The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-04
The STATEMENT
FOR THE MINERS
Text of President Mitchell's Argu-
ment Filed With the Coal
f. Commission.
Reasons for the Demand for the In.
crease of Wages and Shorter
/ Working Hours.
The Recognition of the Union In.
sisted Upon as the Only Meth
{ cd Of Regulating Differences.

Hazelton, Pa. Nov. 4.-The statement
OF the anthracite mine workers case,
which WAS filed with the strike commits
sion on Sunday night was made public to-
day. Copies of the statement have been
furnished to the operators, who will reply
In three or four days. The miners state
ment in full Is as follows
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
sion: The mine workers make Of the oper-
ators the following demands, which were
held March IS to "a. and for the en-
forcement of which the strike was in
augura ted:
Increase OF Wages.
Tristan increase Of 20 per cent upon
the prices paid during the year 1901 to
employees performing contract or piece
work.
This demand is made on account Of the
following reasons:
"a The present rate Of wages Is much
lower than tho rate of wages paid In the
bituminous coal fields for substantially
similar work.
CD The present rate of wages Is lower
than Is paid in other occupations reauir-
ing equal skill and training.
(3) The average annual earnings IN the
anthra cite coal field are much less than
the average annual earnings In the bitum-
inous coal fields for substantially similar
work.
a. The average annual earnings IN the
anthra cite coal fields are much less than
the average annual earnings for occupa-
lions recurring equal skill and training.
90 The rate Of wages in the anthracite
coal fields Is insufficient to compensate
the mine workers in view OF the danger
Gus character Of tho occupation In relation
70 accidents. the liability to serious and
nermanent disease, the high death rate
and the short span of life incident to TINS
employment.
(6) The annual earnings Of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain the
American standard OF living.
(D The increased cost Of living has
made it impossible to maintain a lall
standard Of life upon the basis or present
wages and has not only prevented tne
mine workers from securing any benent
from increa sed prosperity, but mas maoo
their condition poorer on account OF II.
90 The wages of the anthracite mine
workers are so low that 'neii o 90.
are prematurely forced into the breakers
and mills instead of being supported ana
educated upon the earnings OF their par
ents. 49,.
90 Wages are below the fair and just
earnings of mine workers IN THIS lnoostrS'
( Reduction In Hours Of Labor
second-A reduction of 20 per cent in
hours of labor, without any reductlon OF
earnings from all employees PAID by H.
hour days or week.
The second demand is similar to the
first in that it Is designed to increase the
hourly rate of wages of mine workers
nn,oyad nv the hour day or week, and
ar the reasons applicable to the first de-
mand are asked to be applied to the sec
on with repetition , 49, o.,
In addition thereto we submit the lol-
lowing: .+,, 3.
ofotV
the mine workers..
~ Shorter hours improve the pllys1csai'
mental and moral conditions OF the "orA-
ers. .4.;+,,
and efficiency OF labor.
"a, The tendency Of national and state
government Of organized trade ana pro
Auction generally Is toward shorter hours
a. A working day Of eight hours IS
sufficiently long for the best interests OF
the working men anu OF the con'iiluA''''
A New Weighing System
Third-The adoption Of system by
which coal shall be weighed and paid 1ol
hv weight wherever practicable; the
minimum rate per ton to be go cents Tor 6
legal ton of 2,24O pounds; the dlnerent1al:
now existing at the various mines to of
maintained. -.
This demand Is maze on ACCOUNT VI lin
following reasons:
~ Measurements by the legal tor
wherever practicable is the only homes
and Just system of measuring the earning
of mine workers.
CD when the operators sell or transpor
coal 1t Is on the pasis ol d legal Ioll '
2,240 pounds.
60 The excessive ton was originally IN
tended to compensate the operator for tn
weight of the small sizes Of coal Whlc
were then discarded but which are nov
utilized and sold and therefore there is n
present necessity for the use Of any othe
than the legal ton.
90 The adoption Of this system woul
Blind IN Qn