Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1902-06-27
STATEMENT BY MITCHELL


"wilkesbarre. Pa, June 23To the
Public If the contest now in pro
gress in the anthracite coal regions OF
Pennsylvania affected only the vel
fare Of the railroad and mining cor
porations on one hand, and the coal
mine workers on the other, the public
would have no vital interests at stake
and would consequently be less con-
cerned than it now is in the continu-
ance, the extension or the termination
of the conflict; but inasmuch as there
is a third and important interest in
volved which, although in nowise re-
sponsible for the present strike, which
Is nevertheless an innocent victim
thereof, it is but fair and proper that
the public should be fully and accu-
.rately informed upon the merits of the
question now in controversy.
"If it shall be asked why we have
waited until the close of the sixth
week of the strike to issue state
ment of this nature, sufficient answer
may be found in the fact that we have
hesitated to utter any word or to take
any position that would impair or en-
barrass easy reconciliation with the
coal operators. Eevery delay and pre-
caution, every conceivable concilia-
tory effort that honorable and con
sentative men could take to avert a
rupture and every means that thought
could suggest to bring the matter in
dispute to arbitration was resorted to
by the union both before the strike or
| der was issued and since it went into
effect, but without avail: the coal
magnates replying to all our overtures
with the declaration that there was
| nothing to arbitrate. This statement
on their part is equivalent to saying
that the coal mine workers have made
unreasonable demands and have
| struck without real or sufficient cause.
To this, let plain, unyarnished facts
and figures reply.
| The Grievances.
For more than Is years the anthra-
| cite coal mine workers of Pennsylva-
MIA have chafed and groaned under the
most intolerable and inhuman condi-
lions of employment imaginable. Their
average annual earnings have been
less than those of any other class of
workmen in the United States, not
withstanding that their work is more
hazardous and the cost of living great
er than in any other important Ameri-
can industry. The total number of
persons employed in and around the
anthracite coal mines is lat 500. They
are employed never to exceed 200 days
in any one year and they receive as
compensation for their services an. av-
erage of SLAP for 10 hour working
day. 1t will thus be noted that they
earn annually less than $500. Such
pay may supply a living on par with
some classes of European laborers, but
who will say that it is sufficient to sup
port American citizens or enable par
ents to educate and properly maintain
their families? True it is that a 10
| per cent increase in wages was grant
ed by the coal operators as strike
concession two years ago. but it is also
true that a large portion of this 10 pei
cent was paid back to the companies
to buy the suppression of an old pow
der grievance. Moreover, according
to reliable commercial agencies, the
cost of living has increased, particu
Ilarly in the purchase of foodstuffs
from 80 to 40 per cent, so that the pur
chasing power of a miners earnings
is less now than before the strike Of
| 1900.
| a. 1n al nno
carrying railroads have given pub
licity to a statement that during the
year 1901 the productive capacity Of
mine workers deteriorated an average
of 121a per cent; in other words, th'
United Mine Workers organization Il
accused of encouraging poor workman
ship. An examination of the report!
on coal production compiled by thu
\ United States government discloseI
the fact that the allegations of tn,
railroad presidents are misleading ant
untrue.
THE railroad presidents content
that they can not increase wages with
out making corresponding increas'
in the selling price of their produc
to the consumer, and have accused thu
mineworkers of suggesting PROPOSE
ton that would impose hardship up
ON the public by increasing the marke
price of coal 10 cents ton, tn,
amount that would have been re
quired to meet all the demands mad,
by the miners. However, their solici
tousness for the public veal has no
deferred them from increasing tn,
selling price 81 per ton since the strik
was inaugurated without giving an.
part of the increase to the minework
ers.
A statement then quotes Presiden
Truesdell of the Delaware, Lackawan
ma e Hudson, who, in his annual re
port to the directors of his company
said that the year 1901 would pass In
J to history as one of the most satisfaC
tory to the anthracite coal interest
of the country, ever known, and give
the Commercial and Financial Chror
! icle's comment on the report of Pres
. dent Oliphant of the Delaware & Hu6