New-York tribune., 1902-06-23
NIICHELL'S STATEMENT.
SAYS SPECTATORS CANAFFORD
TO PAY ADVANCE.
MINERS UNION, IF CRUSHED, WILL RISE
AGAIN-STRONG PLEA FOR
ARBITRATION.
LEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE-l


WIIkesbarre, Penn June 22.-A statement
issued by President Mitchell Of the United Mine
Workers to-day, on the opening Of the seventh
xssk of the anthracite strike. places before the
rubic the first official report from the union OF
The condition of the mine workers. their wage
earnings their cost of living and their hazardous
work, and compares II with the earnings OF the
operators. which are, he says, greater than ap-
pear On the companies statements, owing 10
1hsr close relationship With the coal carrying
ralroadsA He concludes by saying that II is ap-
parent that the operators are determined TO
rush the union but warns them that if they
szrceed another viii spring from its ashes, and
the fight for better wages will continue He
-eiterates his offer to arbitrate. and says that
he commercial supremacy Of the country is
threatened by strike of all the coal miners in
the event the present strike is not settled.
wiIIesbarre. Penn, June %. 1902,
To the public: If the contest now in progress IN
ouly the welfare OF the railroad and mining cor
porations on the one hand. and the coal mine
vital interests az stake and would consequently be
less concerned than it now IS IN the CONTINUANCE,
the extension or the termination OF the cotIlcI'
hut inasmuch there is a third and important in
sponsble for the present strike is nevertheless an
Innocent victim thereof, il is hut fair and proper
c1ratev Informed upon the merits OF the question
lE controversy. If it shall he asked why We haEe
ETike issue statement OF this nature sufficient
answer may be found in ;ke fact that We nave nave
hesitated to utter any word to take any position
that would impede embarrass easy reconclllalioh
win the coal operators hEeTE oSay ft ai,4 ths+
honorable ana conservative men could take 70
avert rupture, and every means that thought
could suggest to bring the matter in dispute 10
arbitration. resorted TO by the union, both be
fore the strike order was issued ana since II Went
into effect but without avail. the coal magnates
replying TO all our overtures with the GfcIaraloh
that there Was nothing TO arlitrate IhlS sldle
tent on their part is equivalent to saying that
ne coal mine workers have Inaae
iands, and have struck WITHOUT real OF
cause. To this let plain, LnTaTnlshed facts ana
figures reply.
AVERAGE EARNINGS 81 42 a DAY.
For more than twenty-five years the anthracite
coal mine workers Of Pennsy yEania nave chaied
Sao groaned under the most lntolerapie ana IN IN
Their average annual earnings nave been less than
those Of any other class Of workmen IN the United
Is more fszardous md the cost of living greater
lnan in any other important American INDUSTRY;
employed never 10 exceed two hundred days in any
their services all average Of 81 Y for q ten hour
work day. 1t viii thus be noted that they earn
annually less than S3GG Such pay may supply a
lEIng on rar with some classes OF european
support American citizenship or enable parents to
e1ucate and properly maintain their iaI'lllles & !!
15ne II is that 10 per cent increase IN %dseS was
granted by the coal operators as strike conceS-
son two years ago, but it is also true that large
portion OF this 10 per paid back TO the
companies 10 buy the suppression Of an old powder
mercial agvnces the cost Of living has increased;
.erucul3ry in the purchase o. ioo9sluIIs rom ~ ~
le se' per cent so that the purchasing power OF q
UlN0
PRODUCTION or COAL.
The presidents Of the various coal carrying rail
.Veos have given publicity q statement that dur
.ag u year 1871 the productive capacity Of mine
saYrke1s Geteriorated average OF l2l2 per cent;
n other words. the United Mine Workers or
sahzatcn Is accused of encouraging poor work
-naisnip An examination Of the reports on coal
PRODUCTION complied by the United States Govern
-tht clscloses the fact that the allegations OF the
..falToao presidents misleading and untrue, as
lie following figures viii demonstrate:
from 1890 to 1890 inclusive. the mines were IN
SciVe operation an average OF 12 days a year, and
~ each person employed there were produced 3t31
.ehs q coal year. for each day the mines
~tre In operation Z-l6 tons produced per en-
f-ogs, while in th- year 1901. against which the
- operation 1871 days, and there were produced
f1o.S tons for each person employed. or for each
10y the mines We're in operation 236 tons were
tttoclced per employe thus showing conclusiyely
s.le instead Of deteriors ton, there decided
tIoNt,nelt IN the productive capacity Of the men
T- aer ihey became thoroughly organized Can the
yuolccd reject upon these facts and conclude
81 the anthracite miner is not better workman
s ian ne was before the 20 per cent concession IN
wages TWO years ago2
COAL SOLD AT HIGHER PRICE
me railroad presidents contend that they can
f,n increase wages without making a correspond
s increase IN the selling price Of their product