Evening journal., 1900-09-06
Also Deny That i" Company
Stores" Exist
MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT
Say Wages Have Not Been Reduced
In Twenty Years Despite BuSi-
ness Depression

New York, Sept Git has been as
oertained that the coal operators who
do business in the anthracite coal dis
tricts discussed al their meeting in
this city the threatened strike among
their employees and that after a lengthy
conference a committee was appointed
to draft a statement setting forth the
views of the operators and refusing
to recognize the United Mine Workers
of America.
IN view Of the interest taken In the
threatened strike, and in the meeting
OF the executive COMMITTEES Of the Uni
ted Mine Workers to be held at In
dianapols today. statement was
given out last night from the opera
tors headquarters which thoroughly
reviews the situation from the mine
owners standpoint The statement as
sertB that the United Mine Workers
and their leaders are composed OF soft
coal men, not familiar with the con-
ditions OF anthracite mining, and the
association of the anthracite men with
the soft coal district Ia believed TO be
antagonistic TO the best interests of the
men and the mine owners. It Is al
legged that the soft coal interests would
strikes caused by that organization in
the anthracite regions
The statement then goes on to deny
/ alleged statements coming from the
United Mine Workers II Is alleged
that the scale OF wages has not been
reduced IA over 20 years. notwithstand-
ing the numerous periods Of business
depression and repeated reductions ia
ts,ts
the other hand, advances have been
made IN a great many mines to meet
changing conditions.
The statement also denies that the
market prices OF coal are higher than
in many yenrs. but asserts that they
are much below the prices received IN
1892. and the profits of the business
have decreased largely owing to the
increased cost of mining coal from
lower depths and longer distances
under ground, and also from the in
creased cost Of materials used around
the collieries.
Regarding the powder question. the
statement says it is true that the price
charged the miner for powder Is much
above the present cost, but that the
increased wage paid the miner in the
] HMAiitttN NiNiitNi AAi0li iAiAA AbNtic
the increased price he pays over the
cost per lleg in other districts.
The statement also says regarding
the company siOrgs' that none OF the
| large companies have any connection
with or do they collect for stores. tho
men being paid In cash. 1t is acknowl-
| edged that a small percentage of in
! dividual operators run sO-called "com-
pany stores" IN connection with their
mines, but this Is due TO the fact that
the mines ere isolated and the stores
run for the convenience OF the men,
The statement also denies that there
has been any refusal to comply with
the law where q request has been made
by the employees. and also denies the
statement that companies forced men
TO use the services of the company
DOCTOR"
The mine owners In this statement
declare that not over 10 per cent OF
the labor employed In the entire an
thracite region hold membership in
the United Mine Workers Of America,
and that only a small proportion NJ
these members desire a strike.