Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-11-04
Filed With the Anthra-
cite Commission
Made Public.
OPERATORS TO REPLY
Then the Board of Arbi-
tration Will Have Both
Sides of Case.

Hazleton, Pa. Nov. 4.-The state
ment of the anthracite mine workers
commission Sunday night. was made
public today. Copies of the state
ment have been furnished to the op-
orators. who will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement in
full is as follows:
.'To the Anthracite Coal Strike
Commissions: The mine workers make
of the operators the following de-
mands, which were formulated by the
Shamollin convention, held March IS
to "a. and for the enforcement of
which the strike was inaugurated:
''First-An increase of 20 per cent
upon the prices paid during the year
1901 to employees performing con-
tract or piece work. This demand is
made on account of the following
reasons:
u. The present rate of wages is
much lower than the rate of wages
paid in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work.
"2 The present rate of wages is
lower than is paid in other occupa-
tions requiring equal skill and train
ing.
-. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal field are much
less than the average annual earnings
in the bitumnous coal fields for sub
stantially similar work.
~. The average annual earnings
in the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
-. The rate of wages in the an
thracite coal fields is insufficient TO
compensate the mine workers in view
of the dangerous character of the oc
cupation in relation to accidents, the
liability to serious and permanent
disease. the high death rate and the
short grade life incident to this en-
ployment.
80. The annual earnings of the
mine workers are insufficient to
maintain the American standard of
living.
Increased Cost In Living.
~. The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintainga fair
standard of life upon the basis of
present wages and has not only pre-
vented the mine workers from secur-
ing any benefit from increased pros
perity, but has made their condition
poorer on account of it.
''S. The wages of the anthracite
mine workers are so low that their
children are prematurely forced into
the breakers and mills, instead of be-
ing supported and educated upon the
earnings of their parents.
80. Wages are below the fair and
just earnings of mine workers in this
industry.
''Second-A reduction of 20 per cent
in hours of labor. without any reduc
tiOn of earnings for all employees paid
by it. hour, days or week.
THE second demand is similar to
the first in that it is designed TO in
crease the hourly rate of wages of
mine workers employed by the hour,
day or week, and all the reasons APP
plicable to the first demand are asked
to be applied to the second with repe-
tition.
I'm addition thereto we submit the
following:
10. The 1O-hour day is detrimental
TO the health, life, safety and well be-
ing of the mine workers.
I'll. Shorter hours improve the
physical, mental and moral condi-
tions of the, workers.
.'12. Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
''13 The tendency of national and
state government of organized trade
and of production generally is toward
shorter hours
III. a working day of s hours is
sufficiently long for the best inter
ests of the workingmen and of the
community.
''Third-The adoption of a system
by which coal shall be weighed and
paid for by weight wherever practica-
Bile; the minimum rate per ton to be
go cents for legal ton of 2,240
pounds; the differentials now exist
ing at the various mines to be main
tanned. This demand is made on ac-
count OF the following reasons:
Il. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only hon