Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-10-02
Mitchell Replies to Baer.

Mitchell Replies to Baers
Philadelphia, Pa, Sept. 29.-Presi.
lent John Mitchell of the mine work
.rs has issued II statement answering
Eutterances of President Baer concern
.ng the coal Strike. Summarized, Mr.
Mitchell makes these points:
Mr.. Bner claims anthracite miners
are paid as we'll as others doing like
work. Mr.. Mitchell shows that anthra-
ute miners receive far less per houl
than the lowest wage paid bituminout
miners, and have 80 per cent moro
chance of casualty.
Mr.. Baer lis accused of untruth ir
saying miners work only four to sia
hours per day; also, in saying slate
pickers receive So cents per day. Mr.
Mitchell offers to give names and adj
dresses of thousands of them who re-
ceive less than IS cents.
For some mysterious reason" said
Mr.. Raer, the miners have restricted
the output of the collieries." Instead
declares Mr. Mitchell, the output was
much larger last ear than ever before
The highest authority for this state
ment is given. The amount to the
miner, per capita, was also larger last
year than ever before.
The substance of the miners de-
mands is higher wages for piece work
lay. payment for a legal ton, honest
Weighing.
All this the miners offer to submit
10 arbitration The organization has
been called lawless; but for twenty
weeks 1T has been far more successful
IN preserving peace than the coal and
iron police has been in melting trouble
There have been few outbreaks, but
IT would be as fair to charge the
Methodist church with lawlessness be-
rause Methodists occasionally dc
wrong as to charge these outbreaks to
the miners organization.
Mr.. lsaer's assertion that the pump
men, engineers and firemen were called
out In order to destroy the mines is
denounced as false. Had it been de-
sired TO destroy the mines, Mr.. Mitch
ell points out, these men would have
been called out simultaneously with
the miners, and without notice to the
companies.
Abram S. Hewitt's contention that
he operators are fighting the battle of
Independent labor is assailed with es-
pecial vigor. CAS- AN influential direc-
tor I'm one of the coal roads," says Mr.
Mitchell. Mr.. Hewitt is undoubtedly
aware the operators are fighting to
compel the worlemen to accept en-
pioyment under terms satisfactory to
;he coal trust, and that the preserva-
ion of individual rights is a cloak UNI
der which they seek to destroy organ
szatlon among their employees
1T has been claimed the miners ter
rorized new men and thus prevented
their working. But, in fact, since the
militia arrived to protect work ers nom
ANTON men have constantly been iotn-
Ing the strikers, and there is no chance
TO get the mines operated. Mr.. Mitch
VII concludes:
ReNerting to the demands of the miners
for an increase in wages and Improved en-
vlronment, MIR. Baer claims that he can
not possibly pay an increase In wages that
would amount to 10 or Is cents per ton to
the miners, but he and the allied presl-
, tents admit that they can afford to sacri-
millions of dollars rather than pay this
increase; nevertheless. without advancing
the miners wages / cent, the operators
Al ana raise .n the market price last year from
time Mr.. Baer and his fellow presidents
are forcing the public to pay from Sc to
go excess upon ton in order to save the
same public from 10 to 10 cents.
MIR. Baer states that 40 per cent of the
the cost of mining but he fails to saw that
lhe larger portion of this 40 per cent is
made up of grades of coal for which the
miners received no compensation In
deed, up to u few years ago. or before
the installation of washcries the miners
were re- locked for loading this very coal
WI, brings small prices now in the mar
ket; ard, according to Mr. Baers process
or reasoning, the miners would receive
less wages for the larger grades, because
'hey sh mlne the small sizes gratutously.
question OF cost, but shall merely say that
MIR, Baer's statements are greatly mis-
leading. The rise in wages In 1900 was
more m than connterbalanced by an increase
m ,t,l,l ,l, t..c a.
ers worse off than before.
IN closing this statement desire to say
mat we have entered and are conducting
this struggle without malice and without
bitterness; we believe that our antagon-
lists are acting upon misrepresentation
rather than In bad faith: we regard them
not as enemies, but as opponents, and we
strike In patience until they shall accedc
to our demands or submit to impartial
arbitration the differences between us.
We are striking not to show our
strength str but the Justice Of our cause and
our case to a fair tribunal. We ask not
our case to the solemn Judgment Of the
American people.
Involved in this fight are questions
weightier than any question of dollars and
cents, The present miner has had his
day; he has been oppressed and ground
down, but there is another generation
coming up; a generation Of little children
mill and the noise and blackness Of the
breaker 1t is for these little children
we are lighting We have not underesti
mated the strength of our opponents: we
have not overestimated our own power Of
resistance. Accustomed always to live
upon little, little less is no unendurablt
hardship.
II was with a quaking of hearts that W,
asked for our last pay envelope but IN
the grimy and bruised hand of the minel
was was, the he little white hand of child, ;
hn nj, ~N ~
in the heart of the miner was a soul
rooted determination to starve to the las
crust of bread and fight out the long
and secure for 1T place In the world II
keeping with advancing civilization.
John Mitchell.
America.