Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-11-14

T, formerly produced IN ten hours and
there Is no reason why the same results
would not be obtained in the anthra-
cite field The bituminous workers re-
ceiVe In many Instances from 20 to 40
per cent higher wages for eight hours
work than are paid In the anthracite
mines for ten hours work.
Defending the third demand, that
coal shall be weighed and paid for by
weight and that 2,24O pounds shall con.
stitute a ton. Mr.. Mitchell declared the
present method OF measuring the coal
produced by the miners In the lacka-
wanna Wyoming and Lehgh regions
has been the source Of more discon-
tent than any other Of the many IN
justices imposed upon the miners and
there can be no contentment among
those workers until an honest system
has been established, Paying for coal
by the car or by the ton Weighing from
2 HO TO g. 1870 pounds Is a fragrant lnJus-
tice The cars have been made larger.
more topping Is required and there has
been no corresponding Increase In the
amount paid per car or per ton. The
miners have been forced TO produce a
constantly increasing amount Of coal,
for which they receive no additional
| compensation.
"The miner should be paid for every
| pound of coal he mines that Is sold by
| the operators. II 2,2iO pounds consu-
| tute ton when coal Is sold to the con-
| sumner and when railroad companies are
| paid for Transporting coal 10 market.
| what justice can there be IN denying
the miner the right TO be paid for his
| ia hpr unon the sauna lqaig9
THE anthracite companies not salts
| fed with an extra legal ton Of from
| 2.7iO 10 $3.50 pounds have a system OF
docking through which they approprl-
! ate an additional part Of the miners
earnings miner liz locked all the
way from 800 to 1000 pounds upon a
car, as a penalty for loading impurities
for which he has already been penalized
10 the extent OF from 700 to 300 pounds
H. excess measure Of weight; In other
words he Is punished twice for the
same offense.
"A system somewhat similar but less
unjust obtained In a portion OF the
| bitumlnous coal fields many years ago,
but the miners are now paid by weight
upon the basis Of legal toni they are
not only permitted but are encouraged
by the operators to employ check
weighmen TO see that the product Of
their labor Is properly weighed and a
correct record made thereof.
Mr. Mitchell then took up the fourth
demand Of the miners for trade agree
ment with the necessary machinery for
the adjustment OF local grievances. He
outlined the history and policy OF the
United Mine Workers OF America and
explained that by It's constitution, an
thracite and bltumlnous mine workers
had home rule for the local government
/ OF local affairs.
"The only manner" he said. IN
| which the national organization IL per-
| mltted to interfere Is that, before a
| strike Is inaugurated by the district
organization. the approval OF the presi-
| dent OF the national union must be oh
| tanned but the president Of the national
| organization has no authority TO In
| augurate strike. Thus the coal mine
! operators are afforded a greater meas
| ure of protection against strikers than
| they would have under a separate ana
| independent organization
AS 10 the responsibility OF the mine
workers organization, Mr. Mitchell
said
at the present time the united mine
|
| the operators Of II states and districts,
fixing the amount the miners shall re-
ceive per ton. the amount the various
classes Of labor shall receive per day,
| the number Of hours which shall consti-
| tute days work and the methods and
machinery for the adjustment Of local
grievances by Joint conference with the
mine owners. These are mutual con-
tracts which are advantageous to both
miner and operator and protect the pup
lie against the effects Of strikes or
lOckOuts.
1.-The reports OF the United States
government on strikes In the mining
Industry show that the number and
duration Of strikes has been materially
reduced each year since the system OF
Joint conference and mutual agreement
has been introduced
Where the United Mine Workers Of
America is recognized and contracted
with. II assumes the responsibility Of
disciplining it's members. The trade
agreement has proved effective in re-
straining workmen from engaging In
local OF general strikes. There have
been no strikes OF any magnitude In
any of the coal mining states In which
trade agreements exist. We seek TO es-
tablish the same method OF adjusting
wage differences In the anthracite field.
1T Is said that the competition be-
tween anthracite and btuminous coal
Is a reason upon which the anthracite
operators oppose a recognition of the
miners organization. That this obJec-
ton Is neither vaild nor consistent Is
ry demonstrated by the fact that
many OF the railroads oilicrred by the
same men who control the anthracite
coal mines enter into trade agreements
with railroad organizations. a majority
OF whose members are employed upon
other and competing roads,
I'VE demand recognition because we
know that permanent peace and friend
" relations can best be maintained
through a trade agreement with the or
ganization which our people have elect
cd 10 Join. Fully 90 per cent of the
employees Of the anthracite coal mines
are members Of Il from choice; they de-
sire 10 retain their membership I'm IL.
II was the United Mine Workers Of
America that conferred with the presi-
dent OF the United States In relation TO
the submission Of the issues involved
In the coal strike TO this commission:
Il was the United Mine Workers OF
America that was requested by the
president 10 end the strike; II was the
United Mine Workers Of America that
declared the strike at an end II was
the mine workers Of America that
pledged 10 accept the award OF this
commission.
Failure to recognize the organiza-
ton was the cause Of the many local
strikes against which operators and
mine workers Jointly complained. There
have been many coal strikes during
the past year the fault OF which rests
upon operators and miners alike. The
miners falling 10 secure redress for
their wrongs. 1.-THE companies having
refused to treat with their reprcs nta-
tives) had no choice but TO submit 10