The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-23
Mr. Mitcheu's Address.

The full text of President Mitchell's ad-
dress follows:
To the Public-If the contest now in
progress I'm the anthracite coal regions of
Pennsylvania affected only the welfare of
the railroad and mining corporations
the one hand and the coal mine workers on
the other. the public would have vital
interests al stake and would consequently
be less concerned than IL now is in the con-
tinuance, the extension or the termination
of the conflict; but inasmuch as there Is
third and important interest involved
which. although in no wise responsible for
the present strike. is nevertheless the innO-
cent victim thereof il is but fair and proper
that the general public should be fully and
accurately informed upon the merits OF the
question in controversy. If il 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 impede or embarrass easy
reconciliation with the coal operators.
Every delay and precaution, every con
ceivable conciliatOry effort that honorable
and Conservative men could take TO avert
a rupture, and every means that thought
could suggest TO bring the matter in dispute
10 arbitration was resOrted TO by the union,
both before the strike order was issued and
since II went into effect, but without avail;
the coal magnates replying TO all our over
lures with the declaration that there was
nothing ID arbitrate. This statement on
their part Is equivalent to saying that the
demands. and have STRUCK without real or
sufficient cause. To this, let plain,
vanished facts and figures reply.
For more than twenty-five years the an
thracite coal-mine workers of Pennsylvania
have chafed and groaned under the most
intolerabls and inhuman conditions of en-
ployment imaginable. Their average an
nual earnings have been less than those
of any other class of workmen in the
United States; notwithstanding the 1act
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 147. 500. They
are employed never to exceed 200 days in
any one year, and they receive as cOmpen-
sation for their services an average of s142
for a ten-hour work day. IL will thus be
noted that they earn annually less than
$500. Such pay may supply living on
par with some classes OF European labor
ers but who will say that ii is sufficient
TO support American citizenship or enable
parents TO educate and properly maintain
their families?
ONE SMALL INCREASE.
True il is that a 10 per cent. increase in
wages was granted by the coal operators
as strike concession two years ago. but
81 Is also true that a large portion of this
10 per cent. was paid back TO the COM
panies TO buy the suppression of an old
powder grievance Moreover. according 10
reliable commercial agencies. the cost Of
living has increased. particularly in the
purchase OF foodstuffs from 50 to 40 per
cent. so that the purchasing power of a
miners earnings IS less now than before
tire strike OF 1890.
The presidents of the various coal-carry-
Ing railroads have given publicity 10 a
statement that. during the year 1901 the
productive capacity OF mine workers de-
perforated an average Of 1919 per cent In
other words. the United Mine Workers or
ganizatiOn Is accused of encoura ging poor
workmanship. An examination OF the re-
ports on coal production compiled by the
United States government. discloses the
fact that the allegations OF the railroad
presidents are misleading and untrue. as
the following figures viii demonstrates:
From 1890 10 1900 inclusive the mines
were in active operation an average OF lS2
davs pcr year. and for each person en-
ployed there were produced 3615S tons Of
coal per year. ar for each day the mines
were I'm OIeratiOn 2.l6 tons were produced
per emplOye. while in the year 1901
against which the operators so bitterly
complain. the mines were I'm operation
1912 days and there were produced as. .43
tons for each person employed. or for each
day the mines were In operation SO tons
were produced per cmploye. thus showing
there was a decided Improvement In the
productive capacity OF tire men after they
became thoroughly organized. Can the
unprejudlced reflect on these facts and
conclude that the anthracite miner is not
better workman than ne was before the
10 per cent. concession In wages two years
ago?
RETAIL PRICE INCREASED.
The railroad presidents contend that they
cannot increase WAGES without making q