The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-10-17

earning were 1868 for the year 1901,
making an average of about $1.O1
per day.
"The anthracite mineworkers were
employed and worked under these
conditions until May -, 1902. Dur
ing that period the cost of necessities
of life had risen an appreciable extent.
Mr.. Carroll D. Wright, the United
States Commissioner ofLabor, states
in an official report that the cost of
food products had risen 9 per cent.
Before the strike was inaugurated
the officers of the union, in telegram
addressed to the presidents of the
coal-carrying railroads, proposed
that Archbishop Ireland and Bishop
Potter be selected to make an investi-
CATION of conditions of livlihood in
the anthracite coal mines, and if they
found that the anthracite minework-
ers earned sufficient wages to enable
them to live in manner comfortable
to American standards or consistent
with American citizenship, that the
miners would defer to their decision
and not ask for any advance in wages.
'In the same telegram we proposed
that the Industrial Branch of the
National Civic Federation select a
competent board of arbitration to
determine the questions at issue,
which were the reasonableness and
fairness of the wages demanded by
the representatives of the anthracite
coal miners in the Shamokin conven-
tion-2O per cent increase in wages
for men employed as contract or
piece workers, or a reduction of two
hours per day for men and boys en-
ployed by the day, hour or week, with
the same pay that they formerly re-
ceived for 10 hours, the two demands
being equivalents.
"The replies to the telegram from
the railway presidents were sub
stantially the same, and were a re-
fusal to submit either to the arbitra-
ton of the National Civic Federation
or to the investigation of the two
prelates l have named.
"Thereupon the strike was ordered
and the anthracite coal workers sus-
pended labor. Since that time there
has been an almost complete sus-
pension of anthracite coal produc-
ton. The anthracite coal workers
are substantially all members of the
United Mine Workers of America.
Substantially no applications have
been made for miners certificates
since the said strike, and substant-
tally no certificates have been grant
ed.
"To operate all the anthracite
mines in the manner they were
operated previous to the strike would
require, according to the report of
Pennsylvania State Bureau of Mines,
$4,000 men and boys. To the best
Of my knowledge and belief, not en-
ceeding 5000 persons have been EN-
ployed in or around the anthracite
mines, strippings, washeries and
breakers, exclusive of foremen, at
any time since the Inauguration ofthe
strike, and substantially no anthra
cite coal has been mined.
"Of all anthracite coal now being
produced, not to exceed 10 per cent.
is from the mines, 90 per cent. of it
being produced at the washeries.
This 90 per cent. is refuse matter
which has been cast aside and ac-
cumulated during the past so years.
"Since the Inauguration ofthe strike
| have on behalf of the anthracite
coal workers made repeated efforts
to have the issues as aforesaid SUBJ
mitted to impartial arbitration by
any tribunal or body Of persons sat
isfactory to the operators, and have
on behalf Of the said anthra-
cite coal workers, to abide by the re-
suit of any such arbitration. have
gone so far as to propose that
should recommend to the anthracite !
mine workers that they resume work
if some of those largely financially
in anthracite mines would
accept the responsibility publicly of
determining the question at issue,
providing they made their decision
public and gave their reasons for it.
eff the coal companies will pay an
increase of 20 per cent. to the men
at the anthracite mines as
or piece workers, and will
7educe the hours OF labor from 10 TO
hours for men employed by the
lay, hour or week, at the same pay
hey received per day prior to the
strike, then, in that event, all of the
100000 former employees will return