The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-29
MITcHELL's STATEMENT.
The Miners Themselves Must Deter
mine What Is Best to BE Done.

mine What Is Best to BE Done.
HAZLEToN. Pa, Sept. eS.-Notwith-
standing the rumors of settlement and of
concession upon the part Of the operators,
there was no change in the great coal
strike situation here to-day. 1t was prob
ably the most inactive day that President
Mitchell and his official staff have spent
since the strike began. The day gave
promise of developing important events
at the United Mine Workers headquarters
but all those interested were doomed to dis
appointment. That President Mitchell was
waiting for information from New York
cannot be denied. as he intimated several
times during the day that something might
develop before night In the afternoon he
had two lengthy conversations over the
long distance telephone. and between and
8 O'Clock this afternoon he was at the wire
for more than an hour. To whom he
talked he declined to say, but he gave out
the information that he had nothing to
impart. When he was pressed. however
TO say something on the general situation,
he said:
This has been the greatest Industrial
contest between labor and capital I'm the
history OF America The manner in which
the strike demonstrates beyond the pos
sibility OF doubt that the conditions un-
der which they labored so long were un-
bearable. that TO continue working meant
to surrender absolutely all hope OF main
tanning themselves and families as the
American citizen believes they should. The
number OF men who responded TO the strike
order is fully up TO anticipation.
IF the 10 per cent. increase mentioned in
the newspapers Is correct, while far from
satisfactory. IL is the greatest victory ever
y. wr.1 r~n4o Ia1.A
der the most adverse circumstances. l.
CT course. have nothing 10 say as TO what
acion will be taken as to the acceptance
or rejection of any proposition: this must
be determined by the whole body OF anthra-
cite miners themselves. Our organization
will not make the mistake which has
wrecked many other organizations Of as
suming the power 10 determine through its
officers the happiness or misery. the veal
or woe. or the $4,000 men. women and chill
dren dependent on the anthracite coal in
dustry for q livelihood.
1--WE take the position In this contest
as We have In all others. that capital is
entitled TO fair compensation on honest
investment, but that no institution has n
legitimate right 10 exist which does not
AFFORD labor sufficient rate OF wages to
enable those depending upon ii to earn a
fair living"
In discussing the reported 10 per cent.
advance offered the men by the operators.
Mr. Mitchell said: Under the sliding
scale such an increase would practically
amount 10 nothing; what the men wouli
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 II there is an advance in the price
the miners share IL, and should there be
q decrease the miners correspondingly
share such a decrease.
ouietness continues to prevail throughout
the whole Lehigh Valley region. The J..
s wentz s. Co.'S colliery at Hazel Brook
shut down to-day. a body OF one hundred
men having marched from Freeland to that
place and induced the men working In the
wentz colliery 10 quit. There were few
changes In the working forces in the COL
lieries which have not been shut down.
A big mass meeting was held at Beaver
Meadow tonight, where the only coIlierv
on the South Side, that OF Coke Bros q.
Co.. 10 In operation The mass meeting was