The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-14
STR Ike OF COAL MINERS.
Statement Of Miner Officials as 10 Causes
Leading Up to the Trouble.
THE STRUGGLE IS NOW PRACTICALLY ON
A Per Cnpitn Assessment OF 25 Cents
Has Been Running Since Jan
uary as N Defense Fund.

Indianapolis, September is--ln order to
place before the public the conditions ex-
lsti.g In tho anthracite ields Of fennsyl-
vania. President John Mitchell and Score
tary- Treasurer w. d, Wilson OF the United
Mine Workers of America issued today to
the public a statement giving in detail the
causes that have led UP to the strike After
the statement had been given out for pub
lication President Mitchell said. Il do not
think anything will transpirs between now
ard Monday that will prevent the strike All
Information coming TO my Office today predi-
oatos that tho struggle Is practically on"
The statement reoites tho miners grev.
ances as follows: Tho average wages OF
the anthracite miner for many years has been
less than $3.50 annually. During that period
OF time the cost OF many OF he necessaries
OF lie have been increased over 70 por cent
An increase IN the cost OF liying without a
corresponding Increase Of wages is oauiva-
lent 20 reduction IN wages,
The laws OF the state OF Pennsylvania
make 2iW pounds ton OF anthracite coal
yet anthracite miners arc compelled to nine
from 2i00 to 1000 pounds for ton, aud In adj
dition TO that are doclIed eXorbttant amounts,
often reaching IL per cent Of their daily
earnings, for any impurities which may be
sent out with their coal.
Where they are paid by the car instead
OF being required to furnish we'll rounded
inally agreed to- thoy have gradually been
compelled to increase tho amount OF coal In
zach car by building the same perpendicular
Nv from six TO eight inches above the edge
They are compelled to purchase the powder
used In mining from their employers, paying
81 per key for q grade OF powder that they
can get elsewhere for $3.50 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 eoi-
ployment They must pay 20 the company
81 per month for doctor, whether they need
him or not and have no voice in saying
who the doctor shall be. The smallnees of
their earnings. together with the great cost OF
living, has compelled them TO take their
children from school before they reach the
age prescribed by law and place them az
work In the breakers, IN order 10 keep tho
family from starvation.
Al tho close of last year there were 70 1874
bona nde members Ia the mine workers or
gauiGation. At tho conference in January
III was decided to levy upon each of these
men an assessment of 81 cents per month
TO be placed in the hands of the National
executive board TO be us0d us defense
fgpd. Part of this money has been used
IN small strikes. but the bulk of It. Is prob
ably available at thls time. Since January
of the present year there has been ma
teria increase in the membership. which, OF
course. carries with II an increased defense
fund,
Aside from the money In tho hands OF
the National executive board local unions in
number OF States have accumulated large
sums OF money In their treasures which
viii not be at the command of the executive
officers OF the organization. ana II viii prob
ably be placed in tho strike fund Contri-
buttons from other tradea unions can be
counted upon and from these facts II can
be seen the miners are prepared for pro-
longed fght