The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-18
STATEMENT OF The
NON-UNION WORKERS

| The statement of the non- union men,
represented by Attorneys Lenahan and
O'Brien, was filed yesterday. 1t reads
as follows:
The non-union mine workers we repre-
| sent present to the said commission the
following statement of their demands:
First-For an increase of 20 per cent.
| upon the price paid during the year 1901,
to employees performing contract and
piece work.
Second-For a like increase of 20 per
cent. upon the prices paid during the
year 1901, to employees paid by the hour.
day or week.
This request for increased wages. rath-
er than decrease of hours of labor, is
earnestly urged because such increase of
wages will! apply to the class of labor
now receiving least pay at the mines.
and being. therefore, the class which is
especially in need of increase of wages.
Instead of desiring reduction in the
hours of employment, we insist upon a
right to work as many hours as We
choose, and as opportunity affords, so as
to better our conditions and increase our
earning capacity; and we insist that the
operators shall not conduct their mines
in such a way as to favor certain work
ers in certain chambers and places Of
labor, to the detriment of others who are
willing to work. At the same time, we
insist upon the right of any of us to do
as much work as the opportunity in the
particular mine affords or offers, even
though it may result In less work being
done by another employe, who through
indispoStion Is not willing to work when
the opportunity affords or by reason Of
any contract with the mine workers
union restricting his own class of labor.
Third-We demand the adoption at each
colliery of whatever methods may be
necessary and practicable to secure for
the miner a minimum rate of go cents
per ton of 2,240 pounds upon all coal sold
from said colliery, the differentials now
existing at the various mines to be MAIN
tanned.
Protest Against Agreement.
Fcurth-We protest against the making
Of any agreement between the United
Mine Workers of America and our EN-
ployers determining what wages shall be
paid 10 us, and what shall be the con-
ditions of our employment, or pretending
to deal in any respect whatever with our
rights or interests as mine workers.
Fifth-We earnestly protest against any
agreement being made by our employers
with the United Mine Workers of Amer-
ca, for the reason that any agreement,
IL made, will render it impossible for us
to continue to earn our living by our
labors in and about the mine in which
we are now employed, or to which such
agreement applies, and will subject us
and our families to all manner of abuse.
violence. outrage and probably murder.
SiXth-We insist that it shall be an in
dispensable condition to any dealing what
ever with any members of the Mine
Workers Union of America I'm the an
thracite coal fields that they shall be ef-
fectually required to desist from all man
ner of annoyance to us and to our fam
lilies and shall permit us to exercise our
right to earn our living in any lawful
manner We choose, and under any con-
ditons which are mutually satisfactory
to our employers and ourselves
Seventh-We protest against any rule
limiting or restricting the number of cars
to be furnished to a contractor, miner or
laborer for the purpose of loading the
same, whether such rule be made either
by the operators, the United Mine Work.
ers, or by mutual agreement of both OF
them, providing that the furnishing of
the increased number of cars to any con.
tractor, miner or laborer does not in any
way restrict the number of cars to be
furnished others, and we insist that a
rule shall he adopted and strictly en-
forced compelling drivers in the mine or
those having charge In the management
and distribution OF the mine cars to the
MINER contractor and iaboier not to fa- |
Vor any particular miner, contractor or
laborer in such distrihatlon to the detri- |
ment and exclusion of other contractors |
miners and laborers.
Eighth-We believe 1t to be an inalien- |
able and undoubted right 10 work when |
we can obtain it, and to receive as COM |
for it the best price we can ob- |
tain. And we further believe that me |
laws of the land vouchsafe TO us prolec- |
ton from Insult, outrage, violence, mo- |
estation or interference In the perform
1nce of our labors, and in order that we !
shall not be disturbed in the full and |
free exercise of these rights, we must re
spectfully urge that the assertion of them
be made part of the finding in this pro- J
,eedings
Interfered With.
Nnth-ln our effort to earn a livelihood