New-York tribune., 1902-10-08
WILL VOTE TO REMAIN OUT.
MITCHELL'S ANSWER To PRESIDENT
WILL BE BASED on REPORTS
OF LOCALS
TBY TELEGRAPH To TIE rn1BuNr.l

Wilkesbarre. Penn. oct 1t is expected that
a reply 10 President Roosevelt's proposal for a
settlement of the strike will he sent on Thurs
day by President Mitchell This proposal is un-
derstood TO he for the strikers TO return TO work.
whereuPon commission appointed by President
Roosevelt viii inquire into the conditions and
report 10 Congress So far as can now be
learned President Mitchell and the union will
decline 10 accept the offer. The refusal will
be based on the returns 10 be made tomorrow
by the locals throughout the region.
The locals viii meet at p. m. TO reaffirm
their determination % remain on strike and
their allegiance to President Mitchell and the
union At headquarters tonight II Is reported
by the officers that there will be a unanimous
vote 20 this effect. and also declaration that
the troops not needed I'm the region. and
that. despite their presence the operators will
DE unable 20 supply the market with coal As
soon as the Locals have met this action will be
telegrarhed o. M Mitchelrs headquarters. His
reply 20 the President will then be formulated.
The President will he told that the miners be-
Ieve that they have almost won. that the oper-
ators must soon give In. and that it would be
suicidal now to relinquish all they have gained
for a faint hope that the commission Will be
able 10 improve their condition
The strikers. according 10 the minor officers
representing the locals who report at headquar-
ters are unalterably opposed to returning 20
work unless they gain some substantial conces-
sion Since the entire guard ordered 70 the
field they are more determined than ever not
only TO stay out. hut 10 get the men who are
now at work 10 quit.
The operators to-day expressed their conf
derce IN icing able 10 resume work at num-
or OF coueri.s and gradually To break the
strike. providing the troops We're properly dis
tributed. Their plan IS 20 have soldiers guard
all the collieries working and the adjacent min
ing villages In order 20 protect the houses Of
non union men and the men themselves on their
vay 10 and from work This plan has been
adopted by Major General Miller. The ten
thousand troops IL Is estimated, viii allow a
couple OF hundred for each working now running
and a sufficient guard for the houses Where the
workers live. IL is believed that twice as many
coIlieries can be started without weakening tho
force so that II would be ineffective
There viii be a brigade I'm each coal held- Inc
first under General SChall. viii occupy the Ter
ritory now occupied by General Goblin the
SchuyIkill and the Panther Greek valley Win
headquarters at Tamaqua- This district Includes
Shenandoah. Pottsville and Lansford
The Third Brigade. now i'm the held VIII nave
the most important territOry-all or the upper
coal field, comprising Wyoming. LackaWanna
and Luzerne counties. district as large as the
other regions combined. and where four-htths or
the work Is being done General tiobih VIII
establish his headquarters here. pTobaniy ar,
riyinR on Thursday. when the First Brlgahe VIII
roach its station An elaborate slshal service
will be used day and night 10 keep the outlying
cOmpsuies I'm touch with one anothtI anu 'ue
main camps Ry Friday II is expected that all
tba men viii be under canvas Major General
Miller will direct the movement OF the troops
from Harrisburg.