse circumstances. l. of course, have nothing
to say as to what action will be taken as to the
acceptance rejection Of any proposition: this
must be determined by the whole body of an
thracite miners themselves. Our organization
VIII not make the mistake, which has wrecked
many other organizations, of assuming the
power to determine through it's officers the hap
IN
hundred thousand men and women and children
dependent upon the anthracite coal industry for
a livelihood
We take the position in this contest as
have in all others. that capital is entitled to fair
compensation on honest investment, but that no
institution has legitimate right TO exist which
does not afford labor a sufficient rate of wages
to enable those depending upon it to earn a fair
living.
In discussing the report that 10 per cent ad-
would be offered to the men by the opera
tors Mr.. Mitchell said:
Under the sliding scale such an increase prac-
tcally amounts TO nothing. What the men
would gain in one day they might lose the next
BY the sliding scale" is meant that wages
are fixed according to the market price of coal
If there is advance IN the price the miners
share in IT. and should there be a decrease the
miners correspondiDgly share such decrease.
HOW THE OFFER MAY BE MADE
teTed to the miners it Will probably be done by
means OF posted notices and the personal vista
tion Of representatives of the mine owners be-
cause the operators say they will never recog-
nize the United Mine Workers. II the men so
informed desire 70 consider the proposition.
meetings OF the local unions would be called for
the purpose OF having the officers OF those bodies
inform the three district presidents These
presidents would inform the National president.
AS Mr.. Mitchell is not empowered to accept any
thing less than all the miners demand. he could
do nothing except instruct the men to refuse the
offer II the strikers should still feel that they
ought to entertain the proposition. they could
ask the National president through local union
meeting. and then district convention. to call
a joint convention for the three districts The
request. however. would not be compulsory, the
National president being allowed TO use his
judgment.
The demands of the men fixed by joint
convention Of the three districts. They cannot
accept anything less than these demands with
out a two-thirds vote of the three districts in
joint convention. which can settle any question
concerning the strike. The labor leaders here
say they feel that the union and non-union men
will stand out against the reported offer of
10 per cent increase.
Quiet continues to prevail throughout the
whole Lehigh Valley region. ]. s. Wentz e
Co.'S coliery, at Halle Brook, shut down to-
day. body of one hundred men having marched
from Freeland TO that place and induced the
men working in the Wentz colliery to quit work.
There few changes in the working forces
of the collieries which have not been shut down.
A big mass meeting was held at Beaver
Meadow tonight. where the only colliery in the
South Side. that Of Coke Bros & Co, Is in
operation. The mass meeting was held for the
purpose Of inducing the men in that operation
to discontinue work. President Mitchell was the
principal speaker.
A large parade of miners from the surround
ing towns was proposed to be held in Hazleton
tomorrow, but the Mayor refused TO permit It,
He would give reason. but ii is believed that
he took this step to avoid disturbances.