Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-23


uo,kers OF America, today issued Tue
,'ooa,ns statement. It is a reply 10
~. letters OF the coal presidents de-
w. .,.,og 10 accede to the demands OF the
. .,sr, which were issued about ten
| ty ago.
mTcHELL's STATEMENT
M the Publlc-If the contest now IN
,,asress In the anthracite coal regions
J, Pennsylvania affected only the wei
" ~ ihe railroad and mining cor
Wy a,ons ON one hand and the coal
r. workers on the other, the public
p .ra have no vital interest at stake
would consequently be less con-
sasd than Il now Is In the continu-
80 the extension or the termination
I,ba conflict; but inasmnch as there
third Important interest involved,
s,,ch although in nowise responsible
a. ,he present strike, Is nevertheless
,nlnnoeent victim thereof, II Is but fair
"a nroper that the general public
sSould be fully and accurately informed
IMAM the merits Of the question in con-
rWersy. 49,.
uslted until the close of the sixth week
\, he strike TO Issue a statement OF
Ma nature, sufficient answer may be
,onnd In the fact that we have 'hesi-
,s,sA N utter any word or to take any
no.liIon that would impede or embar-
100 EASY reconciliation with the coal
on,ators. Every delay and precau-
tIon every conceivable concilla-
low effort that honorable and
eon,sratlve mn could take to
swa rupture, and every means
,h,t thought could suggest to bring
the matter in dispute to arbitration
was resorted to by the union, both be-
fore the strike order was issued and
slnce II went into effect, but without
avail the coal magnates replying TO
an our oyertures with the declaration
hat there was nothing to arbitrate.
mn statement on their part Is equiya-
lspt tukaying that the coal-mine work.
EN- have made unreasonable demands
and have struck without real or suffi-
cIsrt cause. To this let plain and un-
vanished facts and figures reply.
Far more than 70 years the anthra-
cite oa-mlne workers OF Pennsylvania
have chafed and groaned under the
most Intolerable and inhuman condi-
tons Of employment imaginable. Their
average annual earnings have been
less than those OF any other class OF
wOrkmen In the United States, notwith-
standing the fact that their work is
more hazardous and the cost OF living
greater than In any other important
American Industry. The total number
Of persons employed In and around the
anthracite coal mines Is l47 500; they
ar employed never to exceed 200 days
IN any one year, and they receive as
compensation for their services an av-
ense Of n.i2 for q l0-hour workday.
il will thus be noted that they earn
annually less than $500. Such pay may
supply living on a par with some
classes Of European laborers, but who
VIII say that Il is sufficient TO sup
PORT American citizens or enable par
snls 70 educate and properly main
nln their families? True It is that
y per cent Increase In wages was
ssnted by the coal operators as a
lhke concession two years ago, but
Es also true that large portion Of
ns " per cent was paid back 10 the
wmpahes TO buy the suppression OF
Cd powder grievance. Moreover.
I'oFulng TO reliable commercial agen-
es the cost Of living has increased.
NluCularly In the purchase OF food
Gums, ron 30 20 40 per cent, so that
ne parehasing power Of miners earn
II al
alSO '"e "'i'"e
me Presidents of the various coal
aTymg railroads have given publicity
", va statement that during the year
~. me productive capacity Of mine
gMS deterlorated an average OF
~ yer cent In other words. the
, United Mine-Workers' organization IL
sTs Of encouraging poor workman
up An examination of the reports
r.t .oh production compiled BY the
s.,'.a states government discloses the
INA, ~. asl The allegations OF the railroad
y are misleading and untrue,
we following figures will demon
Sa From 1880 to 1900, inclusive.
,v., mnes We're In active operation an
~ 49, oI ls2 days per year. and for
an .a p. . employed there were pro.
tor so',S tons OF coal per year. or.
N, s W. gay the mines were In opera
Nav, '.e IONS were produced per EN-.
WINE IN the year 1901, against