The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-14
A SETTLEMENT NOT LIKELY
iSTATEMENT by PRES. MITCHELL
FOR THE MINE WORKERS.

Does Not Believe Anything Cam Trans
pire to Prevent tho nIen Going Out
| Monday-Their Grievances Average
Wages Less Than $3.50 Annually
Wages-The Charge fol Powder.
indianapolis, Ind, Sept. 1S.-Presi-
ident John Mitchell and Secretary
Treasurer w. b. Wilson of the United
Mine Workers of America, issued Il
statement to-day to the public, giving
| in detail the causes that have led up
to the strike After the statement had
been given out for publication Pfesi-
dent Mitchell said
eat this time l do not believe any
thing will transpire between now ana
Monday that will prevent the strike L
have been receiving messages all day
from the anthracite region, which indi-
Gates that the issuance of the order
has met with the approval of the min
ers
"Tt e statement issued says that the
me rlbers Of the national executive
beard fully realize the effect of the
strike upon the vast multitude, which
is directly and indirectly affected, but
it is thought to submit a few facts in
order that the world may know that
everything has been done that honor
able men could do. The average wages
of the anthracite miners for many years
has been less than $3.50 annually.
During that period OF time the cost
of the many necessaries of life has
been increased over 20 per cent. The
laws of the state of Pennsylvania
make 2,40O pounds a ton of anthracite
coal, yet anthracite coal miners are
compelled to mine from 2,700 to 1000
pounds for a ton and in addition to
that are docked exorbitant amounts for
any impurities which may be sent out
with their coal. Where they are paid
by the car they have gradually been
compelled to increase the amount OF
coal In each car by building the same
perpendicularly from six to eighteen
inches above the edge. They are COM
PEELED to purchase the powder used in
mining from their employers, paying
So per keg for a grade Of powder
that can be purchased elsewhere for
$1.50 per keg, and which WHOLESALERS for
about 81 per keg. They are required
by many of the companies to deal in
pluck me" stores or leave their en-
ployment. They must pay the company
81 per month for a doctor, whether they
need him or not and have no voice in
.La1 ha Hl,a
smallness of their earnings together
with the great cost of living has COM
PEELED them to take their children from
school before they have reached the
age prescribed by law and place them
at work in the breakers in order to
keep the family from starvation. When
any miner feeling the burdens Of these
has gone to the management |
and asked to have them removed he
has been told that IL he does not like 1t
he can quit. Having exhausted all |
ether means of adjustment we have |
reached the point where we must either |
advise the miners Of the anthracite re-
gion to continue working under these |
unjust and tyrannical conditions or
counsel a strike. We have chosen the |
'ottti alid hdNiib boilC ~ VIC liNllF u |
thorough, impartial and public in
of the conditions existing
In the anthracite coal fields"
Secretary Wilson and his
force of clerks were busy to-day an
swering the heavy mail that came in
touching upon strike matters, and
throughout all of the offices there was
an air of subdued excitement.
There Is practically no means Of ar
living at any estimate of the resources
,f the miners available for the mainte-
lance of the people to be called out by
he strike. Aside from the money in
he hands Of the national executive
oOard local unions in number of
states have accumulated large sums OF
money in their treasures, which, while
lot at the command Of the executive
'fficers of the organization will prob
lbly be placed in the strike fund Con-
ributions from other trades unions
an be counted on, and from these facts
t can be seen the miners are prepared
or a long fight. Saturday night Pres
dent Mitchell goes to Hazleton and
rom there to different points in the
eld for the purpose of holding mass
Meetings.