Evening journal., 1900-10-23
Monster Labor Demonstration
Is Held in HazIetOn
OPERATORS MAKE "A PROTEST
Say They Do Not Feel Disposed to
Crafty the Whim Of John
Mitchell

Hazleton, Pa, Oct. 23.-PPesident
Mitchell in an interview last night,
practically admitted that the anthra-
cite coal miners strike would end as
soon as all the operators posted a no
tice guaranteeing the payment Of a 10
per cent advance in wages until April
j. President Mitchell said:
THE prospect Of an early settlement
of the coal strike is becoming brighter.
Some of the operators have not yet
posted notices signifying their willing
ness to fall in line either with the
Reading company or with the PROPOSE
tion made by the Lehigh Valley COM
pany in the Hazleton region. If all OF
them notify their employees by posting
notices or otherwise that an actual ad-
vance of 10 per cent will be paid each
mine employe, and guarantee its con-
tinuance until April /, together with
the abolition of the sliding scale, be-
lieve that the terms would be accepted
by the mine workers. The reduction
in powder from $2.75 to S1.50 has con-
fused the minds Of the miners, but
some of the operators have so fully
explained how contract miners could
receive the full advance OF 10 per cent
as well as all other employees that be-
lieYe that this obstacle can be over
come"
Although, as President Mitchell says.
the outlook for an early settlement Of
the strike is bright, it is difficult to
hiah~ a prediction as to when the end
Will come. Some or the coal companies
are showing a disposition not to issue
a second notice guaranteeing the pay
ment Of the 10 per cent increase in
wages until April. Among these are
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern and the Delaware and Hudson, the
officials Of which companies are re-
ported to have declined to issue a sup
Elemental notice. The labor leaders,
however, hope that the companies will
in some way make known that they
will guarantee the payment Of the ad-
vance until April l.
President Mitchell appeared quite
cheerful when he made the announce
ment as above, and his manner indi-
Gated that the time is near at hand
when all the anthracite miners now on
strike shall return 10 the mines. As
soon as all the notices guaranteeing
the payment of the advance until April
i are posted, President Mitchell will
call a meeting Of the national execu-
tive board, at which II is believed the
strike will be declared of.
The largest labor demonstration ever
held in this city took place yesterday,
when nearly 1000 miners paraded the
streets. In a carriage at their head
rode President Mitchell, who received
an enthusiastic ovation all along the
line of march. Thousands Of miners
accompanied by their families came to
the city from every mining town in the
region to view the parade Besides the
miners from this vicinity, there were
$50 men in line who had tramped -1S
miles over the mountains from the
Panther Creek valley. They, with the
McAdoo miners, who are famed
throughout the coal fields for their
perseverance in marching and closing
collieries, were the heroes of the pa
rade. Three bus loads of the march
ing women Of McAdoo and 100 small
breaker boys, dressed in their work
ing clothes, and with lighted mine
lamps in their caps, were at the head of
the line, Immediately behind the car
riages containing the United Mine
Workers officials. Many notices ex-
pressing the sentiments Of the strikers
were carried in the procession. Presi-
dent Mitchell was the principal speak
er. He said the strike was in such a
peculiar position that It was hard to
outline just what the result would be.
He believed the time was not far dis
tant, however. when every mine would
be in operation. and that the men now
had practically won the strike.