El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-22

| Presid emit John, Mitchell aud Score
tary-Treasurer w. b. Wilson, OF the
Uaised Mine Workers of America
issued to the public statement Of
their side of the Strike: the Statement
| 10 as follows:
Indianapolis, Sspt. 13. 1900.-The
| members of the national executive
board OF the United Nine Workers Of
America, realizing that the material
welfare of q large number of the A mer
lean people will be iolurfousIy elect
ed by q prolonged suspension OF work
In she coal flelds of Penney
knowing the irresistible power OF =
concsntrated public opinion. aud hav.
ing a profound respect for the opinions
of sheir fellow men, have decided to
make general statement Tor the In
formation OF the public.
No one can have = greater apprecia-
ton OF the far-reaohing effect OF
strike OF the anthracite coal miners-
The coal miners snd their families, the
coal CON psuies and coal carrying rail-
roads are but q small portion OF the
vast multitude, whose interests are so
d rectly and indirectly connected with
the coal trsde5shat a conflict OF such
magnitude will affect their welt are.
The Domestic fuel supply OF the West.
tue great manufacturing Interests or
the east the Wholesale aud retail bust
ness, the great ocean, lake, canal and
rail road transportation inter SITS. abor-
ing men and capitalists, VIII all os AZ
fected by suoh q gigantic strike:
That the world may know that we
have done all that honorable men can
do to avert the con flict, we herewith
su bmit few facts for careful consid-
Grafton: The average wages OF the
miner for many years has
been less than $3.50 annually. During
that period of time the cost OF many
Of the necessaries Of life has been in
creased over 20 per cent. An increase
Ia the cost of living without Q CORE
spending increase Of wages is equiva-
lent to reduction In wages.
The Laws OF the state OF Pennsyl-
vsnia make 2 400 pounds ton OF an
thracite coal, yet anthracite coal
miners are compelled to mice from p
700 TO 4 900 pounds for ton and In
addition to that are locked exhoroit-
ant amounts, otteo reaching IL per
cent of their daily earnings Tor any
Inn purites which may be cent ous with
their coal. Woere they are paid by
the car iustesd of being required to
furnish q Eell-rouuded heap on the car
- the breakers as was orig inally
agreed to, they have gradually been
to increase .he amount OF
coal in each car oy bull ling the same
perp ad icularly from six to Is Inches
; bove the edge.
They are compelled to purchase the
DO WIDER used In miping from their
smploye ere, paying s2.75 per keg for
grade Of powder that can be purchased |
elsewhere for $3.50 per keg and which |
" WHOLESALERS for about 81 keg. They |
IRE required by many of the companies
20 deal in "pla ck me" stores or lesve |
n tho |
company 81 per month for doctor
whether they need him or not aud |
nave no voice 10 saying who the doctor i
,hsll be. The emallness OF their |
earnings together with the great cost
,f living has compelled them to take
heir children from school before they |
nave reached the age prescribed by |
aw aud place them to work In the |
breakers in order to keep the family |
rom starvation.
When any miner feeling the burden
If these conditions has gone to the
and asked to have them
removed, be has been told 1t he does
lot Ike IL he can quit. When they |
,ave organized at any colliery and
nave sent committees to the manage
nent asking to have their grievances |
'emedied, the committee has either |
been discharged, or has been told that
The evils, could not be remedied.because |
Of the competition from other compa-
nies. When the representatives OF the |
miners of the whole region have met
aud asked the companies to meet them
In Joint convention to arrange wages
and conditions upon an equitable basis
20 that each would know what his COM
petitor was paying aud no advantage
could be taken OF any one, their petit
lion for q conference has been COM
pletely ignored.
When the business men, clergy men
md other outside Influences have ap-
pesled TO the coal com panies to correct
soma of the evils complained OF, their
requests have been denied: and, when,
Is q last resort, the officers OF our orga-
nizstion have wired the preside nts of
the great railway companies who con-
troll the anthracite coal fields, Offering
TO gu bmit the whole questioulto arbisra-
lion, the proposition has bean treated
With silent contem ot. Having exhaust
ed all other means Of adjustment, we
had reached the poiut where we must
site region to keep working under these
unjust and tyraunica conditions or
,ouasel strike. We have chosen
The latter and having done so, we
invite q thorough, impartial and pub
olic investigation OF the conditions.
We bslleve that the great American
heart throbs in sympathy for the down
rodden and oppressed. whether in this
Dr. In any other land. We know the
,ress power of the public press in
public sentiment. With an
abiding faith 10 the lstice OF our cause
Ind a consciousness Of the knowledge
hat whosoever else may villify and |
abuse US, the great Jehovah knows aud |
the recsitude Of our pur-
pose. we appeal to the American people |
md TO tb eAnerican press as the great
,ss Nrbitrators on earth to assist US ]