New-York tribune., 1902-08-09
WAGES WILL NOT BE CUT.
.NOTHER" HOMES TALKS ABOUT WEST
VIRGINIA CONDITIONS-ANOTH
WASHERY BURNED.
GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


Wilkesbarre Penn Aug. S.-The position of the
operators was defined clearly this evening 10y
them. and a rumor that has been going about Tor
some time emphatically denied They say
that il has been stated by strike leaders that
# the strike Is lost The Of the workers viii
he reduced. President Mitchell had started this
by his assertion that the operators. il they Win.
will make the pay for the strike ana others
had elaborated upon this until many Of the stflk-
ers believe their wages will be cut down when they
resume work Superintendents and operators
united in saying that the companies VIII stand by
their agreement of March J. to continue the rate
Of wages paid before the strike until April l. 1893,
and thereafter subject TO sixty days notice. while
the local differences of the viii be adjusted
as heretofore at the respective coheries.
The arrival here cf Mother" Mary Jones this
morning aroused gteat interest among the strikers
She came direct from West Virginia. and had
long conference with President Mitchell, but what
1t was about neither would say. In the afternoon
she left here for Scranton and tomorrow will re-
turn to West Virginia. OF the conditions there she
said:
Words cannot describe the treatment Of the men
little except work and the compensation is 50
small that ii makes the ordinary mortal boil with
Indignation The mine owners are aFDitraIy' anu ana
will concede nothing The courts too. are on their
their power to break the strike, but they will not
succeed. These seek only Justice, and they
is a time comiug-i hone ii is not far dstaut-when
the honest of the country will forcibly protest
against government by Injunction. II IS demoral-
iZing.
some OF the mine leaders have been placed in
jail but that has not retarded the moyement Of
course. miss these brave fellows onward and
upward has been the ain of the mine workers. and
there viii be stop until the goal Is reached.
They have justice on their side.
President Mitchell corrected report that he was
to appeal President Roosevelt for the pardon OF
strike leaders who are jailed in West Virginia He
said:
There two or. three lesser steps provided by
law he taken before an appeal is laid before the
President In these steps fail. presidential
appeal will be resorted TO- Just what the law
provides TO be done before such appeal IS made
/ don't know. but is row in the hands of
the lawyers We are giving to Ii dilgent considera-
with all possible dispatch
There has been much talk Of the depopulation OF
the region by the continued exodus to the West,
Of II President Mitchell said:
Many miners who left this region to better their
condition will never come back unless the anthra-
cite operators pay better wages ! ne anthracite
workers mus be paid in proportion, 10 the amount
paid to men In other branches OF industry. large
percentage of the striker have had employment
during the summer. and at the Gnu OF ihlS three
months strike most of them are IN a better hnan-
cial condition than is thought IIey VIII not re-
turn 10 work in the mines until there is settle
ment, that is certain
The second washery IN the scranton district
be DESTROYED within = week by incendiaries was
burned this morning. was the tapouse. Of the
Scranton Coal Company. Superintendent Cummings
says that he does not blame the strikers, but
poets souaA men v-om he di-harged yesterday.