New-York tribune., 1901-03-11
!NLNERS LOATH TO STRIKE.
NOT YET READY TO TRY CONCLUSIONS
FOR THE RECOGNITION OF
THE UNION.

| wtlkesbarre. Penn March 10 (SpeciaD.-The
! offer made Yesterday by the coal companies to
| continue for another year the scale of wages
| and the concessions now existing may lead to a
| conflict between the miners and the union oifi-
ciaIs at the Hazleton convention this week
President Mitchell and the lesser officials OF the
! union have already expressed their dlssatls1ac-
ton with the offer. and declare it is not what
| the miners want because it is a direct slap at
| the union and asserts the determination OF the
operators to ignore it and to refuse to attend the
| Joint conference next Friday.
On the other hand. there many miners
who are satisfied with the present conditions
because they working steadily and making
good wages These miners will oppose any at-
tempt TO force the recognition of the union II
such an attempt means a strike. for they want
to work and the last strike crippled them hnan-
ciaIIv to such an extent that they eager to
catch up again. This does not mean that their
allegiance 70 the union is any less strong than
If has been, or that they are losing confidence
in their leaders. but it is simply business
nroposition with them. They satisfied to go
on as they are now until the conditions are more
favorable to fight for recognition: in other
words, they dislike to give up steady work Their
leaders have been looking forward to the end
ing Of the agreement with the operators on
April / as the time for the fight to gain the
much desired recognition for the union and are
greatly disappointed at the determination of the
operators to refuse this.
They may make the attempt to gain it, and If
this leads to strike everything is in their favor
that was not during their last strike. Now they
are thoroughly organized. and they will have the
assistance of numerous powerful labor organiza
tions that have come into existence since last
November and were largely inspired by the
miners victory
These organizations would help them financial
ly. and if necessity arose would go out on a
sympathetic strike and tie up every industry,
big and little. in the coal regions. Meetings of the
various locals were held throughout the region
to-day. and the delegates who are to go to
the convention Tuesday were instructed
What these instructions the miners will not
say, but many of them expressed the belief that
there will be strike and that there will he an
amicable understanding between the miners and
the operators when the convention is over.
Scranton. Penn, March 10 (SpeciaD.-Presi-
dent John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
of America is here. He said to-day that the
coal operators offer to continue the 10 per cent
advance in the miners wages indicates a
friendly feeling. He hoped that the operators
would show the same disposition regarding the
other question TO come before the Hazleton con-
vention
I'm my judgment" said Mr. Mitchell "the
proper way to adjust wages and insure unin-
terrupted employment is to have annual con-
ployes is done in the soft coal region. There
is good reason why the operators should not
confer with the organization. Last fall they
claimed the organization did not represent the
now Practically speaking, every miner in the
region is now enrolled in the organization"