New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-26

men, unfustihable demands and other griev-
snces that we have been suffering under since
1900 when the union first took possession OF
our property. IT. the other hand, TINS SET
Element be made now, when not single We HIIf
has been called on part, or on your pthaIl'
il will he an absolute and distinct surrender 10
The miners union and the troubles above re-
ferred TO will not only be continued. but so mag
Mined as TO be absolutely unbearable.
The hearings before the Anthracite Coal strike
Con,rnIssion nresent the first opportunity that
The coal operators have ever had OF presenting
their case before the general pubic. VINO are
really an important third party, since abstracts
IT least OF these proceedings are I+ ~
over the United States, and 1t IS the duty Ina
sc owe to ourselves as well as to them to prove
that the continued and repeated charges OF IN
justice, barbarity and extortlon are ausolutelS
unfounded: all Of which there individual opera
Tors at least. propose TO 90.
The case as presented. already shows such
YEA kness that We believe they were almost dis
heartened when the suggestions for a compTo-
mise were made. We believe that any surreh1eI
ON our part which would be practically what
f,iis compromise would amount to- would be by
FAR the most serious mistake ever made IN the
anthracite coal business
WANTS PUBLIC TO KNOW ALL
G d. Simpson. speaking for the individual
operators, said in his address TO the coal presi-
dents:
In making our protest against any present set
Element of the question at issue, we desire 10
emphasize certain points OF lrateTlai ilpoI
During the last five months no consistent EFFORT
has been made to inform the pubic OF me Itu oe
state OF affairs. Consequently IT has accepted
the miners version and believes we are treating
our employees unfairly defrauding them OF their
earnings and preventing them from making a
II is our opinion. and one upon which we are
very determined. that We owe 1t to ourselves l"
have this investigation continue in order Inal
testimony may be taken which NH prove cIeaIiy
10 the public at large that the wages we nave
paid and the treatment accorded our men nave
been fair and that their earnings nave peeB
large in proportion TO the intelligence required
and their Willingness To work
To common labor The daily wage mas peen
small hut no less than il receives from the
same class Of work in any industry ana more
than on your railroads. You do not give me
chauiCs' wages to the man who hanules a PICK
wheels barrow
As to the miners IL can he shown that their
annual earnings are more than the amount
raIled fair wages" which specified by two
witnesses called for the plaintiff. Their wages
per hour are greater than those Of skilled me
rhanics working and living in the same region
and they work less hours per day. through
choice, and consequently. through the same
choice. less days per year. since the opera'"r
must employ large number Of men in order to
secure the output which might ne produced by
Il fraction Of that number.
This is very readily susceptible Of proof by
our books and those of your own mining COM
panies You will find that the men who have
had the largest earnings are those who have
worked steadily. Just as a mechanic must
lille the small earnings have invariably been
o those who have given little time or care to
their labor. The advantage given 10y an un-
usually good chamber is temporary. and has a
relatively small effect upon the average yearly
Again. it must he remembered when com
pairing miner with mechanic, that the latter
must start as an apprentice, receiving possibly
80 cents a day during his first year, In the
second year he may earn a little more, still
more in the third, aud during the fourth about
81 % day. After that his wage is from So 80
81 day according TO his skill and good
fortune in securing desirable position
Compare this long period Of work and small
earnings with the apprenticeship Of the miner.
An immigrant. just landed on American soil.
speaking one or two words Of English, utterly
ignorant is eligible as a miners laborer 10
position which gives him The opportunity to
learn and TO acquire his miners certificate, While
earning between 81 and 81 40 a day. is there
any comparison?
Let the commission bring out those matters.
This testimony easily be secured Its
presentation, and the publicity which can be
given 10 II viii he Of infinite service TO every
mining company. The public will have an op-
portunity Of seeing the other side. The men
themselves viii talk about IL about how much
q miner can earn. The mechanic who finds that
he is working more hours for less money than
the miner viii talk, Unemployed labor will
learn Of the opportunity for comfortable earn
tugs. and viii talk, and the miners, when they
enter into discussion with other workers VIII
not be long I'm seeing that they have had the
opportunity and have made good earnings and
become Jealous, that their field viii be entered
by others who wish for equally good fortune.
Such testimony will clear the atmosphere of
much Of the maudin sentiment which is appar-
ent.
Thus Gar the general effect Of the testimony
PRESENTED has given undue prominence to MI
which he kept on the stand. the only point
Of value asCertained VAS that he was in SYM
pathy with the miners and was not familiar
with anthracite mining Half an hour would
have served the same purpose, and prevented
much sympathy creating geneTalitles. He said
that others knew the situation better-theY
would be called Probably these persons are 10
ne the next witnesses for that side, and If they
are men with good record for faithful work
cross examination viii show what We have
already stated-that their earnings are sufh-
cient-and this could then be supported by our
own witnesses. But our local attorneys, ana
the superntendents If the COllieries are pest
fitted for such questioning They are fariiiar
with the details and can bring out the truth
We think il highly desirable that any at
tempt at a compromise should Immediately
stop, that the investigation should continue
and that one or two OF the individual operators;
WIKI YOUR representatives, should collect ana
tahulate figures OF earnings for the purpose OF
presenting them in evidence. After that our
vi: nesses can appear.
After struggling through the last five months
with their losses and annoyances, il Is q niue
matter to wait short time more A good hght
Is never useless. ana If, in the end, we should
not win. il will be better TO have ended with
he dignity OF a strong effort than 20 weakly
go on our knees now. when We know the other
side has practically exhausted its resources.