The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-10-04
STRIKE CONTINUES.
Hopes for Its Settlement Are Not
Yet Realized.

conferences of mine operators and of
leading officials Of the coal-carrying
railroads were plentiful. Beyond the
general statement that the principal
point under discussion was the advisa-
bility or practicabilitysof granting the
mine workers ten per cent. advance
in wages, very little of the details OF
the meeting could be CLEANED, The
operators generally expressed the
opinion that the increase could not be
granted and the operating expenses
met unless there was an advance in
the price of coal. The larger operat-
ing companies; however, took rather
hesitating view of the proposition
to further increase the price of an
thracite, contending that the compe-
tition of bituminous coal was now too
sharp. President Mitchell, of the
United Mine Workers, is reticent on
the general question of accepting a
ten per cent. increase without other
concessions, and declined to be inter-
viewed on that point. Meantime the
strike leaders are continuing their eff
forts to induce working miners to
join in the strike. Quietude prevailed
throughout the mine region. All eyes
We're turned toward New York in ex-a
pectancy of some important announce
ment from there. .
The situation Reviewed.
Hazleton, Pa Sept. 29.-Notwith-
standing the rmors of settlement and
of concession upon the part OF the OPP
orators, there was no change in the
great coal strike situations here Fri
day. 1t was probably the most mac
tive day that President Mitchell and
his official staff have spent since the
strike began. The day gave prom
Use of developing important, events at
the United Mine Workers headquar-
tiers, but all those interested were
doomed to y disappointment. That
President Mitchell was waiting for in
formation from New York cannot be
denied, as he intimated several times
during the day that something might
develop before night. In the forenoon
he had two lengthy conversations over.
the long-distances telephone, and be-
tween four and five o'clock in the
afternoon he was at the wire. for more
than half an hour. To whom he
talked he declined to say, but he gave
out the information that he had moth
ing to impart. When he was pressed.
however, to say something on the gen.
eral strike situation, he said:
Is Great Contest.
This has been the greatest industrial
contest between labor and capital in he
history of America. The manner in which
the men have voluntarily responded for
the strike demonstrates beyond the pos
sibility of a doubt that the conditions un-
der which they labored so long were so
unbearable that to continue working meant
TO surrender absolutely all hope of main
tanning themselves and families as the
American citizen believe they should. The
number of men who responded to the
strike order is fully up to anticipation.
IF the ten per cent. increase mentioned
in the newspapers is correct, while far
from satisfactory, 1t is the greatest vic
tory ever achieved by organized labor,
and won under the most adverse circum-
stances J. of course, have nothing to
say as to what action will be taken as
to the acceptance or rejection of any propo-
sition; this must be determined by the
whole body of anthracite miners Them
selves. Our organization will not make
the mistake which has wrecked many
other organizations of assuming the power
to determine through its officers the hap
piness or misery, the veal or woe of the
500, 900 men, women and children dependent
upon the anthracite coal industry for
livelihood. We take the position in this
contest as we have in all others, that cap
nal Is entitled to fair compensation on
honest investment, but that no Institution
has a 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 reported ten per
cent. advance offered the men by the
operators, Mr.. Mitchell said: "Under
the sliding scale such an increase
would practically amount 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 an advance in the
. price, the miners share in it, and
SHOULD there be decrease the miners
cofrespondingly share such de-
crease.
: VIII Notify by Poster.
If an increase of ten per cent. in
wages is offered the miners it will
probably be done by means of posted
notices and the personal visitation of
representatives of the mine owners,
and not to the United Mine Workers,
because the operators say they will
never recognize the organization. If
the men so informed desire to con-
slider the proposition they would have
a meeting of their local union called
for the purpose of having the officers
of those bodies notify the three dis
trict presidents. These presidents
would inform the national president.
As Mr.. Mitchell is not empowered to
accept anything less than all the
miners demand, he could do moth
ing but instruct the men to refuse
the offer. If the strikers should still
feel that they ought to entertain the
proposition they can ask the national
president through local union meet
ing, and then district convention, to
caIl joint convention for three dis
tricts. The request, however, would
not be compulsory, the national pres
ident being allowed to use his judg-
ment.
The demands of the men were fixed
by a joint convention of the three
districts. They cannot accept any,
thing less than these demands with
out two=thirds vote. of the three dis.
tricts in joint convention, which alone
can settle any question concerning
the strike. sat 4G.afO{ 3I-1 as