The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-23

STANTON, Pa. October 1S-Represen-
tatives Of nearly all the big coal COM
panies OF the region conferred here to-
day and made an agreement to amend
the notices already posted by attach
ing the following:
In further explanation of the above
notice this company desires to say that
it is its intention to pay the advance in
wages above noted until April, 1891.
and thereafter until further notice"
The Following statement was issued
to the press:
The representatives of the larger coal
compa nies, after their meeting this af-
ternoon, stated in reply to inquiries
that they had, offered their men a 10
per cent advance as indicated by the
notices they had posted; that this no.
tice specifically stated that the reduc-
ton of,powder from s2.75 to $3.50 would
be considered in arriving at the wages
of the contract miners. 1t was pee
ed when the notices We're posted that
the offer was to stand until April 1st,
and indefinitely thereafter. but mas
49, 60 A&@AS SCSAAo W nc OAAk@ AAA4o-
understanding in this matter they have
agreed TO add to their notice a clause
to the effect that it is their intention
to pay the advance In wages until
April. 1, 1901. and thereafter until fur
Their notice"
National President Mitchell, District
President T. d. Nichols, District Secre-
tary John T.. Dempsey and National
Organizer Dilcher, Of the United Mine
Workers, have all been quoted as say
ing that the resolutions of the Scran-
ton convention contemplated a straight
| advance Of 10 per cent. for all parts OF
the region, and that the matter of hav-
ing this increase made up IN part OF
a decrease in the cost of powder, in
these upper regions, where powder is
sold for $2.75 a key, was not to be
agreed to. The powder question, they,
one and all, said, was left out of the
present negotiations. with the under
standing that it should form one of the
grievances to be adjusted in the con-
ferenceS which h officers say the
operators agree to have with their men
to take up amy grievances they may
have.
President Mitchell, when informed by
telephone of the action of the opera
tors stated that he would have to de-
cline to discuss its probable effect re-
| SdIuIHS StIllSIIitIA III liz ndu given
the mater careful consideration. He
would not say whether or not BIT would
be possible to deal with the difficulty
without calling another convention
President Nichols. whose whole dis
triot is affected by the powder question.
said this evening that 1t looked to him
as if another convention was necessary.
Il do not know that the delegates
will consent to waive their demand for
a straight increase and allow the sub
stitution of this clause about powder,
which the operators are so insistent
about; but without their consent / do
not see how the matter can be adjust
ed. To me it looks like a prolongation
of the fight"
The Gibbons Coal Company's drift,
which supplies fuel for the city schools,
started up this morning full handed,
with the approval of the United Mine
Workers. 1t is understood that the COM
pany shall mine only sufficient Goa TO
fill its contract with the school dis
trict. The men are to receive the
straight 10 per cent. advance. Fifty
hands are employed.
Hazleton, Pa, October 1S.-As far as
ending the coal miners strike is con
cerned, not a move in that direction
was made by the United Mine Work
ers' officials today. President Mitchell
is absolutely silent on all questions
pertaining to the termination of the
contest, and it is not belived that he
will nave anything to say on the sub
ject until he calls a meeting Of the
national executive board for the pur-
pose of considering the question Of is
suing a formal declaration calling the
strike off. When that shall be de-
ponds, it is understood, entirely upon
the operators.
The feeling is prevalent here tonight
that the decision OF TIE operators meet
ing at Scranton today to insist that
the reduction in the price Of powder
must be taken into consideration in
determining h net 10 per cent. Increase
in wages, has complicated matters
somewhat. Further delay in reaching
an amicable settlement Of the trouble
is now feared