Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-14

per ton. the amount the various classes of
labor shall receive per day, the number of
hours which shall constitute days work
and the methods and machinery for the ad-
tustment of local grievances by Joint con-
ference with the mine owners These are
mutual contracts which are advantageous
to both miner and operator and protect the
public against the effects of strikes or lock-
outs.
Strikes Materially Reduced.
''The reports OF the United States govern
ment upon 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
1t assumes the responsibility Of discplining
its members. The trade agreement has
proved effective in restraining workmen
from engaging In local or general strikes.
There have been no strikes Of any mag
nitude in any Of the coal mining states in
which trade agreements exist. We seek
to establish the same method of adjusting
wage differences in the anthracite field.
Neither Valid Nor Consistent
''It is said that the competition between
anthracite and bituminous coal is a reason
upon which the anthracite operators op-
PoSS d IcCOSHitiOu VI the OTSdUlZd-
ton. That this objection is neither valid
nor consistent is clearly demonstrated by
the fact that many of the railroads Off
cered by the same men who control the an
thracite coal mines enter into trade agree
ments with railroad organizations, ma
tority OF whose members are employed
upon other and competing roads.
I'VE demand recognition because we
know that permanent peace and friendly
relations can be best maintained through
a trade agreement with the organization
which our people have elected to join. Fully
90 per cent Of the employees of the anthra-
cite coal mines are members Of it from
choices they desire to retain their MEM
bership in 1t.
What Mine Workers Have Done.
'It was the United Mine Workers of
America that conferred with the President
Of the United States In relation to the SUBJ
mission of the issues involved in the coal
strike to this commission; it was the United
Mine Workers of America that was re-
quested by the President to end the strike;
1t the United Mine Workers of America
that declared the strike at an end; it was
the United Mine Workers of Aemrica that
sent the men back to work, and it is the
United Mine Workers of America that is
pledged to accept the award of this COM
mission.
Failure to recognize the organization
was the cause of many of the local strikes
against which operators and mine workers
Jointly complained. There have been many
local strikes during the past year, the fault
Of which rests upon the operators and
miners alike. The miners failing to secure
redress for their wrongs (the companies
having refused to treat with their repre-
sentatives) had no choice but to submit to
injustice or inaugurate strike.
Does Not Mean Dictation.
Sparoopif}op Of ha INTO r,
dictation or interference by men not en-
ployed by the companies; it simply means
that officers selected by the mine workers
shall exercise supervision over the organ
ization shall counsel with. the mine
workers as to how their trade affairs shall
be conducted The miners have as much
right to select spokesman to act for them,
to present their grievances, to manage their
affairs as have the stockholders of any one
of the anthracite coal companies to elect
their officers to perform like function.
For the information of the commission
we herewith outline more specifically
plan Of procedure which, if adopted, would
prevent local strikes and preserve peace
and harmony during the time covered by
the award which you are empowered to
make.
Plan Suggested.
First. The rate of wages, the hours of
labor, the method of weighing and paying
be incorporated in an agreement between
the representatives of the various coal
companies and the representatives of the
organization of which the compliments in
this case members.
Second. There should be committee of
conservative representative mine workers
selected by the employees at each colliery;
1t should be the duty of this committee to
cooperate with the mine foremen in the
adjustment of local disputes which cannot
be settled between the mine foremen and
the mine worker mine workers involved.
General Grievance Committee.
Third Should the mine foremen and
mine committee fail to adjust the grievance
complained of the matter in dispute should
be referred to the company's superintendent
and a general grievance committee, which
should be constituted Of representative
mine workers from each cOlliery operated
by any company.
Should they fail to adjust 1t, 1t should be
referred to the general manager OF the coal
company and the district president of the
miners organization, and, should they fail
to adjust it, they should call upon the
services of some disinterested person, whose
decision should be final. Pending adj
justment in the manner set forth the mines
and the miners should continue at work"
Mr. Mitchell concluded with plea for the
children. He said:
Plea for the Children.
"Our little boys should not be forced into
the mines and breakers so early in life our
little girls should not be compelled to work
In the mills and factories at an age when
they should be in school. These children
are the future citizens of our nation; their
parents should be enabled to earn wages
sufficiently high to give them at least a
common school education, SO to equip
them to bear the grave responsibilities
which will ultimately devolve upon them.
1.-The wealth and the future of the nation
are not to be measured by its palaces ana
niIlionaires, but rather by the enlightened
contentment and prosperity of its millions
of citizens who constitute the bone and
sinew of our land"