The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-15

weighing OF coal and an industrial agree
merit. the refusal of all of which led 70
the strike. Mr.. Mitchell spoke as follows
on the question OF higher wages:
"Of the IA 600 men and boys employed
IN and around the mines, strippings. wash
cries and breakers I'm the anthracite coal
fields, 64,072. or &c per cent, are employed
on contract or piece work: the remaining
S5.WO, or % per cent, are employed by the
hour, day, week or month. OF the 60i2
contract men. $780, are miners and 26.26s
are miners laborers.
THE work Of a miner and miners la
Dorer Is extremely hazardous; IN fact, il
is more dangerous than employment I'm
any other important industry In the world.
The number of persons killed and injured
Is greater than in any other industry. Each
day the anthracite mines are in operation
2 6-lO persons lose their lives and three
times as many are MANNED, and yet these
men receive less wages annually than arc
received by men performing precisely SINH
lar work in other fields, under more favor
able and less hazardous conditions. The
number Of years a man can retain his
health and strength in this occupation Is
limited; III he escape ceath or injury oy
falls OF rock or coal, he cannot escape at
tacks Of miners asthma. There Is scarcely
a mine worker who has not contracted this
malady. The miners are compelled 10 work
In powder rooms. powder smoke in foul
air, many of them in water, and their work
Is difficult and exhausting. Reputable in
surance companies will not issue policies
10 THIS class OF WOrkmen, the rlSkS are so
great that the premiums would be pro-
hibitive TO men whose earnings are SO low.
The entire % per cent. which they demand
as an increase in their wages would not
suffice TO carry an insurance OF $1,000.
1T seems but fair and just that wages
paid these classes of workmen should be
as high, il not higher, than wages paid to
skilled artisans in other industries. 1t is
certainly not unjust to ask that these min
ers should receive high wages are
paid TO miners in the bituminous coal fields,
In ell
ore and copper mines. all of which work is
less hazardous, freer from liability to dis
ease, requiring less experience and less
skill and is better paid than labor in the
anthracite coal fields"
EIGHT-HOUR DAY DEMAND.
In supporting the demand for the reduc-
ton of the hours for the day laborers, Mr..
Mitchell showed that it amounted practi-
cally to demand for 20 per cent. increase
of compensation for $1,000 men, or 81 per
cent. of all mine employees. Continuing, he
said
THE eight-hour day is the standard
working day in the mining industry. Eight
hours constitute a days work in the coal
mines of Great Britain, in all the silver.
gold and copper mines, and in the bitumi-
nous mines in the States OF Arkansas,
Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, in
western Pennsylvania and the Indian Ter
ritory.
THE reports of the United States Geo
logical Survey demonstrate that more coal
mas been produced annually since the in
than In any preceding year Each miner
produced more coal per working day in
eight hours than he formerly produced in
ten hours, and there is no reason why the
same results would not be obtained in the
anthracite field. The bituminous workers
receive, in many instances. from 20 to 40
per cent. higher wages for eight hours
work than are paid in the anthracite mines
for ten hours work"
Defending the third demand, that coal
shall be weighed and paid for by weight,
and that 2,240 pounds shall constitute a ton
Mr.. Mitchell declared that the present
method OF measuring the coal produced
by the miners in the Lackawanna, Wyom-
ing and Lehigh regions has been the source
OF more discomfort than any other of the
many injustices imposed upon the miners,
and there can be no contentment among
these workers until an honest system has
been adopted. Paying for coal by the car
or by ton weighing from 2,740 to $3.50
pounds is fragrant injustice. The cars
have been made larger, more topping is re-
quired and there has been no correspond
ing increase in the amount paid per car
or per ton. The miners have been forced TO
produce a constantly increasing amount of
coal, for which they receive no additional
compensation.
The miner should be paid for every
pound of coal he mines that is sold by the
operator. If 2,24O pounds constitute a ton,
when coal is sold to the consumer, and
when railroad companies are paid for trans
porting coal to market, what justice can
there be in denying the miner the right to
be paid for his labor upon the same basis ?
DOCKING SYSTEM
1.-THE anthracite companies not satisfied
with extra-legal ton of from $40 to
$3.50 pounds, have a system of docking.
through which they appropriate an addi-
tional part of the miners earnings A min
er is locked all the way from 500 TO 1000
pounds upon car as a penalty for load
ing impurities for which he has already been
penalized to the extent of 200 to 800 pounds
in excess measure of weight; in other
words, he is punished twice for the same
offense. system somewhat similar, but
less unjust, obtained in a portion of the
bituminous coal fields many years ago. but
the miners are paid now by weight upon
the basis OF legal ton; they are not only
permitted, but are encouraged by the oper-
ators TO employ check weighmen TO see
that the product of their labor is properly
weighed and correct record made
thereof"
of the miners, for trade agreement, with
the necessary machinery for the adjust
ment of local grievances. He outlined the
history and policy of the United Mine
Workers of America and explained that,
by its constitution. the anthracite and
bituminous miners had home rule for the
local Oh local a1r0lrS. The
only manner" he said. 'in which the ma
tional organization is permitted to inter-
fere, is that, before strike is inaugurated
by the district organization the approval
of the president of the national union
must be obtained; but the president of the
national organization has no authority to
inaugurate a strike. Thus, the coal mine
operators are afforded a greater measure
OF protection against strikes than they
would have under a separate and independ-
ent organization"
AS TO the responsibility of the mine work.
ers' organization Mr.. Mitchell said AT
the present time the United Mine Workers
of America has contracts with the oper-
atorS of fourteen States and districts fix
ing the amount the miners shall receive
per ton, the amount the various classes of
laborers shall receive per day; the num-
Der of hours which shall constitute a DAYS
work. and the methods and machinery for
the adjustment of local grievances by Joint
conferences with the mine owners. These
are mutual contracts. which are advan-
tageous to both miner and operator and
protect the public against the effects OF
strikes or lOckouts. The reports of the
mining industry show that the number and
duration of strikes has been materially re-
duced each year since the system of Joint
conferences and mutual agreement has
been adopted.
AGREEMENTS PREVENT STRIKES.
Where the United Mine Workers of
America is recognized and contracted with
1t assumes the responsibility of disciplin-
ing its members. The trade agreement has
proved effective in restraining workmen
from engaging in local or general strikes
There have haar M AetriLaS Of opxy ,,,o,D;