Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-11-22
MITCHELL TO
COMMISSIONERS
Strike Leader Outlines Miners
Position In an Eloquent
Address.
OF UNlOf
Hearing Of Evidence in Anthracite Coal
Strike Begun at Scranton Today
Will Take More Than Two
Weeks.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 1.-THE anthra-
site coal strike commission today be-
gan hearing the miners side OF the
case.
After the workmen have concluded
their case the operators will make their
defense.
1t is expected more thar two weeks
will be taken up in the hearing, and II
is likely the commission will hear all
the evidence I'm this city.
AS early as 8 o'clock the corridors of
the Lackawanna court house were
crowded with people of all classes and
conditions, eager to gain Ambulance.
Only a few of them, however, got
through the door, as almost every seat
was occupied by the mine officials and
representatives of the workers.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Judge Gray
brought his gavel down and the pro-
ceedings opened. Judge Gray an
nounced that sufficient time had been
given for the parties to the contro-
versy to prepare for the hearing, and
that the commission would heal the
representatives of the miners first.
President Mitchell said he would file
4 further statement on Monday in an
swer to some allegations of the OPP
orators. He hen addressed the COM
mission.
Abstract Of MitcheII's Address.
His statement contained 5000 words,
an abstract of which follows. Mitchell
prefaced his statement with the hope
the commission would succeed in es-
tablishing a relationship between the
operators and miners that will insure
peace in the industry for an indefinite
period. He then reCited the demands
for increased pay for the miners, short
er days for laborers, Weighing OF coal
and industrial agreements, the refusal
of all Of which led to the strike.
He took up each demand, ard pre-
sented an argument OIL the same
! ground which he has set forth in pre-
vious published speeches and state
ments, showing why from the miners
point of view the demands should be
granted.
He aid special stress upon the haz-
ardous and unfavorable condition under
which the miaers and laborers are
forced to work, saying the entire 20
per cent of increase demanded would
not suffice to carry an insurance Of ST.
900 on each life.
Eieht-Hour Statistics.
He submitted statistics showing an
hour day prevails in the mines OF
Great Britain and In the mines of
twelve state in this country.
He said the present methods OF
measuring coal In the anthracite region
was productive of more discomfort than
any other injustice imposed upon the
men.
Mitchell outlined the history and
policy OF the United Mine Workers, and
explained that by its constitution the
anthracite and bituminous mine work
ers a home rule, or local government,
for local affairs The only manner"
he said, "in which the national organ
lzation is permitted to interfere is that
before a strike is inaugurated by the
district organization, he approval OF
the president OF the National Union
be obtained; but he has no author
ity to inaugurate a strike. Thus the
coal mine operators are afforded a
greater measure of protection against
strikes than they would nave been UNI
deG separate and Independent organiza-
tons.
Recognition of Union for Good for All.
1--WE demand recognition because we
that permanent peace and friend
ly relations can be best maintained
through trade agreements with the or
ganiZation which our people have
to join. Fully 90 per cent of
employees of the anthracite mines
are members of 1t from choice. They
desire to retain their membership In II.
Failure to recognize the ~organiza-
ton has caused many local strike
during the past year, the fault OF which
rests upon the operators and miners
The miners, failing to secure
for their wrongs, the com
panies having refused to treat with
their representatives, had no choice
to submit to injustice or organize
md strike.
Doesn't Mean Dictation.
Recognition OF the union does not
dictation or Interference by the
men not employed by the companies.
t simply means that the officers elect
I'd by the mine workers shall exercise
supervision over the organization or
shall counsel with the mine workers
as to how their trade affairs shall be
The miners have as much right to
select a spokesman to act for them, to
present their grievances me manage
heir affairs as have the stockholders
# the anthracite coal companies to
lect their officers to perform like func-
For the information Of the commits
we herewith outline more specific
lily the plan of procedure which, If
dopted, would prevent local strikes
nd preserve peace and harmony dur
ng the time covered by the award
;hich you are empowered to make:
/. The rate of wages, hours OF labor and
of weighing and paying for the
roduct. Of the miners work should be
Incorporated in the agreement between
he representatives of the various coal
and the representatives of the
rganization of which the c~omplainants
this case are members.
.. There should be a committee OF con-
representative mine workers Sc
acted by the employees at each colliery;
should be the duty Of this committee to
Istment Of local disputes which cannot
e settled between the foreman and
line worker or mine workers involved.
3. Should any mine foreman fail to ad-
lst grievances complained of the matter
/ dispute should be referred to the COM
superintendent and a general
committee, which should be
instituted of representative mine work
rs from each coll!ery operated by any a.,
ne company. Should they fail TO adjust
/, 1t should be referred TO the general !
lanager OF the coal company and the dis |
let president of the miners organiza- 7
lould call upon the services of some dis
Iterested person, whose decision should ,
9 final. Pending adjustment In manner |
{ forth the mines and miners should '
)ntinue at work. I
Mitchell concluded with a plea for
lie children, saying little boys and {
.rls should not be compelled to work a
the mines and breakers at an & c
hen they should be in school. s
During the reading of his address, '