The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-14
MITCHELL'S PLEA.
President of United Mine Work.
erS Of America
Makes His Final Argument Be-
fore Arbitration Board.
PLEADS FOR JUSTICE
On Behalf of His Followers and
Their Children.
Replies to Every Point Made by
the Opposition.

OCIdHlOHs 9d., NOV. l4--Ino cOnInlS- =
sion appointed by President Roosevelt
to arbitrate the differences existing be-
tween the anthracite mine workers and
their employers today began the hearing
of the miners side of the case. When
the commission opened it's session today
the only evidence before it was the pre-
liminary statement of Mr.. Mitchell and
the replies thereto of the operators.
After the workmen have concluded their
case the operators will make their de-
fense. 1t is expected that more than
two weeks time will be taken up in
hearing both Sides
The hearings are being held in the
chamber of the state superior court.
The seven commissioners have sea 5
on the bench. In front of them are three
| long tables: one for President Mitchell
and his attorneys, one for the lawyers of
the coal companies, and the third for
the attorney of the independent oper-
ators. The arrangements for the hear
| ings are admira BILE, and it is likely that
| the commission will hear all the evil
dence in this city.
AS early as o'clock the corridors were
crowded with people of all classes and
conditions, eager to gain admittance
through the door, as almost every seat
was occupied by general superintend-
ents, suDerintendents of mining COM
panies and other officials and reoreSen-
tatives of the mine workers.
| Among the attorneys sitting around
the operators table were Wayne Mac
Veagh, for the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany and the Hillside Coal company;
Francis 1. Gowan, of Philadelphia, gen
eral counsel for the Lehigh Valley Coal
company; A. H. McClintock, Of Wilkes
barre, for the Lehigh and WiIkesbarre
company; ex-Congressman Simon p.
Wolverton. of Sunbury, Pa, for the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company; David Wilcox, New York,
! general counsel of the Delaware & Hud-
son, and W. w. Ross, of New York, for
/ President Mitchell's- principal advisers
were Clarence S. DarrOws Of ChicaRos
James L. Lenahan, of Wilkesbarre, and
John J. Murphy, of Scranton
| The proceedings opened shortly after
10 O'Clock. when the members of the
commission arrived.
Judge Gray announced that suffi-
clent time had been given for the par
ties to the controversy to prepare for
the hearing. and that the commission
would hear the representa- tives of the
miners first. Mr.. Mitchell said he would
nle further statement on Monday i'll
answer to some of the allegations of the
operators. John L. Lenahan, of Wilkes
barre, on behalf of the non-union men,
inquired of the commission what course
the proceedings would take with respect
to them. Judge Gray answered that
that was a question which would have
to be considered.
Mr.. Wolverton asked the other side
to give the operators at least one days
notice, indicating the collieries from
which employees will be called as wit
nesses, so that the mine owners can be
prepared to examine them. Mr.. Darrow,
for the miners, agreed to the sugges-
ton Mr.. Darrow then called for the
regular procedure. and Mr.. Wolverton
asked that the miners present their
case. The request was Immediately car
ried out and President Mitchell arose
and addressed the commission. His
statement contained 5000 words, an alb
stract of which follows:
MITCHELL'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Mitchell prefaced his statement
with the hope that the commission would
succeed in establishing a relationship
between the operators and miners that
will insure peace and stability in the in
dustry for an indefinite period.
After reciting tie demands for in
creased pay for the miner. shorter
work day for the laborer, the weighing
the refusal of all of which led to the
strike, Mr.. Mitchell spoke as follows on
the question of higher wages:
"Of the 147 900 men and boys employed
in and around the mines, strippngs,
washeries and breakers in the anthra-
cite coal fields. 81. .072. or 43 per cent.
are employed on contract or piece work:
the remaining $4,000, or 81 per cent. are
month Of the 64 .O72 contract men, 37,-
S04 are miners and 26,26S are miners
laborers.
THE work Of miner and a miners
l2bOTer is extremely hazardous; in fact,
it is more dangerous than employment
in any other important industry in the
world. TIE number of persons killed
and injured is greater than in any other
industry
Each daythe anthracite mines are in
operation two and six-tenths persons
lose their lives and three times as
many are MANNED. end yet these men
receive less wages annually than are
received by men performing precisely
similar work in other fields. under more
favorable and less hazardous condi-
tions. The number of years man can
retain his health and strength IL this
occupation is limited. If he eScslnes
death or injury by falls of rock or coal.
he cannot escaCe attacks of miners
asthma. There is scarcely a mine
worker who has not contracted this
malady. The miners are compelled to
many Of them in water, and their
work is difficult and exhaustin2 Re
putable insurance companies will nor
issue policies to this class of Evorlzmen.
the risks ere so great that the prem
iums would be prohibited to men whose
earnings arc 90 low The entire 20
per cent which they demand as an in
crease in tl-s-r wages would not suffice
to carry an insurance of 81, 600.
QUESTION OF WAGES.
1T seems hut fair and just that wages
paid these classes of workmen should he
as high, if not higher, than wages paid
to skilled artisans in other industries
1t is certainly not unjust that these
miners should receive as high wages as
are paid to miners in the bituminous
coal fields. in the silver and gold mines,
or in the iron ore and copper mines, in
all of which work is less hazardous.
freer from liability to disease, requiring
less experience and less skill, and is bet
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