The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-05
Also Demands 20 Per Cent Increase In Wases-eives Very Concise Explanation of the Situation
 In the Coal Region.

were formulated by the Shamolkin convention held March IS to 24 and for the enforcement of which the strike was inaugurated:
 First-An increase of 20 per cent upon the prices paid during the year 1901 to employees performing contract or piece work. This demand is made on account of the following reasons:
 1. The present rate of wages is much lower than the rate of wages paid in the bituminous coal fields for sub stantially similar work.
 2. The present rate of wages is lower than is paid in other occupations requiring equal skill and training.
 8. The average annual earnings in the anthracite coal field are much less than the average annual earnings in the bituminous coal fields for substan- tially similar work.
 4. The average annual earnings in the anthracite coal field are much less than the average annual earnings for occupations requiring equal skill and training.
 5. The rate of wages in the anthracite fields is insufficient to compensate the miners in view of the dangerous charac- ter of the occupation in relation to acci- dents, the liability to serious and perma- nent disease, the high death rate and the short grade life incident to this employ ment.
 6. The annual earnings of the mine workers are insufficient to maintain the l American standard of living.
 T. The increased cost of living has made 1t impossible to maintain a fair standard of life upon the basis of the present wages and has not only prevented the mine workers from securing any benefit of increased prosperity, but has made their condition poorer on account of 1t.
 S. The wages of the anthracite mine workers are so low that their children are prematurely forced into the breakers and mills instead of being supported and edu- cated upon the earnings of their parents.
 9. The wages are below the fair and just earnings of mine workers in this in- dustry.
 Shorter Hours Wanted. |
 Second-A reduction of 20 per cent in hours of labor, without any reduction of earnings for all employees paid by the | hour, day or week. The second demand is similar to the ] first in that 1t Is designated to increase the hourly rate of wages of mine work CTS employed by the hour, day or week, and all the reasons applicable to the first demand are asked to be applied to the second with reDetitiOn.
 In addition we submit the following: | TO- The ten-hour day is detrimental to the health, life, safety and well-being of the mine workers.
 il. ghorter hours improve the physical, mental and moral conditions Of the worh- CTS.
 12 Shorter hours increase the intensity and efficiency of labor. 1S The tendency of nationaI and stato government of organized trade and of production generally is toward shorter hours.
 A. A working day of eight hours Is sufficiently long for the best interests of the working men and of the community
 New Weigh System.
 Thrd-The adoption or a system by which coal shall be weighed and paid fo4 by weight wherever practicable: the minimum rate per ton to be % cents for legal ton of 2240 pounds. the differen- tials now existing at the various mines to be maintained.
 This demand is made on account of the following reasons:
 | l. Measurement by the legal ton wherever practicable is the only honest and just system of measuring the earn ings of mine workers
 2. When the operators sell or transport coal it is on the basis Of a legal ton o. 224O pounds.
 | 3. The excessive ton was originally in- tended to compensate the operator for the weight of the small sizes of coal which were then discarded, but which | are now utilized and sold, and therefore there is no present necessity for the use of any other than the legal ton. 4. The adoption of this system would remove an incentive, both to the operator and the worker, to cheating and dishon- esty and would allay jealousy among the miners and prevent unjust discrimination and favoritism.
 5. The change of the present system to the one asked for would prove strong factor in allaying suspicion and discon- tent among the mine workers
 Want Arbitration.
 Fourth-The incorporation in an agree- ment between the United Mine Workers
  panies of the wakes which shall be paid and the conditions of employment which shall obtain, together with satisfactory measures for the adjustment of griev ances which may arise from time to time to the end that strikes and lockouts may be unnecessary.
 In support of this demand we submit the following reasons: 1.-The anthracite mine workers should not be compelled to make or sign individ ua1 agreements, but should have the right to form such organization and choose such agents and officers as they desire to act collectively instead of individual ly when they deem that their best in- terests are subserved thereby 2. Agreements between employers and employees through workingmen's organi- zations are the ordinary methods of reg ulatine production and wages in the bitu- mnous coal fields and in other large in- dustries, and are beneficial, successful