The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-13
THE PROBABLE RESULTS
Will Cut Anthracite Mines Output rs
Per Cent.
PRACTICALLY STOPPING OPERATIONS
Among The Demands Made by the Mine Are
The Abolition of the Company Store
and an Increase in Their

(By the Associate Press.)

Indianapolis Ind, Sept. 12.-At 5:15
o'clock this. afternoon President Mitchell
and Secretary Wilson, of the United Mine
Workers of America, affixed their sigma
lures to the document calling 142,-
600 miners of the Pennsylvania anthra-
cite region from their work Monday
morning and precipitate one of the most
gigantic strikes in the history of the
labor world
The document was the official endorse
ment of the request of the anthracite
districts to strike. 1t was considered by
the national executive board of the mine
workers last week and when the board
adjourned all power to endorse the re-
quest for the strike was left in the hands
of the national president and secre-
tary.
This afternoon President Mitchell and
Secretary Wilson sat in the headquar-
ters receiving kilograms from different
parts Of the anthracite region, and hop
ing, they said, that each message might
be some concession from the operators
that would prevent the strike, but none
came.
The three district presidents reported
this afternoon that of the $4,000 men in
the three districts 1874 500 would go on
strike Monday. President Mitchell
would not state what secret forces were
at work to prevent the strike and which
caused the delay He said the person
at work had offered his services volun-
tarily and the matter was confidential.
AS to maintaining the men during the
strike he said:
When men are fighting for just wages
they can subsist on very little. At any
rate it is safe to say that nobobdy will
starve or want for necessary clothing.
Most Of the men live in company houses
and We must consider the probability of
eviction, but these things have all been
fully considered and will be met as they
present themselves. At this time itN
would be folly for the organization to go
into details as to the provision made for
feeding and clothing the strikers"
President Mitchell will leave Saturday
for Hazleton, Pa, to personally conduct
the strike.
WHAT THE STRIKE MEANS.
Philadelphia, September 12.-The order
of President Mitchell calling out the min
ers in the anthracite coal region of this
States recalls the last great strike in the
same district three years ago, which was
practically ended by the tragedy at Lati-
mer, in which twenty miners were
killed and over fifty wounded by deputy
sheriffs. The strike inaugurated today
by the United Mine Workers, will for the
time being, terminate operations in the
most productive hard coal field in the
world.
The mine employees in the anthracite
district of Pennsylvania number about
$4,000. The membership of the union is
not known TO certainty but leaders
claim that about 80 per cent of the miners
are organized. The union men do not an
ticipate any difficulty in inducing the un-
organized miners to strike.
The closing of the mines is expected to
reduce the regular coal production rs per
cent. Should the strike continue over q
period of two months the loss will amount
to many millions of dollars. Officers Of
the miners union estimate that the orr
ganization has a cash balance of $1,000
900 in the treasury, with which to conduct
the strike.
The more important of the miners de-
mands are the following:
Abolition Of the company stores reduc-
tion in the price of powder to $3.50 keg;
abolition of company doctors semi month
ly payment of wages abolition OF the slid
ing scales wages paid in cash; twenty
two hundred and forty pounds to the ton;
an advance of twenty per cent in wages
less than $3.50 and not exceeding $1.75 a
day; that all classes of day labor now
receiving S1.50 and not exceeding $1,75
shall receive IS per cent over present
wages; that all day labor now receiving
81. Is shall be advanced 10 per cent.