The Portland Daily Press

STRIKE IS ON.

But Miners Will Accept Ten Per Cent Raise.

Scranton, Pa., October 13.-The anthracite coal miners now on strike, after a two days' convention, late this afternoon decided to accept the ten per cent net increase in wages offered by the mine owners providing they will continue the payment of the advance until next April and will abolish the sliding scale. If the operators consider the proposition unacceptable the miners are willing to arbitrate the questions at issue. They also decided to continue the strike until the operators agree to the convention's proposal. The resolution is as follows:

We, your committee, respectfully submit the following preamble and resolutions for your consideration:

"Whereas, the anthracite coal operators have posted notices offering an advance of ten per cent over wages formerly paid, and have signified their willingness to adjust other grievances with their own employees: and

Whereas, they have failed to specify the length of time this advance would remain in force, and have also failed to abolish the sliding scale method of determining wages; we would recommend:

"That this convention accept an advance of ten per cent providing the operators will continue its payment until April 1, 1901; and will abolish the sliding scale in the Lehigh and Schuylkill regions; the scale of wages in the two last named districts to remain stationary at ten per cent above the present basis price; and that the companies will agree to adjust other grievances complained with committees of their own employees

"Should this proposition be unacceptable to the operators, we recommend that the convention propose that all questions at issue be submitted to a fair and impartial board of arbitration.

"We would further recommend that under no circumstances whatever should there be a resumption of work at any of the collieries until the operators signify their acceptance of this proposition and you are notified officially that the strike is ended and all return to work in a body on the same day."

Judging by the unanimity of the miners in accepting the above resolution and by the determined stand taken by the operators it is generally believed that a long contest between the strikers and the mine owners is not unlikely. There was great enthusiasm in the convention when the counter proposition to the operators was carried and three cheers were given for President Mitchell. The resolutions were drafted by a committee of thirteen, appointed at the morning session, of which the national president was chairman.

Mr. Mitchell, in an interview with a representative of the Associated Press on the outcome of the convention said:

"The action of the delegates in convention today in accepting an advance of ten per cent providing they receive assurances the advance will continue in force until April 1, next year, demonstrates that the miners are considerate of the public interest involved and are disposed to be conciliatory; and yet the mine owners refuse to join hands with the miners in bringing the strike to a close. The responsibility for the suffering that this will entail on the poor of the large eastern cities will rest entirely with the operators.

The operators have now an opportunity to prove that the proposition offered by them was made in good faith. If they are willing to pay ten per cent advance they certainly ought to continue to pay for six months The mine workers will all remain on strike until they are officially notified by the officers of the union that the strike is declared at an end. There will be no exception to this rule. I cannot understand any good reason why the operators should not accept the conditions named in the miners resolution. I, of course, hope that there will be a speedy termination of this contest and I believe that in the future the operators will be disposed to treat with more consideration their employees than they have in the past.

'I am entirely satisfied with the action taken by the miners. They did not decide the question with a view of pleasing me, but took the step because it satisfied them It was in their hands and they showed an extraordinary spirit of fairness.:

When Mr. Mitchell was asked in what manner the operators would be notified in view of the fact that they do not recognize the United Mine Workers, he said the operators would probably find it out through the newspapers.

"We gathered most of our information as to what the operators are doing,' he said, "from the newspapers, and I suppose they are doing the same."

The following telegram was sent to-night to the mine workers of the anthracite region:

"Scranton, Pa., October 13.

"Reports are being circulated in some sections that the strike is settled and the men are expected to return to work. You are hereby notified that no settlement has been made and no attention should be paid to any reports of this kind. When a settlement is effected you will be notified by a circular, under seal of our organization and signed by the national and district officers.

"John Mitchell, President United Mine Workers of America."

A canvass of the operators of the Wyoming valley shows that there is considerable opposition to granting the miners any more concessions than those outlined in the original offer, namely, ten per cent increase without any conditions.
MAY BE ACCEPTED.

Coal Railroads May Settle the Question,

Break in Ranks of Idle Strikers May Come.

President Mitchell Has Confidence in Men.

Colleries in Operation Are Heavily Guarded.

Hazleton, Pa., October 14.-The individual coal operators who could be seen here today, declined to discuss the action taken by the anthracite miners' convention at Scranton, yesterday. Neither would they say what steps the employers probably would take. It is evident from their reticence that the individual mine owners are waiting to see what the large coal carrying railroads that mine coal will do.

It is reported in the coal region tonight that the presidents of those roads will hold a conference in New York tomorrow for discussion of the action of the convention.

There was a story afloat today that the operators will accept the convention's decision but nothing has come to the surface in this region on which to base the report that the United Mine Workers officials say they are waiting on the operators and they will continue to close up the collieries that have been in operation since the strike began four weeks ago. There are many reports in circulation that if the strike continues much longer, a break in the ranks of the idle men will occur

President Mitchell and his associate officials, however, reassert their confidence that the men both union and non-union will remain away from the mines until after the strike is declared off.

There is a fear prevalent in this region that if some of the men do return to work trouble probably would arise through efforts of the strikers to persuade the men to remain on strike

All the collieries that are working still remain heavily guarded.
THE SOLDIERS WAIT

Shenandoah, Pa., October 14.-General Gobin, in charge of the State troops located here since the strike riot of September 21, is anxiously awaiting the verdict of the operators in regard to the terms of settlement agreed upon at the Scranton convention. He is anxious to get away and to send the troops home but the outbreaks at Oneida and Lattimer last week and the condition of affairs in the Panther creek region causes him to hesitate.

It is probable that there will be no movement of troops until it is known whether the proposed terms of agreement are acceptable to the operators.