Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-10-25
MINERS STILL IDLE
AND WITH NO PROSPECT OF I'M
MEDIATE SETTLEMENT.
COMPANIES POST NOTICES
Mitchell Says This Does Not End
Strike = Powder Reduction the
Bone of Contention Now-Mine
Workers Determined to Hold Out
TIL Their Demands are Granted.

Scranton. Oct. 21.-The coal COM
panies Of this region yesterday posted
notices relative to the action taken at
the Philadelphia conference, and with
it an explanatory note upon the pow
der reduction showing how it figures
in the 10 per cent. wage increase. Ma
tional Organizer Dilcher says this does
not meet the demands Of the miners
convention of a week ago, and until
it does there will be no end to the
strike Reports that President Mich
OILS had called another convention Of
Mine Workers is denied by Nichols.
President Mitchell of the United
Mine Workers, admitted yesterday that
if every operator in the region were
to post notices similar to those that
are now being tackled up by some of
the mine owners, this action would in
itself probably not end the strike. He
was asked if all the companies were
to post such notices what his next
step would be. He replied: Under
the conditions laid down by the Scran-
ton miners convention there could be
no partial resumption Of work"
When it was suggested that his re-
ply did not answer the question, he
said: "WelI, all l will say is that if
all of the companies post notices it
would clear up matters considerably.
1t would remove some of the obsta-
cles that now present themselves"
This is the first public statement
that Mr.. Mitchell has made bearing on
a settlement of the contest since the
operators at Scranton took their de-
cided stand that the reduction of the
powder price must be considered in
figuring out the advance In wages.
Notices similar to those already
posted by individual operators in this
region were issued yesterday by J. S.
Wentz e. Co., operating Silver Brook
colliery; Dodson &c Co.. owners of
mines at Morea and Beaver Brook,
and the Mill Creek Coal company,
which operates collieries at Buck
Mountain and New Boston in Schuyl-
kill county. Tyler & McTurk, who op-
crate a washery at Audenreid, en-
ploying about fifty men, have posted
a notice giving employees an increase
in wages of 10 per cent. The only
large individual operators in this re-
giOn who have not posted what is
known as the second notice are Coke
Bros. & Co, G. B. Markle & Co. and
the Lehigh & Wilkesbarre Coal com
pany.
Hazelton, Oct 23.-President Mitch
ell, in an interview last night, prac-
tically admitted the anthracite coal
miners strike would end as soon as
all operators posted notices guarantee
ing payment of the 10 per cent. adj
vance in wages, until April l. Mitchell
said: THE prospect of an early set
Element of the coal strike is becoming
brighter Some operators have not
yet posted notices signifying their
willingness to fall in line, either with
the Reading company or with the
proposition made by the Lehigh Val
ley company in the Hazelton region.
Ii all of th n notify the employees by
posting notices or otherwise that an
actual advance of 10 per cent. will be
paid each mine employee and guaran-
tee it's continuance until April /, to-
gether with the abolition of the slid
ing scale, | believe the terms will be
accepted by the mine workers. The
reduction in powder from $2.75 to
$1.50 has confused the minds of the
miners, but believe this obstacle can
be overcome" Although the outlook
for an early settlement of the strike
is bright, it is difficult to make a pre-
diction as to when the end will come
Some coal companies are showing
a disposition to not issue a second no.
tice guaranteeing payment Of the 10
per cent increase in wages until April.
Among these the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western Delaware & Hudson
officials are reported to have
declined to issue a supplemental
notice Mitchell appeared cheerful
when he made the announcement. his
manner indicating the time was near
ct hand when all anthracite miners
now on the strike shall return to the
mines. AS soon as all notices guaran-
teeing payment of the advance until
April l are posted, Mitchell will call a
meeting of the national executive
board when it is believed the strike
will be declared off.
The largest labor demonstration
ever held in this city took place yes
terday when nearly 1000 miners pa
raded the streets. In a carriage at
their head rode Mitchell, who received
an enthusiastic ovation all along the
line of march. Mitchell reviewed the
parade at the end of the route. after
which mass meeting was held at
which he was the principal speaker.
He said the strike was in such pecu-
liar position that it was hard to out
line just what the result would be. He
believed the time not far distant.
however when every mine would be IN
operation and that the men now had
practically won the strike
Strikers Families in Want.
Shamokin, Oct 23.-For the first
time since the anthracite coal strike.
public appeal for aid was made here
yesterday by committee calling on
business men, collecting money and
provisions for impoverished families
of the strikers.