Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1902-09-19
PROTECTION OF LABOR
Republican Methods Embrace
Low Wages and High Prices,
THE CASE OF THE COAL MINERS

President Mitchell Exposes the False
md Misleading Statements OF the
Coal BnrOns - Producer mud Con
sumner the Prey OF the Railroad
Trust.
President John Mitchell OF the Unit
ed Mine Workers OF America has is
sued a 8: ,- lscrvative statement
i'm reply to the l-ttcrs published by the
mine operators. lie gives as the reason
for holding back this statement of the
miners case, I'VE have hesitatcd 10
utter any word or 10 take any position
that would impede or .embarrass easy
reconciliation with the coal operators"
Every effort was made by the miners
TO settle the matter I'm dispute by arbi
tration, but every proposition was met
by the operators with the reply that
there was really nothing TO arbitrate.
This puts the whole responsibility for
the strike upon the coal magnates.
Mr.. Mitchell shows that the niue
workers are the most poorly paid labor
ers In any important American indus
try. They work less than 200 days in a
year, receiving SLIP for n day of ten
hours. The annual earnings of n work
er are less than $500. President Mitch.
ell comments:
such pay may supply I living on Il
par with some classes OF European la.
borers, but who will say that it is sufIi
cient to support American citizenship
or enable parents TO educate and prop
erly maintain their familicsT
The 10 per cent increase I'm wages
granted two years ago by the opera.
tors has not benefited the miners. 4
large portion of the advance was paid
back TO the companies. Moreover. the
cost OF living has increased from 30 to
10 per cent, so that the purchasing
power OF miners wages is less than be
fore the strike OF 1900. The assertion
Of the coal magnates that the efficiency
Of mine workers had decreased 1912
per cent in 1901 is contradlcted by the
official reports, which show decided
increase in the output per man.
The railroad presidents who form the
coal trust claim that they cannot pay
the mine workers decent wages with
out raising tle price OF coal to con-
sumers and thus causing great hard
ship. This generous consideration for
the consuming public has not been con-
spicuOus in the conduct of the coal
barons heretofore. Mr.. Mitchell points
to the rise in the price of coal since the
strike began and shows the hypocrisy
OF the operators affected solicitude.
From the government reports he shows
that the coal companies have made
larger profits than ever before Ac-
cepting President ELEPHANTS statement
that the cost of mining coal for 1901
has increased ID cents per ton. IL is OBJ
vious that the coal companies are not
losing anything when they have been
selling coal at an advance of 80 cents
per ton above the price of 1900. This
enormous Increase has been eXtorted
from the consumer while no increase
In wages has been given. When the
miners make reasonable demand for
more wages. the operators suddenly
become very solicitous for the con-
sumer, whom they have so cheerfully
robbed heretofore, and appeal to the
people for sympathy I'm their struggle
against the labor unions which would
advance the price Of coal by demand
Ing a living wage for the mine work
ers- Such devotion to the public inter