The true northerner., 1900-09-14
BIG STRIKE
PROBABLE
MATTER WILL re CONSIDERED HI
MINERS EXECUTIVE EOARD.
II OND OCCURS A MILLION PERSONS
WILL he AFFECTED.
THE BOARD WILL PROCEED VERY
CAUTIOUSLY.

indianapolis, Ind, Sept. THE ma
tional board OF the United Mine Work
ers met here yesterday to take action
in regard to the threatened general
strike involving 142,0O0 anthracite coal
miners in Pennsylvania. If the strike
is ordered 10y the national board ap-
proXimateiy 1,0O0,O0o persons viii be
affected The board meeting was
slated for 10 O'Clock. but was delayed
until noon on account of the absence
of Fred Peicifer, who has been at work
in the anthracite fields. Should the
strike be ordered. Hazelton, Pa, the
central city of the region, will be made
the headquarters of the officers Of the
United Mine Workers.
The operators have been granted un-
til Saturday to meet the demands Of
the miners. Among the board mem
bers and others here the hope Is eX-
pressed thai the strike VIII be averted.
Everything, they say, depends upon the
decision OF a. operators.
gion OF Pennsylvania was not consid-
cred at yesterdays meeting of the ex-
ecutive board OF tne United Mine
Workers of America" said President
John Miechell to-day. AS matter Of
fact, | have not placed the matter be-
fore the board" he continued. but it
has been made special order for to-
days session and Will be taken up the
|. I ta.a
time ago that in my opinion there
would be q big strike unless the opera
tors agreed 70 meet Us IN Il wage con
ference. l have no reason TO believe
otherwise how. This is my own opin-
ion. l have not talked with the other
members OF the board about it.
Information from the anthracite re-
Sion indicates the operators will not
meet us ana from this you can draw
your owl, conclusion as 10 what the
outcome will be"
While the refusal of the anthracite
operators 10 meet the miners and their
ignoring of demands made upon them
Tor an advance in wages was not di-
rectly considered by the board, the
members were placing themselves in
possession OF information that will be
useful in the final consideration of the
important matter.
REPORTS were heard from members OF
the board and from organizers not
members who had been at work organ
ling in the bituminouS held These
reports show clearly that there has
been a biz gain in membership. and
that merically the union is stronger
than il has ever been. Another point
TO be gained by becoming informed
upon the conditions ia ;he DituminOus
districts Is that the . ard members
VIII be in position 10 jGuge whether or
not the organization can control "A Sulli-
cient territory to prevent the shipment
OF bitumin0uS coal into the anthracite
field in event that Il strike is ordered.
W. ID. Ryan, Secretary-treasurer of
The Illinois district, is mere and in con-
Sultation with the members of the
board. The treasury of the Illinois
miners is full, and ii is reported on
good authority hat the district con
trolls about 100000. Without the con
sent of the local unions of the district
of Illinois this money would not be al
the command Of the national board
and it is Thought Mr.. Ryan is here for
the purpose of pledGing the financial
assistance Of his district TO the board
III event of Il strike.
Nice-President Thomas Lewis. OF
Ohio, when asked for his views upon
the situation, said.
People generally think that this
board will order a strike i'm a few min.
ntes after the members get together
However, when you stop to reflect that
we are dealing with the biggest promo
sltlon that ever came before the heads
OF any labor organization. you can al
once see that it will be necessary fol
us to proceed very cautiously. If we
get into the fight we must win. and
we certainly will not order strike un
vi the situation has been thoroughly
canyaSsed.
As rule the members of the hoard
are conservative but the general senti
ment Is that there will be strike.