The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-11-07
The Statement Of the ninesS' Side
Of the Case a. Presented 70
the Commission.
COPIES FURNISHED THE OPERATORS
The Mta~rs Wsas . Chance 90 Live
and Educate Their Chtidren ~
Beass American Cttise"s' s""
Don's Want so Mine - Bisser ISs'
Than 2.2so Pounds

mission on sunday uiShi, WIS "".A"e
public Tuesday Copies II the state
ment have been furnished 20 the op-
orators. who will reply in three ~
four days. The miners statement IN
fun is a. follows:
10 the Anthracite Cor. Strike Com
mission:
The mine workers make Of the OPP
orators the following demands, which
were formulated by the >ham"kin
convention. held March Is % -. and
for the enforcement Of which the
strike was inaugurated:
First-An increase II 20 per cent.
upon the price p;.id during the year
1901 to employees performing contract
or piece work This demand j. made
on account ~ the following reasons:
J. The present rate 81 wages Is
much lower than the rate Of wages
paid in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work
2. The present rate Of wages j. low
err than is paid in other occupations
requiring equal skill and training
J. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earn
ings in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work.
l. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
s. The rate If wages in the anthra-
cite coal fields is insufficient TO com
pensate The mine workers in view of
the dangerous character of the occu-
patton in relation 10 accidents. liza
biliry TO serious and permanent dis
ease. the high death rate and the
short grade life incident L. this en-
ployment
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
. The increased cost Of living has
made il impossible TO maintain fair
standard Of life upon the basis Of
present wages. and has not only pre-
ing any benefit from increased pros
perity. but has made their condition
poorer on account Of it,
= The wages Of the anthracite mine
workers are so low that their chill
dren are prematureIy forced into the
breakers and mills. instead ~ being
supported and educated upon the
earnings If their parents.
2 The wages are below the fair and
just earnings If mine workers in this
industry.
Second-A reduction OF twenty per
cent in hours Of labor. without any
reduction of earnings for all en-
rloyes paid by hour. day or week.
The second demand is similar 10
the first. in that Il Is designed 10 in
crease the hourly rate Of wages Of
mine workers employed bv the hour.
day or week, AMI all reasons arplica-
bic 70 the first demand are asked 10
be applied to the second without rope
tition
In addition thereto we submit the
following:
10. The ten-hour day is detrimental
10 the health, life. safety and well
being Of the mine workers.
H. The shorter hours improve the
physical. mental and moral condi.
tons Of the workers.
~ Shorter hours increase the in
tensiiy and efficiency Of labor.
3D. The tendency OF national and
state government. Of Organized trad
and Of production generally j. toward
shorter hours.
T. working day Of eight hours Is
sufficiently long for the best interests
of the workingmer ~ The community
Third-The adol finn ~ system h,
which coal shall / A4ished and maid
for by weight wherever prac,iral,Ia
the minimum rate per ton "a ~. ~
cents for legal ton ~ 2.24O ponpds.
The differentiais now existing m m.
various mines To be maintained.
This demand is made on accoun.
Of the following reasons:
J. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable j. the only hon.
est and just system of measuring the
earnings of mine workers.
e. When the operators sell or trans.
port coal il Is on the basis Of a legal
ton Of 2.24o pounds.
3 The excessive ton was originally
intended to compensate the operator
for the weight If the small sizes Of
coal which were then discarded. bu,
which are now utilized and sold. and
therefore there is no present neces-
sity for the use Of any other than the
legal ton.
T. The adoption Of this system
would remove an incentive. both Ia
the operator and the worker to cheat
ing and dishonesty. and would allay
jealousy among the miners and pre-
vent unjust discrimination and favor
itism.
> The change Of the present sys-
tenn 10 the one asked for would
prove strong factor in allaying sus-
picion and discomfort among the mine