The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1900-09-19
THE GIGANTIC STRIKE G.
Grievances That We're the Causf ~ Casi-
Ing the Anfhracite mfner- Vat
% Summary OF the Situation.

er stated Monday morning that every
mine in the first district Is shut
down dead" embracing the territory
from Forest City TO Shickshinny
Seventy-fve thousand men are idle
Monday morning, and the best OF or
der prevails everywhere.
"The men are determined 10 stick 10
I the bitter end this time.
MANY OF the washeries are work
/ ing Monday morning. but the union
men say they will have them all shut
down before the week is oveI."
Hazelton, Pa, Sept. 1s-Ten thou
sand men are out in the With ian
thracitc) district Monday, ont Of ~
33j in the region. All the highways
are guarded, 50 rs 10 meet the men
and persuade them To 90 home.
The Jeddo collicry, where President
Mitchell and his organizers concen-
tratcd their efforts Sunday night, is
nt work Monday morning.
President Mitchell said Monday
morning: AS far az know things
look good. can not give you de-
tails yet"
Scranton .-Mincworkcrs of every
kind have joined the striking miners;
10000 mine employees OF all grades
are out in District 40. l.
Wilkcsbarrc.- Strike almost gcncr-
al. \ mine at Plains is working. All
big mines are completely tied up.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Coal com
pany's colierics started to work short
handed.
Harrisburg. fifty of one
thousand men went TO work.
Tower llill.-No strike. The 1000
mon and boys refused to he persuad'
cd 10 90 out and all are at work.
Williamstown4-Thc 1000 mine en-
ploycs are all working. Meeting Sun
day night to get them to strike were
futile. No trouble anticipated.
Coleraine.-T mines are in short
hand operation.
Pottsville.--Al collieries in vicini-
ty at work, with full complement Of
men.
Shamokin.-All the mines are
closed; - per cent. of the mine EN-
ployes are on a strike.
Indianapolis. Ind, Sept. 1.-THE Of
fcials of the United Mine Workers Of
America Thursday issued statement
to the public giving the causes that
have led up to the strike which was
ordered Wednesday. Among other
things he says:
The average wages of the anthra-
cite miner for many years has been
less than $3.50 annually. During that
period Of time the cost of many of
the neccssarics of life has been in
creased over 20 per cent. An increase
in the cost of living, without a corre-
spending increase of wages, is equiva-
lent to reduction in wages.
The laws Of the state OF Pennsyl-
vania make 2,i00 pounds a ton of an
thracitc coal; yet anthracite miners
are compelled to mine from 2,700 20
4 1000 pounds for Il ton. and, in addi-
tion to that, are dockcd eXorbitant
often reaching IL per cent.
of their daily earnings, for any i'm
puritics which may be sent out with
their coal. Where they are paid by
the car, instead of being required to
furnish a wcll-rounded heap on the
car at the breakers, as was originally
agreed TO, they have gradually been
to increase the amount of
coal in each car by building the same
pcrpendicularly from G to IS inches
above the edge.
They are compelled to purchase
the powder used in mining from their
employers, paying $2.75 per keg for a
grade of powder that can be pur-
chased elsewhere for $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 employment.
They must pay to 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 smallness of their earnings, to-
gether with the great cost of living,
has compelled them to take their
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
When any miner. feeling
the burden of these conditions has
gone to the management and asked
to have them removed, he has been
told if he does not like il he can