How the Big Strike Was Precipitated
A 1902 letter exchange shows United Mine Workers chief John Mitchell seeking a conference with anthracite railway executives to set a wage scale for April 1902. The coal company presidents refused, citing reduced production and wages losses, signaling the strike prelude with a Bakersfield-like reply from George F. Baker.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Mitchell
United Mine Workers of America
Indianapolis
Ind
Pennsylvania
Scranton
wage scale talks blocked by anthracite firms
President Baer of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Company rejects a joint conference for a region wide wage scale. The letter argues anthracite mining differs from bituminous and requires district by district, company to worker wage relations, citing legal and discipline concerns.
Erie Railroad Rejects Anthracite Association Conference Proposal
President E B Thomas writes New York February 20 1902 criticizing an anthracite miners association. He cites unrest and 102 work stoppages causing 900 days lost and 600000 tons unused, argues interunion wage scales and uniform rules are impracticable, and urges not to join broader talks for next year. He stresses inalienable right to labor and distinct mining practices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
E. B. Thomas
Erie Railroad
New York
Wage talks meet resistance from coal operators
A letter dated February 20 1902 from Alfred Walter president of Coxe Bros Co rejects union wage discussions urging direct talks with their own employer. Wilkesbarre officials Irvine Stearns and others echo the stance noting their firms already meet employees and decline to join the proposed conference. An immediate reply is sought from committee chairman John Mitchell and secretary T D Nicholls.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alfred Walter
Stearns
Coxe Bros. & Co
Wilkesbarre
Joan Mitchell
Notified the Miners Wage Notice Extends to 1908
On March 14, 1902, operators posted at each colliery that current wage rates will continue until April 1, 1908 and thereafter, with sixty days notice, local differences will be adjusted with employees at the respective collieries.
Miners' Convention Telegram Urges Company Answer
By order of the Miners' Convention a wire asks if the company will join other anthracite coal firms in conference with a workers' committee to discuss and adjust grievances affecting all companies and employees. Respond. John Mitchell, Chairman.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jouhn Mitchell
Baer Acknowledges Grievances in Telegram Reply
President Baer states willingness to meet the employer to discuss and adjust grievances. He notes hope his letter clearly expressed their views. March 24, 1902. George F. Baer signs the telegram.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baer
George F. Baer
Mine Workers Convention Seeks Wage Demands in Coal Trade
The United Mine Workers met at Shamokin to push wage increases and an eight hour day with a three day workweek after April first until operators agree. Civic Federation and New York meetings with coal presidents pursued a solution but reiterations failed to reach conclusions. A May 8 dispatch followed further discussions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United Mine
Shamokin
Civic Federation
Senator Hanna
Mitchell
Thomas
Truesdale
Baer
Arbitration proposed for anthracite wage disputes in Scranton
Representatives of the anthracite mine workers in Scranton propose arbitration to resolve wage and labor terms after failed negotiations with operators. They seek a five person panel from the National Civic Federation or, failing that, a committee including Archbishop Ireland, Bishop Potter, and a third appointee to investigate wages and conditions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scranton
Pennsylvania
Lalue
National Civic Federation
Board of Arbitration
Archbishop Ireland
Bi Potter
Snai
Replies To Mitchell From 1902 Wage Dispute Letters
A sequence of May 1902 letters between John Mitchell and George F Baer discusses wage increases for coal mine workers, notices on wage rates through 1903, and the feasibility of raising coal prices. Baer argues wage concessions cannot be financed by the public and reiterates business management limits.
Extortion Charges Spark Philadelphia School Board Probe
The Board of Education committee reports evidence of extortion by Twenty-eighth Sectional School Board members and possibly others. The panel recommends submitting the report and testimony to the District Attorney and continuing inquiry to July. It also tackles Miss Josephine Hamill’s possible reclassification and other school matters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thomas E. Merchant
Board of Education
Twenty-eighth Sectional School Board
Committee On
James M. Whitecar
Atttorney
Philadelphia
William H. Ziegler
Josephine Hamill
John H. Webster
Frankford Avenue
Ontario Street
Ziegler
Hamill
Webster Annex
Sectional School Board
Webster Combined
Merchant
Harvey H. Hubbert
Thirty-second
Miss Hamill
John H. Webster Schol
Paul Kavanagh
Mr. Merchant
Mr. Edmunds
Thirty-fourth Sectional Board
Teachers’ Annuity Association
Women’s Sanitary League
Uscar
Card of Public Education
Commonwealth
Davis
Supreme Court
Board of Public Education
Garfield
Twenty Third Street
Lombard
Wagner
Pottsville Iron and Steel Works to Reopen
Pottsville announces the Iron and Steel Works will resume operations after five years idle. Twelve hundred men will be employed with a monthly payroll around $60,000. Pilling and Crane Philadelphia iron merchants form a syndicate with $200,000 invested to buy the plant. A company with $1,000,000 capital will run the mill.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pottsville Iron and Steel Works
Philadelphia Times
Pottsville
Pilling & Crane
Gold medals awarded at Holy Child Jesus Convent closing
The Convent School of Holy Child Jesus in Sharon Hill held an afternoon concert and prize distribution marking the term’s end. Gold medals went to Ernestine Lock for Christian doctrine Henrietta Gilles for art Heatrice Murphy for literature and English. Ribbons went to Beatrice Murphy Wanda Orynski Alyce Timmons for music and choral work. An oils and water color exhibit accompanied the event and the fourth edition of the cheol paper, the A thea, was produced by the students under Mother Mary Philip.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sharon Hill
Ernestine Lock
Henrietta Gilles
Heatrice Murphy
Prise
Beatrice Murphy
Wanda Orynski
Alyce Timmons
St. Luke's Studio Hall
Mary Philip
Ciub Car Route to Cape May via Philadelphia Reading
Fragmentary OCR notes show a Ciub Car route from an unclear location to Cape May via Philadelphia and Reading. A time 430 PM or 14:00 PM appears with garbled text suggesting schedule details or fare.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ciub
Cape May
Philadelphia
Reading
Valley Forge Trolley Case Heard in Equity Suit
Judge Weand heard a new bill in equity by the Valley Forge Commission to stop the Bridgeport and Valley Forge Trolley Company from laying tracks through the historic park ground. The trolley firm challenged the commission’s rights, while the commission proved the route would cut entrenchments and that rights of way and assembly powers justified restraining orders.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Times
Norristown
Weand
Valley Forge Commission
Bridgeport and Valley Forge Trolley Company
Historic Battle Ground
J. P. H. Jenkins
Bridgeport
Jenkins
Two Men Killed by Train in Pennsylvania Incident
Lewistown June 10. William Minehart aged 30 and Thomas Trew aged 50, trackmen on the Pennsylvania Railroad, were fatally struck while attempting to move a train and were killed after stepping in front of the oncoming locomotive.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lewistown
William Minehart
Thomas Trew
Peposylvania
Carlisle Presbytery in Session at Middle Spring Church
A special Carlisle Presbytery meeting convened today at Middle Spring Church near Shippensburg. The session addressed church affairs and related matters in the Carlisle area.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carlisle
Philadelphia Times
Pratt May Get New Trial In Wife Murder Case
In Westchester a special hearing opened as jurors allegedly bias Pratt’s murder conviction. Hannah Epright and Michael Nugent testified that juror Armstrong voiced guilt and hanging wishes. Others denied the remarks. the judge adjourned to July 7 for Armstrong’s defense in Ireland.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Westchester
Commonwealth
William H. Pratt
Hannah Epright
Malvern
Armstrong
Pratt
Michael Nugent
Samuel J. Armstron
Oxford
William H. Weave
Coachman Hurt in Runaway in West Chester
William Fox coachman for Miss Christine Biddle of Philadelphia lies in dying condition at Chester County Hospital after a pony cart runaway. He was hurled across Gay street against a telegraph pole suffering a fractured skull and other injuries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Times
West Chester
William Fox
Christine Biddle
Philadelphia
Chester County Hospital
Gay Street
Pennsylvania Universalist convention opens in Reading
The seventy first annual Pennsylvania Universalist convention opens at the Church of Our Father and will run three days. Delegates from across the state attend. E. M. Tiffany of Hopbottom calls the meeting to order. Dr. John Clarence Lee of Philadelphia delivers the communion sermon. The day is devoted to reading reports.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Times
Reading
Pennsylvania Universalist Convention
Church of Our Father
E. M. Tiffany
Hopbottom
John Clarence Lee
Philadelphia
Kissing Case Settled Out of Court In Camden
Miss Alma Miller and Louis E. Atkinson were involved in a kissing incident with alleged assault and battery and perjury charges. Both cases were settled out of court, curbing expectations of spicy testimony amid Camden Post Office receipts and money orders totals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alma Miller
Louis E. Atkinson
Camden
Hie Amanuensis
Camden Post Office
Senesteper
Bess
Ition
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gorge F. Baker
MR. Baer
Philadelphia and Reading Skallway Company
Lves
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company
W. H. Truesdale
Prof
Damon
Sanday
MR. Thomas
Bk. B. Thomas
MR. Stearns
R. M. Olyphant
T. B. Fowler
T. D. Nichells
Mitchel
Manter
B. Thomas
John Mitchell, Esq
The
Education Board
Mary R. Hass
Jeannette Lynch
Annie M. Dodsworth
N. Gallop
Bertha E. Goodyear
Louise Gampe
Jennie HA. Pole
Elizabeth H. M.pherson
Ethel B. Shepherd
Ida R. Ford
Laura McBride
Elizabeth Loughead
Sara McEwen
Ella B. Brunn
Martha
H. Gaston
Florence Dissalet
Josephine Essicks
Kinsey
John L. Kinsey
James A. Garfield
Locust Streets
R. S&s. Bancroft
Sixty-fifth Street
Emily I. Wagner
James Rhoads
Forty-ninth
Parrish Streets
Bancroft
Edmunds
Central High School
School of Pedagogy
H. W. Nudd
A. B. Oliver T. Dill
HH. Roberta, Jr
Charles M. Dailley
A. Ayres
Lawrence F. Heine
John Lowry
Ninth and
Clearfield Streets
George H. Thomas
School of Holy Child Jesus
Imameter
P.ciy
Palestine
Detroit
N.B
Paul St. Louis
Leo Pullmap
Coe
Lear Crestaut
Seping
Bars Valley Forge Trolley
Line
Battle Ground
Willow Grove Sousa
Arewell Coe
Victor Herbert
Hashim
GRAND
Rees
Tce Groa
Opera House
Cord
Chestnut ST
Lye Gu
Girar Ave
Valerie Bergere
Delaware Trenton
Burlington Island Park
Chestnut Street
Steamer Republic
Plier 3
BASE
Broad
Lehigh
Cincinnati
Pavilion
Sher
Walnut
Keeley Cure
Keeley Institute
S12
North Broad Street
Estminster W. Cemetery
N. E. Cor
Arch
Roland E. Crist
Welsh Run Presbyterian Church
Chester
Athlen
New Christian
Fred Diehl
Ebenezer
Kentucky
Universalists
Jayne
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!