The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-07
MINERS STATEMENT
Official Statement Filed by the
Miners Before the Strike
Commission.

commission on Sunday night was naae
public today. Copies OF the statement
have been furnished to he operators
who will reply in three or four days
The miners statement in full is as FOL
lows:
To the Anthracite Goa Strike CoIlmis-
sion:
The mine workers make OF the opera
tors the following demands which were
formulated by the Shamiken conven-
ton held March Is to "a. and for the
enforcement OF which the strike was in
augurated.
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:
l. The present rate of wages Is much
lower than the rate of wages PAL In
the bitumenous coal fields for substan-
TALLY similar work.
,. The present rate OF wages Is lower
than is paid in other occupations re-
curing equal skill and training.
3. The average annual earnings In
the anthracite coal field are much less
han the average annual earnings In
the bitumenous coal fields for substan-
TALLY similar work.
l. me dNGIdsc annual q AAAASS rs
the anthracite coal fields are much less
than the average annual earnings Tor
occupations requiring equal skill and
training.
5. The rate of wages in the anthra-
cite fields is insufficient TO compensate
the mine workers in view OF the dan
gerous character of the occupation in
relation to accidents, the liability TO Sc
rious and permanent disuse, the high
death rate and the short grade life in
cident to this employment.
6. The annual earnings of he min
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
4. The increased cost of living has
made il impossible to maintain a fair
standard of life upon the basis or pres
ent wages and has not only prevented
the mine workers from securing any
benefit from increased prosperity, but
has made their condition poorer on ac-
count of it.
8. The wages of the anthracite min
workers are so low that their children
are prematurely forced into the brean-
ers and mills instead of being
ed and educated upon the earnings or
their parents.
9. Wages are below the fair and just
earnings of mine workers in this INDUS
try.
Second-A reduction of twenty per
cent. in hours of labor without any re-
duction of earnings for all employees
paid by the hour. day or week.
The second demand Is similar to the
first in that it is destined tc increase
the hourly rate of wages OF mine work
ers employed by the hour, day or week,
and all the reasons a~uolicacie to the
first in tina it is designed tC increase
to the second with repetition.
In addition thereto we submit he
following:
10. The ten-hour day is detrimental
to the health, life, safety and well
being of the mine workers.
IL. Shorter hours improve the physi-
cal, mental and moral conditions OF the
workers.
II. Shorter u increase the inten-
sity and efficiency Of labor.
Is. The tendency Of national and
state government Of organized trade
and of production generally is toward
shorter hours.
IA. A working day of eight hours is
sufficiently long for the best interests OF
the working men and Of the mun
Third-The adoption Of a system by
which coal shall be weighed and paid
for by weight wherever practicable;
the minimum rate per ton to be sixty
cents for a legal ton Of 24O pounds:
the differentials now existing at he va
rious mines to be maintained.
This demand is made on o of
the following reasons:
/. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable - the only honest
and just system of measuring the earn
ings of mine workers.
2. When the operators sell or trans
port coal it is on the D2siS Of a legal
ton of 2,240 pounds.
8. The excessive ton WIS originally
intended to compensate the operator for
the weight Of the small sizes of coal
hic were then discarded but which
are now utilized and sold and therefore
there is no present necessity for the use
of any other than legal ton.
4. The adoption of this system would
remove an incentive, both TO The opera
tor and the worker, II dishonesty and
cheating. and would a'lay jealousy
among the miners and prevent unjust
discrimination and favoritism.
3. The change of the present system
to the one asked for would prove a
strong factor in allayinG suspicion and
discomfort among the mine workers.
6. The Incorporation i'll an agreement
between the United Mine Workers Of
America and the anthI Ic'te coal COM
panies Of the wages which shall be paid
and the conditions of employment which
shall obtain. together with satisfactory
methods for the adjustment of grew
ances which nay arise fron time to
time to the end that strikes and lock-
outs may be unnecessary.
In support OF this demand we submit
the following reasons:
l. The anthracite min workers
should not be compelled to make or
sign individual agreements. nut should
have the right To form such organiZa-
ton and choose such gen n officers
as they desire to act, collectively in
stead IF individually when they deem
that their best interests are subserved
thereby.
2 Agreements between employers and
employees through working mems or
CARNATIONS are the ordinary method Of
regulating production ard wages in the
bitumenous coal fields and in other
large industries. and a-e beneficial. sue
cessful and in keeping with the spirit Of
the times.
j. Unions OF working men tend to the
better discipline of the rnen and to the
improvement of their physical. moral
and mental condition. ard TO the pre-
OF friendly relations between
GmnlOvor and anrn1nuo.