The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-23
GIVES MINERS SIDE
PRESIDENT MITCHELL ISSUES AID
DRESS TO PUBLIC.
A REPLY TO THE OPERATORS.
MAKES A STRONG SHOWING FOR
MINERS.

atOrs COntradicting Their state
ments-MOre Coal Mined and More
Profit in 1t Than Ever BefOre-COal
railroads Charge Extortfonate
Rates for Handling Anthracite and
Thus Absorb the PrOfts-Anthra-
cite Mining the Poorest Paid of
Any Work and the Most Hazard
GUS, More Men Being Killed and
Injured Every Year Than in the
standardization War.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 22.-President
John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America to-day issued an
address to the public for publication
in the newspapers tomorrow. 1t is
partly a reply to the letters of the
operators declining to accede to the
demands of the union, which were
published about ten days ago.
Briefly summarized, the address
says that every possible means was
resorted to in the effort to prevent the
strike, that the cost of living has in
creased to the point where the miner
is compelled to ask for higher wages,
denies the allegations of the oper-
ators that the productive capacity of
tie mine workers has fallen off,
and sa-e, on the other hand
it has increased; quotes official figures
to substantiate the contention that the
employers can pay higher wages with
out increasing the cost of coal to the
ing railroads, which control about IS
per cent. of the mines, absorb the prof
its of their local companies by charg-
ing exorbitant freight rates; that a
ton at the mines means anywhere from
2740 to $3.50 pounds, instead of 2,240,
and says that more men are killed and
injured in the anthracite mines of
Pennsylvania annually than were kill
ed or wounded during the Spanish
American war.
The address also says that in the
event the union is crushed, which, it
adds, is not likely, a new organization
would rise from it's ruins. 1t conclud-
es with another appeal for arbitration
of all questions in dispute. The adj
dress says:
President MitcheIPs Statement.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June, %, 1902.-If
thracite coal regions of Pennsylvania
affected only the welfare of the rail-
road and mining corporations on the
one hand and the coal mine workers
on the other, the public would have 10
vital interests at stake and would con-
sequently be less concerned than 1t
now is in the continuance, the extern
sion or the termination of the con-
dict. but, inasmuch as there is
inf int involved
which, although in nowise responsible
for the present strike is nevertheless
an innocent victim thereof, it is but
fair and proper that the general pub
lie should be fully and accurately in
formed upon the merits of the ques-
ton in controversy. If it shall be
asked why we have waited until the
close of the sixth to issue state
ment of this nature, sufficient answer
may be found in the fact that we
have hesitated to utter any word or
to take any position that would i'm
pede or embarrass easy reconciliation
with the coal operators. Every delay
and precaution, every conceivable con-
ciliatory effort that honorable men
could take to avoid a rupture, and
every means that thought could sug-
gest to bring the matter in dispute TO
arbitration was resorted to by the
union, both before the strike order
was issued and since it went into eff
feet. but without avail; the coal mag
mates replying to all our overtures
with the declaration that there
was nothing to arbitrate. This
statement on their part is
equivalent to saying that the
coal mine workers have made unreal
sonable demands, and struck without
real or sufficient cause. To this let
plain, unvarnished facts and figures
reply.
Case of Miners Presented
For more than twenty-five years the
anthracite coal mine workers or Penn
sylvania have chafed and groaned UNI
der the most intolerable and inhumane
conditions of employment imaginable.
Their average annual earnings nave
been less than those of any other class
of workmen in the United states, not
withstanding that their work is more
hazardous and the cost of living greater
than in any other important American
industry The total number OF persons
employed in and around the anthracite
coal mines is 147500; they are employ
ed never to exceed 200 days in any one
year, and they receive as compensation
for their services am average of $1.42
for a ten-hour work day. 1t Will thus
he noted that they earn annually Ass
than $500. Such pay may supply a
living on a par with some classeS Oh
European laborers, but who Will say
that it is sufficient to support Amerl-
can citizens or educate and properly
maintain their families? True 1t is that
a 10 per cent. increase in wages was
granted by the coal operators as
strike concession two years ago. put
II is also true that a large proportion
Of this 10 per cent. was paid back TO
the companies to buy the suppression
Of an old powder grievance; moreover
according to reliable commercial aseh-
cies, the cost of living mas
increased, particularly IN tne
purchase OF foodstuffs, from 80 10 ~
per cent. so that the purchasing pow
er OF the miners wages is less thah
before the strike OF 1900.
Mitchell Gives Figures.
The presidents OF the various coal
carrying railroads have given publicity
10 statement that during the year
1901 the productive capacity or mine
workers deteriorated an average OF
I'a per cent. In otehr words. the mine
workers organization n accused oi
nouraging poor workmanship An eh-
summation Of the reports on coal pro-
"u'iin0 compiled by the United STATES
taf'fnment disclosea the fact that ihe
'irgniiQns ~ tho railroad prraldeniF
Ir misleading and untrue. az me I"i'
wing figures viii demonstrate
FfoW 1880 ~ 1900. Inclusive, ihe
Ner we're M active operation ~ ave
e. - is2 days per year ana irI
good nffsou employed there hffH
az ~ "a IIHF