Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-11-25

Makes an Exhaustive Statement of
Conditions in the Anthracite Regions.
The commission appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to arbitrate the differ
enees existing between the anthracite
mine workers and their employers Friday
began the hearing of the miners side of
the case at ScrantoE, Pa.
When the commission opened its ses-
sion the only evidence before it was the
preliminary statement of Mr.. Mitchell
and the replies thereto of the operators.
Mr.. Mitchell in an exhaustive state
ment before the arbiters made it clear
that he would insist on full recognition
of the United Mine Workers organiza-
ton. He gave a powerful description Of
the life of miner, picturing the hazard
GUS risks he was subject TO and the fatal
inroads on his health from damp and
foul gases. The injustice of the mine
owners never has been more strongly
painted. Downright dishonesty is charg-
ed in their method of increasing tonnage.
while paying fef the standard ton. The
responsibility of organized labor is point
ed out and most of the trouble is traced
TO the refusal of the railroads and min
ing corporations to recognize these organ
izations, while dealing unfairlr with TIE
individual. Hypocrisy is the charge lev
eled against the claim that the bitamia-
GUS owners and the anthracite men are
in competition. Child work in the break
ers and the failure of education to reach
the miners children is deplored. The
standard of living is the test Of civilian
tion, according TO the union leader. That
standard must be raised at the mines.
Mr.. Mitchell prefaced his statement
with the hope that the commission
would succeed in establishing a relation
ship between the operators and the min
ers that will insure peace and stability
in the industry for an indefinite period. .
He reclted the causes which led up TO the
strike, and then took up the question of
wages.
Tells of Conditions.
'Of the LAT 900 men and boys employ
ed" he said, "a ,072, or about IS PER
cent, are employed ON contract or piece
work, the remaining $1,000 being employ
ed by the hour. day, week or month OF
that 64.072 contract men, 81 ,S04 are min
ers and 26,26S are mine laborers."
Bearing on the wage question, he spoke
of the miners life. lie is engaged in
a more dangerous work than employment
in any other important industry in the
world. More men are killed, each day en-
an average two persons giving up their
lives to produce coal. If the miner cs-
capes death or injury he cannot escape
the deadly miners asthma. Scarcely 4
mineworker exists who has not contract
ed it, Compelled to work in powder
smoke, foul air, many of them in water,
the result is such that reputable insur-
ance companies will not issue policies on
their lives.
Yet these men receive less wages an
nually than are received by men perform
ing precisely similar work in other fields,
under more favorable and less hazardous
conditions"
The workers in the bituminous coal
fields and in the silver, gold copper and
iron ore miners were instanced.
The increase of 20 per cent asked, Mr..
Mitchell declared, would not be suffi-
cient to carry an insurance policy of
1000 for the widows and children.
The speaker showed that the eight
hour day demanded was the standard in
the mines of Great Britain and in all the
mines of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri,
IOWA, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan,
Kentucky. Tennessee, western Pennsyl-
yania and the Indian Territory. A pc
culiar fact is that more coal is mined
under this system than formerly produc-
ed with ten hours work day.
COMM. to the method of paying the
workmen according to tonnage. Mr..
Mitchell declared that until an honest sys-
tenn was adopted there could be no CON
tentment. Paying for coal by the car,
or by a ton weighing from ., 740 to 3, 100
pounds, while ton really consists of
2,240 pounds" he said, lis 4 fragrant
wrong. The cars have been made larger,
more topping is required, and yet there
has been no corresponding increase paid
per car or per ton.
The plan of the mine owners in docking
800 to 1000 pounds car, on the pretense
that the miners loaded impurities wa
bitterly commented on. 1T is furnishing
the miner twice for the same offense,"
said the speaker
Coming to the recognition of the min
ers' union, the president grew eloquent.
1--WE demand recognition" he said, ''be-
cause we know that permanent peace
and friendly relations can be best main
tanned through a trade agreement with
the organization which our people have
elected to join. Fully so per cent Of The
employees of the anthracite coal mines
are members Of it from choice, they de-
sire to retain their membership in it. 1t
was the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea that conferred with the President Of
the United States in relation to the sub
mission Of the issues involved in the coal
strike to this commission; it was the
United Mine Workers of America that
was requested by the President to end
the strike; it was the U3ited Mine Work
ers of America that declared the strike
at an end; it was the United Mine Work
ers that sent the mel back to work, end
1t is the United Mire Workers of Amer
lea that pledged II accept the award Of
fbiS commission -