Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-07-10
STRIKE OF COAL MINERS
The National Civic Federation Has hot
Ceased Its Effort to Bring
ADoat Peace.
MAY SOON MAKE A PROPOSITION
The Plan is Now Being Well
Guarded.
SEAL OF SECRECY IS ON EVERY ONE

Wilkesbarre. Pa, July 6 The Asso-
ciated Press is able to announce that
the National Civic Federation, which
tried TO prevent the anthracite coal
miners strike, has not exhausted all
Its means in an effort to bring about
peace in the anthracite coal fields. An
investigation which was started soon
after the miners laid down their picks
IS still in progress, and it is believed
the Inquiries now being made will
result in a definite proposition TO end
the struggle. 1t is understood that the
Federal government, through the De
partment OF Labor. is assisting in this
work. A few weeks ago Walter E.
Meyl, representative of the Depart
ment of Labor, at Washington. and
Prof. John r Commons of the Civic
Federation made tour of the anthra-
cite coal regions in quest OF informa-
tion. They paid particular attention to
the questions of the cost of labor and
mining coal, the selling price of that
fuel and also as to whether the increase
of wages Of the mine workers has kept
race with the Increased price of the
necessities of life. These two men in
terFiewed strikers, labor leaders, news
Paper correspondents and, in fact, all
persons who you'd in any way know
anything of existing conditions. Their
work was done SO quietly that few
persons in the region knew who they
really we're, or the object of their in
designations. While in Wilkesbarre,
Prof Commons held a long conference
with President Mitchell, during which
he was shown a copy of Mir. Mitchell's
statement replying to the letters of
tho ff14l s.-1s ,E
about two weeks ago. Mr.. WsyI. who
is a statistieian in the Department of
Labor, contributed to the report made
by Commissioner Carroll ID Wright
to President Roosevelt While his
particular work is not done directly
with q view of bringing the suspension
Of mining to an end, it is believed his
labors Will materially assist the Civic
Federation. The exact plan or PROPOSE
tion to be formulated cannot be learned
here. The seal of secrecy has been
placed on every one who has any
knowledge of the work that is going on.
President Mitchell returned from
New York today. Awaiting him at
headquarters was Harry White, seere-
tary of the National Garment Workers,
who is also member of the National
Civic Federation. Mr.. White held an
extended conference with the miners
chief, at which a plan for the CO
operation OF the trade unions through
out the country was considered. 1t is
the desire of nearly all the organiza-
lions affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor and other indie
pendent unions to assist the miners,
and the representatives of these or
CARNATIONS have gone over the subject
both by letter and in person. Plans of
financial aid have been discussed.
Nothing definite, it is understood, will
be done until the miners announce
that they will accept the proffered aid.
IL they will do so, an enormous national |
fund will be raised to keep them frcJn |
want while they carry on their struggle |
against the coal companies for higher |
wages and shorter work days Some |
influential men of large means, Mr..
White said, have interested themselves |
in the miners cause. They have voIun-
teered to assist in this undertaking. |
These sympathizers of means and in
fuenee. Mr.. White added, will endeavor
to enlist the support Of the general
public with view Of collecting sup
plies and money from people outside /
the ranks of organized labor. The
financial plan, If approved and carried
out, would. it is believed, tend to Offset
the sentiment Of the striking miners
for general strike of coal mine
workers, a. it offers another method
By which the strikers are enabled to
continue the suspension with the hope
Of success. Some of the leaders fear
that a general strike would so incon-
the public as to ALLEVIATE the |
sympathy of the people in general.