The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1902-06-26
STATEMENT By MITCHELL


And why they Are CoMtiRwtng the
FYwht-Ba~e Used Every shRort TO
Gee Justtce for the miners and
Settle the strike-W illsnk 60 Arr
nitrate.
"Wilkesbarre, Pa. June 2s.--ro the
Public: II the contest now In pro-
gress in the anthracite coal regions OF
Pennsylvania affected only the vel
fare OF the railroad and mining cor
porations on one hand, and the coal
mine workers on tho other, the public
would have no vital interests at stake
and would consequently be less con-
cerned than It now IL In the continu-
ance, the extension Or the termination
Of the conflict; but tnAsmuch ~ there
Is Z third and important interest In
voived which. although IN nowise re
sponsible for the present strike. which
Ii nevertheless IN innocent victim
thereof, II is but fair and proper that
the public should be fully and accu.
rately informed upon the merits OF the
question now In controversy.
'If II shall be asked why we have
waited until the close Of tho sixth
week OF the strike 10 issue = state
ment of this nature, sufllcient answer
may be found IL the fact that We have
hesitated TO utter any word Or 10 take
any position that would impair Or en-
bArrass easy reconciliation with the
coal operators. Eevesy delay and Pre-
caution, every conceivable concilia-
tory effort that honorable and con
sentative men could take 10 avert D
rupture and every means that thought
could suggest TO bring the matter III
dispute to arbitrA&ion Was resorted TO
by the union both before The strike or
der was issued and since Il went into
effect, but without avail; the coal
nAsnates replying to all our oveEtures
with the declaration that there wAA
nothing to arbitraAe. This statement
on their part n equivalent 10 saying
that the coal mine workers have made
unreasonable demands and have
struck without real or sufllcient cAMse.
To this, let plain, unvArnished facts
and figures reply.
THE orlsvamees.
For more than IS years the AnthrA-
cite coal mine workers of renns5lvA-
mia have chafed and gruaned under the
most intolefAble and inhuniAn cOndl-
tions OF employme imaginable. Thsir
average annual earnings have been
less than those u any other claas Of
workmen In the United States, mt
withstanding that their work ID more
hazardous and the cost Of living great
er than In any ether Important Amefi-
can industry. The total number OF
persons employed In and around the
anthracite coal mines II 1l7.5O0. They
are employed never to exceed 200 days
In any one year and they receive ~
compensation for their services IN Az.
| erage Of e1.42 for 10 hour working
day. II will thus be noted that they
earn annually less than $500. Such
pay may supply living on . par with
some classes Of European labOrers. hut
who will say that It IL SUFFICIENT TO sup
port American citizens or enable par.
ents to educate and properly maintain
their familiee7 True II ID that d 10
per cent increase In wages was grant.
ed by the coal operators ~ q strike
concession two years ago. but II IL also
true that large portion OF this 10 per
cent was paid back TO the companies
to buy the suppression OF an old pow.
der grievance. Moreover, according
to reliable commercial agencies, the
cost Of living has increased, particu-
larry In the purchase Of footistufYs,
| from 80 to 40 per cent, so that the pur-
chasing power OF q miners earnings
is less now than before the strike OF
! 1900.
"The presidents Of the various coal
carrying railroads have given pub
licity to a statement that during the
year 1901 the productive capacity OF
mine workers deteriorated an average
OF I'm per cent; In other words, the
United Mine Workers organization IL
accused OF encouraging poor workman
ship. An examination OF the reports
on coal production compiled by the
United States government disclosea
the fact that the allegations OF the
railroad presidents are misleading and
untrue.
THE railroad presidents contend
that they can not increase wages with.
out making a corresponding increase
in the selling price OF their product
to the consumer, and have accused the
mineworkers OF suggesting . PROPOSE.
tion that would impose hardship up
on the public by increasing the market
price Of coal 10 cents a ton, the
amount that would have been re
duired to meet all the demands made
by the miners. However, their soiici