The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-11-26
HEARING MUST 60 ON
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Continued from First Page.)
 alterations, this commission, composed as We believe of men that are abso- lutely fair. unbiased, and of unusual experience and good judgment, in their findings will make such declaration as will for many years put a ban upon unlawful practices and oppression of non-union men, unjustifable demands and other grievances that We have been suffering under since 1900 when the union first took possession of our property. If, on the other hand, this settlement be made now, when not single witness has been called on our part or on our belief, it will be an ab- solute and distinct surrender to the miners union and the troubles above referred to will not only be continued, but so magnified as to be absolutely unbearable.
 "The hearings before the anthracite coal strike commission present the first opportunity that the coal operators have ever had of presenting their case before the general public who are real ly an important third party. since ab- SkANSNAso ctS ESclcL Ol lAAO0S PlCNCCO4Ai5S are published all over the United States and 1t is a duty that we owe to our selves as well as to them to prove that the continued and repeated charges of injustice, barbarity and extortion are absolutely unfounded; all of which the individual operators at least, propose to do.
 ''The case as presented, already shows such weakness that we believe they were almost disheartened when these suggestions for a compromise were made. We believe that any sur render on our part which would be practically what this compromise would amount to, would be by far the most serious mistake ever made in the anthracite coal business"
 The protest bears the signatures of twenty firms.
 ARGUMENT SUPPORTING PRO-
 TEST.
 The protest was presented by c. D. Simpson of the West End Coal company who said:
 "Gentlemen: In making our protest against any settlement of the question at issue, we desire to emphasize cer- tain points of material importance. During the past five months no consist ent effort has been made to inform the public of the true state of affairs. Con- sequently it has accepted the miners version and believes we are treating our employees unfairly, defrauding them of their earnings and preventing them from making a decent livelihood.
 yfe osyoIo s1Ia we are very determined, that we owe it to ourselves to have this investigation continue in order that testimony may be taken which will prove clearly to the public at large that the wages we have paid and the treatment accorded our men have been fair and that their earnings have been large in proportion to the intelligence required and their willingness to work.
 ''To common labor, the daily wages has been small, but no less than it re- ceives from the same class of work in any industry, and more than on your railroads. We do not give mechanics wages to the man who handles pick or wheel barrow.
 "As to the miners, it can be shown that their annual earnings are more than the amount called fair wages which WIS specified by two witnesses called for the plaintiff. Their wages per hour are greater than those of skilled mechanics working and living in the same region and they work less hours per day, through choice, and conse- quently, through the same choice, less days per year, since the operator must employ large number of men in order to secure the output which might be produced by fraction of that number
 This is very readily susceptible to proof by our books and those of your own mining companies. You will find | that the men who have had the largest | earnings are those who have worked l steadily, just as a mechanic must. while 1 the small earnings have invariably been | to those who have given little time or care to their labor The advantage l given by an unusually good chamber | is temporary and has relatively small | effect upon the average yearly earn | ings.
 Again, it must be remembered, when | comparing a miner with a mechanic, | that theelatter must start as an appren- l tice. receiving possibly sixty cents 8 | day during his first year. In the sec ond year he may earn little more, | still more in the third and in the fourth 1