The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-10-09
A STRIKERS CONVENTION
70 Be HELD TO PASS ON OFFER OF
THE COAL MINE OPERATORS
MORE COLLIERIES CLOSE DOWN
Two Thousand Strikers March to the
Pardee d Co. Mines at Lattimer and
Compel the Men to Cease Work.
Operators Agree TO Increase Wages.
President Mitchell Addresses a
Monster Meeting of strikers.


President Mitchell Addresses
Monster Meeting Of strikers.
Hazleton, Pa, October 6-Nearly q
900 strikers, with fifty women and
girls, marched into Lattimer early this
morning and completely tied up the
two collieries of Calvin Par4ee & Co,
located at that place. 1t was the great
est march that has taken place since
the strike began.
The crowd was made up of strikers
from McAdoo, Audenreid, Jenesville
and HaZleton on the south side, and
Harwood, Eberhaie, Jeddo Freeland
and Upper Lehigh on the north side.
The women and girls came from the
now famous borough of McAdoo. Sher-
iff Harvey and a handful of deputies
Were at Lattimer when the strikers
arrived and the marchers were instant
ly on the move. There was no disturb
ance at any time. The men and the
women were we'll behaved.
This is the most exciting day Latti-
mer has had since the tragedy three
years ago. The strikers from the
south side concentrated on the
back road to the place. They had
left their homes at midnight' The
women, including Mother Jones' y
were conveyed in wagons, while the
men walked.
1t was a little before o'clock when
the 1000 southside men entered Latti-
mer, headed by a fife and drum CORPS
he 1,a Of r.
males, who was a pretty Polish girl,
carried a large American flag. They
marched and counter-marched on the
Lattimer public road until O'Clock a.
m, when the whistle blew for the
starting of work at the collieri5s A
as 1t saw that no one responded to the
call. Shortly after this a faint cheer
was heard in the distance, and sudden
1y crowd, which proved to be tha
northside marchers who had gathered
on the opposite side of the town.
burst through a gate on the fEtfneu
end Of the company's property about
half. a. mile away. They came st. cam
ing in by the hundreds and rushed
down the company'S railway then
across the strippings and Joined the
Southside force on the public road on
! the very spot where the twenty-five
marchers were shot by GeputI as in
across the company's property it looked
| as if the leaders of the southside
| strikers would lose control of the men
| and they too would break and overrun
| the private grounds. but they were
| held in check. If they had gotten on
the property the sheriff with his small
| force would have beel absolutely pow
erless to deal with the 1000 cheering
| marchers.
| The combined forces after a short
| rest, formed two by two and with the
women and girls in the lead, started
| on another parade through the town.
| The women marchers called the Latti-
| names, while those thus assailed re-
| mained mute for fear of being attack
| ed. This was kept up until S o'clock,
| when the marchers began 10 leave for
| their various home towns.
AN IMMENSE GATHERING OF
STRIKERS.
| Shenandoah, Pa, October 6.-This
| town today witnessed the biggest dem
| onstration ever held within it's limits
| Over 5000 striking mine workers
| marched through the streets and up tC
| Soldiers Monument park, Locust
Mountain, where they held a mass
| meeting and listened to words of en-
encouragement from President Mitchell
| of the United Mine Workers Oh
| America.
The strikers came from all sections
| from nearby points marching in body
headed by bands. while those from
more remote points came in trolley
cars. President Mitchell spoke briefly
and was frequently interrupted by
cheers. His most important statement
was one informing the strikers tha
they would soon meet in convention
CT, t0
for the first time that in few days q
convention will be called. Every nine
will be requested to send delegates L
you believe a net advance of 10 pc
cent in wages is enough then you
votes viii decide the question. If yos
prefer that the strike shall go on
Mitchell will be with you In thi
strike we must all win together or e,
down together"
Mr.. Mitchell again took occasion t,
deny the charges that the strike wa
brought on for political purposes ant
that the bituminous ccal operator
were connected with it.
Mr.. Mitchell declared that despit
the statement OF the operators tina
they would not recognize the uniol
they had already done so by announc
ing the 10 per cent increase. He sal,
it was strange that this advance wa
not granted until the United Min
Workers came here.
ALL OPERATORS AGREE TO THI
| INCREASE IN WAGES.
Scranton, Pa, October 6-Th
United Mine Workers cannot mucl
longer consistently delay the call for
convention to consider the 10 per cen
offer. On Tuesday last six of the larg
companies representing 6S per cent o
the total tonnage posted notices of tn
offer. A number of smaller companie
did likewise. Today, as a result O
yesterdays meeting Of the individus
: operators most of the more importan
individual operators concurre6
offer, and. on top of all this, the Della
ware & Hudson Company, operatin
twenty-one collieries and carrying
per cent of the total tonnage, fell int
line this afternoon by posting the no
tees. The Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany is the only large operator in thi
region that has not posted notice.
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