Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1900 — MINERS' STRIKE ORDERED. [ARTICLE]

MINERS' STRIKE ORDERED.

About 140,000 Men in the Anthracite Region Go Out. The big coal strike in Pennsylvania was ordered Wednesday. In the order Issued by President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers he says: “You are therefore hereby notified that the application of the anthracite miners to strike in accordance with the laws of the United Mine Workers of America has been indorsed, and in accordance with this indorsement all the miners and mine workers of the anthracite coal region, whether members of the United Mine Workers of America or not, are instructed to cease work and remain away from the various collieries, strippings and breakers until the demands of the Hazleton convention have been acceded to by the coal companies. Be lawabiding, self-respecting and quiet. With a thoroughly aroused public sentiment behind us, a canae the justice of which cannot be successfully questioned, and the mine workers united and determined to stand until their many wrongs have been righted, we have supreme faith in the ultimate success of our cause." In their demands the miners ask the correction of many evils, the more important of which are the following: Abolition of the company stores; reduction in the price of powder to $1.50 a keg; abolition of company doctors; semi-monthly payment of wages; abolition of the sliding scale; wages paid in cash; , 2,240 pounds to the ton; an advance of 20 per cent in wages less than $1.50 and not exceeding $1.75 a day; that all classes of day labor now receivingsl.so and not exceeding $1.75 shall receive 15 per cent over present wages; that all day labor now receiving $1.75 shall be advanced 10 per cent; that no miner shall have at any time more than one breast, gang or other class of work, and shall get only his legal share of cars. The strike, it is estimated, directly affects 140,000 men and indirectly about 1,000,000, while it cuts off wages estimated at $10,000,000 a week.