Abilene weekly reflector., 1900-11-01
THE STRIKE ENDED.
President Mitchell Issues a State.
ment to United Mine Workers.
RAILWAY OFFICIALS And OPERATORS



Uazleton. Pa, Oct. 26.-President
Mitchell, of the United Mine Workers,
gave out a statement addressed to the
strikers last night for publications.
In it he says:
"After carefully canvassng the en-
tire strike situation, we, your officers,
district and national, have concluded
that your victory is so nearly com
pete that no good end can be served
by continuing the strike longer. The
contest has been in progress for ID
days and the companies employing
you have, with few exceptions, slgni-
fled their willingness to pay the scale
of wages formulated by the Scranton
convention of October IL and b.
"While it is true that you have not
secured redress for all your wrongs;
while it is true that the increase in
your earnings will not fully compen'
safe you for the arduous labor you
are compelled to perform, you have
established a perfect organization,
which. If maintained and conducted on
business principles, will enable you
to regulate many of your local griey-
ances and make your employment less
hazardous and more profitable than
before the strike began. The com
panies agree, in their notices, to take
up with their mine employees all griev-
ances complained of. We would
therefore advise that when work is
resumed, committees be selected by
the mine employees, and that they
wait upon the superintendent of the
companies and present their griev-
ances in an orderly, business-like
manner, and ask that they be cor
rected.
"As there are some few companies
who have neither posted, notified nor
signifed in any other manner their
willingness to pay the ten per cent.
advance in wages and suspend the
sliding scale, we would advise that,
unless the men employed by such
companies receive notices before Mon
day that the advance will be paid,
they remain away from the mines and
continue on strike until the companies
employing them agree to the condi-
tions offered by the other companies;
and the employees of the companies
who have offered the advance of ten
per cent. and abolished the sliding
scale are hereby authorized to resume
work Monday morning, October 30,
and to be prepared. il called on. to
contribute reasonable amount of
your earnings for the maintenance of
those who may be compelled to con-
tinue on strike"
There was much rejoicing here last
night when the announcement was
made that the coal strike was at an
end in so far as was concerned the
collieries where the conditions de-
by the miners had been com
piled with. The news spread quickly
and soon kilograms began to arrive
nt headquarters. Most of them con-
graduated President Mitchell on the
ending of the contest.
Everywhere in the region local
unions had been awaitinc the news
and In moment after the Associated
press representative was handed the
decision of the conference the three
district presidents began telephoning
n synopsis of the statement to every
mining town in the coal fields.
BY this means the whole region
heard the news in n short time. The
mine workers officials firmly believe
that all the operators against whom
the strike has not been declared of
will concede the miners demands by
Monday. In fact, it was said by one
Of the higher officials of the union
that the statement was not drawn up
rrtil positive assurances had been re-
ceived that the other companies would
comply with the demands.
No assurance, however, was re-.
ccived, as far as could be learned
from G. b, Markle 4 Co.. in this dis
t"}t, which is the only company that
r. 0ot offered an increase of wages,
T.; s'dent Mitchell declined to say
in regard to the Markle COM
raAys position other than that the
I, .e workers offer was so fair that
J could think Of no valid reason why
(, 4 company should not give that
Z ~ the miners asked,
rL'ra on,' 's ID Os--a o-s coofer.
Philadelphia, Oct. ga conference
J ween the officials of the big coal
ca'rying companies and several indi
rdual coal operators was held yester,
g. + at the office of President Harris,
Of the Philadelphia & Reading Rail.
WY company, The conferees were in
s"ssion about one hour, and although
a. information as to what took place
YVES refused, it was stated that the
question of an early adjustment Of
the coal strike difficulties was con-
sidered The question of a reduction
OF freight charges on the part of the
coal carrying companies was also un-
der discussion. Immediately after the
conference had adjourned President