The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-28
HIGHER WAGES.
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGI

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGED
meeting was held for the purpose of dis
eussing the question of holding the men
should be foot. Mr.. Mitchell has not
yet been officially informed of the opera
tors action. 1t is understood that the of
fer made by the operators does not carry
with IL recognition of the union.
President Mitchell early this afternoon
sent telegram TO the Central Penn
sylvania bituminous coal field which
may have the effect of bringing the soft
coal mine workers into the strike. The
telegram, sent TO Richard Gilbert, secretary
of District No. ?. Clearfield. Pa. was as
Issue circular letter instructing all mine
workers In central Pennsylvania that they
are not to load coal for shipment into mar
kets formerly supplied by anthracite opera
tors. We are informed that the Phiadel-
phia & Reading. Delaware az Hudson and
the Jersey Central Railroads are now at
tempting to defeat anthracite strike by
sending their cars into Central Pennsyl-
vania to have them loaded with bitumn-
Gus coal, Please comply with this request
at once"
President Mitchell said that he had been
watching the bituminous coal fields closely
for just such move as he alleges has been
made by the railroads mentioned In his
telegram and he does not fear that they
will make much of success in getting the
soft coal into the anthracite market. Labor
leaders do not anticipate any suspension of
work in the soft coal fields unless the OPP
orators insist on sending their coal to the
anthracite market They also say that the
PhiladelphiaC& Reading, the Delaware &
Hudson and the Jersey Central railroads.
being unable to fill their contracts for hard
coal. are prevailing upon their customers
TO accept the soft coal wherever il can be
used, as a substitute.
This was a day of rumors. Around strike
headquarters there were stories in circula-
ton that Archbishop Ryan and Senator
Hanna were coming here to see President
Mitchell; that all the coal-carrying roads
had agreed to arbitrate all differences, and
that the strike had been settled. The last
mentioned rumor was the only one which
the labor leaders paid any attention TO, and
in connection with it they sent telegram
TO the presidents OF the union in the three
districts comprising the entire anthracite
coal field of Pennsylvania The telegram is
as follows:
1.-THE report is current that operators have
made concessions in wage scale, and will
attempt to induce mine workers TO resume
work. Please advise all miners in your dis
trict that no attention should be given to
these rumors. and they will be officially
notified should any offer of settlement be
made. Under no consideration whatever
should work be resumed, unless authorized
workers in the anthracite field. II is vitality
important that all miners stand firm and
determined. and not be deceived by those
whose interests it is to defeat the pur-
pose for which the strike was inaugur-
ated'
In speaking about the rumors of a settle
T0e0t MI MITCHELL SAID lO-Qdy the strike
could not be ended without him knowing it,
and that he had no knowledge of any effort
that might now be In progress which would
lead to immediate settlement. Mr..
Mitchelis attention was called TO a dis
patch in which j. p. Morgan is credited
with saying that he (MitchelD would ac-
cept 10 per cent. advance. Mr.. Mitchell
said 1T is absolutely untrue. / am not
empowered to accept anything less than
what the miners in convention decided to
ask for. Anything under those demands
must be acted upon by a regular conven-
ton of delegates representing the anthra-
cite miners" Mr.. Mitchell also denied hav-
ing any knowledge of the opening of ne
gotiations mentioned by President Trues-
dale. of the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western Railroad
The entire Hazleton region was quiet to-
day. and the only noticeable change i'm the
strike situation was at the collieries of G.
B. Markle &c Co. There a consider
able reduction in the forces working at
them. OF the thirty odd collieries in this
region thirteen are completely tied up,
while the remainder are more or less Grip
pied. National Secretary and Treasurer Will
son. of the United Mine Workers. arrived
to-day from Indianapolis He said nothing
definite has yet been done with regard to
the payment of benefits TO the striking
men. The question. he said. will probably
be settled within the next few days.