The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1902-11-07
The ANTHRACITE MINERS.
The Statement of the Miners Side
of the Case as Presented to
the Commission.
COPIES FURNISHED THE OPERATORS.
The Miners Want Chance to Live
and Educate Their Children as
Belts American Citizens, and
Don't Want to Mine u Bigger Ton
Than 2,24O Pouads.

Than 2,24O PouRds.
IIazleton, Pa, Nov. 5.-The state
ment of the anthracite miners case,
which was filed with the strike com
mission ON Sunday night, was made
public Tuesday. Copies of the state
ment have been furnished to the OPP
orators, who will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement in
full is as follows:
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission:
The mine workers make of the OPP
orators the following demands, which
were formulated by the Shamokn
convention. held March 1s to "a. and
for the enforcement of which the
strike was inaugurated:
First-An increase of 90 per cent
upon the price paid during the year
1901 to employees performing contract
or piece work. This demand is made
on account of the following reasons:
]. 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 low
er than is paid i'll other occupations
requiring equal skill and training
3. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earn
lngs in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work
4. The average annual earnings in
the ant hracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
5. The rate of wages in the anthra-
cite coal fields is insufficient to com
pensate the mine workers in view of
the dangerous character of the occu-
patton in relation to accidents, liza
bility TO serious and permanent dis
ease, the high death rate and the
short grade life incident to this EN-
ployment.
q. The annual earnings of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
7. The increased cost of living has
made it impossible to maintain 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
perlty, but has made their condition
poorer on account of il.
8. The wages of the anthracite mine
workers are so lew that their chill
dren are prematurely forced into the
breakers and mills. instead of being
supported and educated upon the
earnings of their parents
8. The wages are below the fair and
just earnings of mine workers in this
industry.
Second-A reduction Of twenty per
cent. in hours of labor, without any
reduction of earnings for all EN-
ployes paid by hour, day 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 reasons applica-
bic to the first demand are asked TO
be applied to the second without repe-
tition.
In addition thereto we submit the
following:
10. The ten-hour day is detrimental
TO the health, life, safety and well
being of the mine workers.
II. The shorter hours improve the
physical, mental and moral condi-
tions of the workers.
y. Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
-. The tendency of national and
state government. of organized trade
and of production generally is toward
shorter hours
IA. \ working day of eight hours is
suihclently long for the best interests
of the workingmen of the community
Ihird-The adoption of a system BY
which coal shall be weighed and maid
for by weight wherever practicable
the minimum rate per ton to be 60
cents for legal ton of 2,240 pounds;
the ditferentials now existing at the
various mines To be maintained.
This demand is made on accoun.
of the following reasons:
1. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only hon
est and just system of measuring the
earnings of mine workers
2. When the operators sell or trans
port coal it is on the basis of a legal
ton of 2,240 pounds.
3. The excessive ton was originally
intended 10 compensate the operator
for the weight OF the small sizes of
coal which were then discarded, but
which are now utilized and sold, and