Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1900-1903, 1902-11-14

i lnJuSJIce. Inc cars nave DeeH
made larger, more topping is required
and there has been no corresponding
increase in the amount paid for the
car or ton. The miners have been fore
ed to produce constantly increasing
4 amount of coal for which they receive
no additional compensation.
/ "The miner should he paid for
/ every pound of coal he mines that is
sold by the operator. If 2,240 pounds
constitute ton when coal is sold to
the consumer and when railroad COM
panies are paid for transportation of
coal to market what justice can there
be in denying the miner the right to
/ be paid for his labor upon the same
basis:''
The anthracite companies not sat
| 1sfed with an extra legal ton of 2,740
/ to 3,150 pounds, have a system Of
docking through which they appropri-
ate an additional part Of the miners
earnings. A miner is locked all the
way from 500 to 1000 pounds. upon a
car, as a penalty for loading impuri-
ties for which he has already been
penalized to the extent of from roo to
900 pounds in excess of impure weight.
In other words he is punished twice
| for the same offence.
"a system somewhat similar, but
less unjust, obtained in portion of
the bituminous coal fields many years
ago. but the miners are now paid by
weight upon the basis of legal ton;
/ they are not only permitted but en-
couraged by the operator to employ
check weigh men to see that the pro-
| Of 10I oh
ed and a correct record made thereof" !"
| Mr. Mitchell then took up the fourth
| demand of the miners for a trade
agreement, with the necessary ma
chinery 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, the anthracite and BIZ
| luminous mine workers had some rule
for the local government of local af-
fairs. '
ssThe only manner,'' he said, "in
which the national organization is
permitted to interfere is that before
strike is inaugurated by the district
organization the approval of the pres1-
dent of the national union must De
obtained; but the president OF the ma
tional organization has no authority
to inaugurate a strike, Thus the coal
mine operators are afforded greater
measure of protection against strike
than they would have under sepaf-
ate independent organization"
AS to the responsibility of, the mine
workers organization, Mr. M1tci1eii
said: "At the present tlne
the United Mine Workers OF
Of America has contracts with the op-
orators of fourteen states and dls-
fricts. fixing the amount the miners
shall receive per ton, the amount the
various classes of labor shall. receive
nor day. the number of hours Whlch
shall constitute a days work, and the
methods and machinery for the ADJUST
ment of local grievances by joint con
ference with the mine owners. Ihese
are mutual contracts Which are advan-
tageous to both miner and operator
and protect the public against the eff
feet of strikes or lockouts.
'srEhe report of the United States
government on the strikes in the min
ing industry show that the number
and duration of strikes has been ma
terially 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 it assumes the responsibility OF
disciDlining it's members. The trade
agreement has proved effective in re-
straining Workmen from engaging in.
local or. 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
establish the same method Of adjust
ing wage differences in the anthracite
fields.
1T is said that the competition be-
tween ankhracite and bituminous coal
is a reason upon which the anthracite
operators object to a recognition of
the miners organization. That this
objection is neither valid nor consist
ent is clearly demonstrated by the fact
that many of the railroads differed by
the same meh who control the anthra-
cite coal mines enter into trade. agree
ments with railroad organizations, a
majority of whose members are en-
ployed upon other and competing
roads.
I'VE demand recognition because we
know that permanent peace and
friendly relations can be best. main
tanned through a trade agreement
with the organization which our peo-
pie have elected TO join. Fully 90
per cent of the employees of the an
thraeite coal mines are members of it
from choice; they desire to retain their
membership in it. It was the United
Mine Workers of Amellca that con-
ferred with the president of the Unit
ed States in relation to the submission
of the issues involved in the coal
strike to this commission. 1t was the
United Mine Workers of America that
was requested by the president to end
the strike. It was the United Mine
Workers of America that declared the
strike at an end. 1t was the United
Mine Workers of America that sent
the men back eto work. and it is the
United Mine workers Of America that
is pledged to accept the award of this
commission.
President AIitchell's address figured
up 5000 words, and he spoke for forty
minutes. After he had finished he was
placed on the witness stand under oath.
In response to the questions of Mr.
Darrow for the mine workers, he said
that he began working in the mines
as door boy when he was IL years
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