New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-05
MINERS REPEAT DEMANDS.
MITCHELL ELABoRATES GRIEVANCES
OF SHAMOKIN CONVENTION
HIS REPORT TO THE STRIKE COMMISSION
MADE PUBLIC-HOW THE FOR
EIGN WORKERS LIVE.

'3f iLLhShAfA 10 III TRIBUNE
Mount Carmel. Penn. Nov. 4--Presideut
Mitchell's report Of the unions demands on the
operators was made public to-day by Commits
sloner Wright. Il gives each OF the demands
made by the Shsmokin convention before the
strike and explains in detail why each is made
and the conditions which cause the demands
The statement Is as follows:
The mine workers make Of the operators the fol
shsmokin convention, held March IS 10 "a and for
Lhe endorsement Of which the strike was inaugu-
An Increase Of 20 per cent upon the prices
o6r egnE me- year l TO employees performing
This demard is made on account Of the following
First-The present rate Of wages IS much lower
tds t for % n Tsf F Pf 1as 9H0'S 'o
sseG9d1Ihs present rate Of vases Is lower than than
Third-The average annual earnings IN the
thracite coal ield are much less than the average
annual earnings n the bituminous coal fields Tor
substantially similar work.
os s sseE annual e sT t5 tb IN . the
annual earnings for occupations requiring equal
skill and training.
Fitth-The rate Of wages in the anthracite coal
- o4eH o. tle flsI ~ M
serious end petmsnent disease. ne hlgh death
T TS5s and lhs snort NE ihcioeh' 70 'hs employ
sixth-The annual earnings. Of the mine workers
are insufficient 10 maintain the American standard
seyenthThe Increased cost Of living has made It
the basis OF present wages ana has not only pre-
N from Increased prosperity bat has made their
'q5a2n RfSt wages q he anthracite mine work
ers are 50 low that their children are prernatureiy
ing supported and educated upon the earnings OF
Ninth-Wages are below the fair and Just earn
ings OF mine workers II this Industry.
without any reduction OF earnings for al employees
paid by the hour, Gay or week . -. 6. ...,
Il IS designed 70 increase the hourly rate Of wages
O. end T0 a rs. ~ t so the hs
demand asked 20 be applied 70 the second. with
2 addi!l2n thereto we submit the solowtng:
Tenth-The ten hour day is detrimental 70 the
health life safety and wellbeing OF the mine work
hog.s irnPEoys he s,I physical
Twelfth-shorter hours increase the Intensity and
Thirtesnth-Trhe te.aeney Of national and state
eeereraiiV ie tov-srS sboTter hours "
FoIrteerth-A working cay of eight hours Is sum
men and Of the community
shah be Weirbe3 and paid for bv weight Wherever
practicable; the minimum rate per ton 10 be 90 cents
existing at the various mines to be maintained.
This demand is made on account of the following
i By The legal ton wherever
measuring the earnings Of mine workers
second-wheH the operators sell OF transport coal
70 conpensate the operator for the weight OF the
small sizes Of coal Which Were then DISCARDED but
which are now utilized and sold and. therefore
oth t than nc the ' lesai ton i TIE use ~
Fourth-The adoption Of this system ~ould re-
worker the cheating and dishonesty. and would al
Just discriminaton and favoritisn
Fifth-The change OF the present system to the
LAYING suspicion and discomfort among the mine
~. The incorporation Of an agreement be-
tween the United Mine Workers Of America and
shall be paid. and the conditions Of employment
which shall obtain. together with satisfactory
methods for the adjustment Or grievances when
arise from time to time, TO the END that
In support OF this demand we submit the follow
First-The anthracite mine workers should not be
compelled TO make or sign inolydua! agreements
ton and choose such agents and Officers a. they
when they deem that their best Interests are sub
90 81 ~ 15e,tod ~ 1apls+ ting nroduction and
me ORDINARY ntt-ou u lee-l5Si ~
large industries and are beneficial. successful ana
Third-tnichs Of worirgmen tend to the better
S qgp nsys e inc moTa ahd mental c6ndon and
to the preservation Of friendly relations between
shows that the trade agree
pnashe 10 regulate questions arising between en-
ployers and employed in large ndTstries and !. that
tablish the relations between employers and inc
neTnanent basis and. as Far possible, to do
away with any causes for the reeuTTenee OF such
!
Commission have bee9 called In to settle
The investigation to-day kept the commits
sioners busy. Annoyed by the failure of the
union officials and the operators to agree on the
r,oints to be visited. the commissioners de-
| .errnJped to take the matter into their own
hands. and. while giving each side the oppor-
t,Initv 10 make suggestions to decide for them
! salves where they wanted to go. The Bear Val
| lev Gallery Of the Philadelphia and Reading.
1,b.re the operators desired that the conditions
ebouId be seen was visited, and Hickory Run.
which the mine workers were anxious 10 have
examined. interested the commissioners for an
hour Resides these two important points the
| commission visited Shamokin. Trevorton and
! this Mace. spending the night here.
The visit TO Hickory Run was one Of the most
,v+erestine features Of the tour. There the
| commissioners found several hundred persons
living in the poorest houses which they have yet
] sAen Most Of them are story and half high.
ebal-v. dirty and old. Others we're built by the
! occunart-. OF loose boards, old tin and logs
| COLLECTED by them and nailed and plastered TO-
| ge.her The commission found that these rent
| % FOR from S. 10 50 month; that IN some,
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