The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-23
ASKS ARBITRATION
President Mitchell of Mine Workers
Makes Strong Statement.
THE MINERS ARE POORLY PAID
He Quotes Figures to Show That
They Earn Annually Less
Than $500 Each.

Than $500 Each.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, June 23.-In a state
ment for the newspapers, PRESIDENT John
Mitchell of the United Mine Workers re-
plies to the operators, who have declined
to accede to the requests of the union.
The operators made their letters public,
and Mr.. Mitchell follows the same course
Mr. Mitchell says that every possible
means was resorted to in the EFFORT to
prevent the strike; He claims that the
cost of living has increased to the point
where the miner was compelled to ask
for higher wages.
He denies the allegations Of the opera
tors that the productive capacity of the
mine workers has fallen off, but, on the
other hand, has increased, and quotes
official figures to substantiate the conten
ton that the employers can pay higher
wages, without increasing the cost Of coal
to the consumer. .-.-. .
Mr.. Mitchell asserts that the coal car
rying railroads. which control about SIS
per cent of the mines, absorb the profits
of their coal companies by charging exor-
bitant freight rates, and claims that
ton at the mines means anywhere from
s,740 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 killed or wounded
during the Spanish-American war.
The address also says that in the event
of the union being crushed, which, it adds,
Is not likely, new organization will rise
from its ruins. 1t concludes with another
appeal for arbitration of all questions in
dispute. a,.H- ~
The address is substantially as follows:
If the contest now in progress in the an
thracite coal regions of Pennsylvania affected
only the welfare Of the railroad and mining
inr,c >,It 10,
public would have no vital interests at stake
and would consequently be less concerned
than 1T now is in the continuance, the ex-
tension the termination of the conflict;
but inasmuch there is third and i'm
portant interest involved, it is but fair and
proper that the general public should be fully
and accurately informed on the merits Of the
question in controversy.
II it shall be asked why have waited
until the close of the sixth week of the strike
to issue statement OF this nature, sufficient
answer may be found in the fact that we have
hesitated to utter. any word to take any
position that would impede or embarrass
easy reconciliation with the coal operators.
Arbitration Favored.
Every delay and precauton, every conceiv-
able conciliatory effort that honorable and
conservative could take to avert rup-
ture, and every means that thought could
suggest to bring the matter in dispute tc
arbitration resorted to by the union when
the strike order issued and since il
went into effect, but without avail; the Goa
magnates replying with the declaration thai
there was nothing to arbitrate
The statement on their part is equivalent
to saying that the coal mine workers have
made unreasonable demands, and have struck
without real sufficient To this lei
plain, unvarnished facts and figures reply.
Miners IntoIerable Conditions.
For more than twenty five years the an
lhracite coal mine workers Of Pennsylvania
have chafed and groaned under the most in
tolerable and nhuman conditions of employ
ment imaginable.
Their average annual earnings have beer
Jess than those of any other class Of work
men in the United States, Notwithstanding
The fact that their work Is more hazardous
and the cost Of living greater than in an!
Dther importnt American industry. The tota
humber Of persons employed in and aroun'
the anthracite coal mines is 147,50O, they ar
employed never to exceed 200 days in an.
Dne year, and they receive compensation
Tor their services an average of SLAP for
ten-hour day. 1t will thus be noted that the,
earn annually less than $500.
True 1t is that 10 per cent increase il
wages was granted by the coal operators a
q strike concession two years ago, but it i
cent paid back to the companies, to bu
Ihe suppression Of an old powder grievance
moreover, the cost of living has increases
from 80 to 40 per cent. - i...
Railroads. Figures Explained.
The presidents of the various coal carry
ing railroads have given publicity to a state
ment that during the year 1901 the productiv
capacity Of mine workers deteriorated a.
average of 1914 per cent; in other words tn
United Mine Workers organization is &C
,cused of encouraging poor workmanship. A
examination of the reports coal production
compiled by the United States government
disclosed the fact that the allegations of tn
railroad presidents are misleading and untrue
as the following figures will demonstrate:
From 1890 to 1900, inclusive, the mines wer
in active operation an average Of 1872 day
per year. and for each person employed Their
were produced $50. So tons Of coal per veal
or for each day the mines were in operatio
Els tons were produced per employe; Will
in the year 1901, against which the operator
80 bitterly complain. the mines were
operation 194k days. and there were produce
475.43 tons for each person employed, Or fc
each day the mines were in operation g.;
tons were produced per employee, thus SHOW
ing conclusively that instead Of a deteriora
ton there was a decided Improvement in th
productive capacity of the men after the
became thoroughly organized.
Can Pay Increased Wages.
The railroad presidents contend that the
cannot increase wages without making col
responding increase in the selling price
their product to the consumer, and have az
cused the mine workers of suggesting
proposition that would impose hardshi
upon the public by increasing the marke
price of coal 10 cents ton, the amount ths
required