Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-16
THE UNITED MINE WORKERS
PRESIDENT MITCHELL REPORTS TO
MIR. SAMUEL GOMPERs.
Existing at the Date Of
Ordering strike in Anthra-
cite Region.

Mr.. Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation Of Labor. has re-
ceived q letter from John Mitchell, general
president Of the United Mine Workers Of
America, in which the latter says:
when we decided to make an aggres-
sive movement to remove some Of the
abuses from which mine workers had long
suffered in the anthracite regions Of Penn
sylvania, We found that of the total num-
Der Of 142, 600 mine workers employed there
less than 5000 were members Of our organi-
zation. We found that the population was
composed Of a great number Of the nation
alities Of the earth; thousands of them not
familiar with the English tongue. Never
had there been harmonious action of these
conglomerate elements. and the task Of
bringing them into united action seemed i'm
possible; but failing to obtain any mti-
CATION of the hard conditions of life from
the operators and coal mining railroads, and
despairing Of any change through peace
able means, we resolved to give battle.
We concluded that we might just as well
starve striking as starve working. The
roads and the operators said when we pro-
posed arbitration and the peaceful way out
that there was nothing to arbitrate; that
their workmen were satisfied, and they said
respecting strike, that not more than 10
per cent of the mine workers would go out
at the call.
Success Regarded as Sure.
when however, on the first day Of the
strike (September ID $4,000 men responded
20 our call and remained away from work,
we knew that the success Of the strike was
assured. Each day thereafter saw some
progress until one month later to a day,
when the railroads and operators began to
most what we may call the second notice of
surrender 10000 men were out. So well
have the Pennsylvania miners come to I'M
derstand the principle Of united action that
whereas Just preceding the strike there
union books, there are now 100000 men,
bers, and 1t will not be long before we have
practically every mine worker in the an
thracite regions; Whie me miners, by the
thirty-nine days duration. have not re-
ceived all they originally demanded, they
have increased their earnings 10 per cent.
They have also abolished the sliding scale
vogue for thirty years.. and which the
miners looked upon as 9 great injury to
them. These conditions Of employment will
continue for fixed period. Formerly there
was no contract, no understandings The
operators and coal-earrying and mining
companies paid whatever they chose with
out consulting their employees
New Agreement Probable.
I'VE expect that upon the termination of
the agreement on April 1 the mine workers
throughout the anthracite region will be so
we'll organized that the railroad companies
and the independent operators will find it
worth while to meet their men in conven-
ton and make a new agreement for one
year. The bituminous railroads and opera
tors meet their mine workers in convention
annually, and this is the humane and civ
ilized way for men to meet Perhaps the
greatest benefit of. the victory now won is
not to be measured by the dollars and cents
which the strikers will earn in excess Of the
earnings before the strike took place. This
conflict has brought men together It has
made them think. 1t has awakened hope,
ambition, lofty aspirations; created desire
for knowledge. and, as consequence, the
standard Of manhood has been raised to a
higher plane"