Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-23
Says BE Has Hssitated to Say Anything in
Hope that Settlement Would Come,
CONDITIONS OF WORKERS MToLERABLE
Average Earnings Said to Be Less Than
of Any Other American WOrkmen.
TAKES UP COST OF MINING ALL COAL
Also Makes n Comparison with the
Price and Asserts that While the
Price Has Advanced Wages
Have Not Changed.

WILKEsBARRE, Pa, June 22.-President
John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
Of American today issued an address TO
the public for publication in the newspapers
tomorrow morning. II is partly reply to
the letters of the operators declining to
accede to the demands of the union, which
gere published about ten days ago.
Briefly summarized, the address says that
every possible means was resorted to In
the effort to prevent the strike; claims that
the cost Of living has increased to the point
where the miner was compelled to ask
for higher wages; denies the allegations Of
the operators that the productive capacity
OF the mine workers has fallen of, but on
the other hand has increased quotes offi-
cial figures to substantiate the conten-
tion that the employers can pay higher
wages without increasing the cost OF coal
to the consumer; asserts that the coal
carrying railroads which control about 50
per cent Of the mines absorb the profits OF
their coal companies by charging exorbttant
freight rates. claiming that a ton at the
mines means anywhere from 2,740 to $3.50
pounds instead of 2.240, and says that more
men are killed and injured in the anthra-
cite mines of Pennsylvania annually than
were killed or wounded during the Spanish
American war.
The address also says that in the event
the union is crushed, which, 1t adds, is not
likely, a new organization would rise from
It's ruins. It concludes with another ap-
peal for arbitration of all questions in dis
pute. The address in full is as follows:
Statement of Mitchell.
To the Public: II the contest now In
progress in the anthracite coal regions OF
Pennsylvania effected only the welfare OF
the railroad and mining corporations on
the one hand and the coal mine workers
On the other, the public would have no
vital interests at stake and would conse-
quently be less concerned than II Is now
IN the continuance, the extension or the
termination of the conflict. but nasmuch
Rs there is a third and important interest
involved, which in no wise is responsible
for the present strike, is, nevertheless, an
innocent victim thereof, 1t is but fair and
proper that the general public should be
iuliy and aecRraleiiy tnierme1 ' upDn the 1s
Il shall be asked why we have waited until
the CLOSE OF the sixth week of the strike
Client anawer may be found In the fact that
we have hesitated to utter any word or 10
take any position that would impede or
embarrass any reconciliation with the coal
operators. Every delay and precaution,
every conceivable conclliatory effort that
honorable and conservative men could take
10 avert a rupture, and every means that
thought could suggest 10 bring the matter
in dispute TO arbitration was resorted to
by the union both before the strike order
was issued and since 1t went into effect
but without avail the coal magnates re-
laration that there was nothing TO arbi'
trate.
TO saying that the coal mine workers have
made unreasonable demands and have
struck without real or sufficient cause. Tc
this let plain, unvarnished facts and ngures
reply.
Mine workers Have Suffered.
For more than twenty-five years the an.
,thracite coal mine workers of Pennsyl'
Vania have chafed and groaned under the
employment imaginable. Their average an
nual earnings have been less than those
ne9 sher eSss Il the m
that their work is more hazardous and
the cost of living greater than in any
total number OF persons employed in and
around the anthracite coal mines is 49,
600; they are employed never to exceed 9O'
days In any one year, and they receive as
compensation for their services an average
Of n,t2 for a ten ten-hour work day; l. wi wi
than $500. Such pay may supply living
on par with some classes of European
laborers. but who will say that II is sum
Client 70 support American citizenship or tC
enable parents to educate and maintain
their families?
True IL is that 10 per cent increase II
wages was granted by the coal operators
as a strike concession two years ago, bu
10 per cent was paid back to the companies
10 buy the suppression of an old powder
eGeyanes,; MoTsoyeT according g, 70 & reliable h
Increased, particularly in the purchase o
foodstuffs from 80 to 40 per cent, so tina
isto itsos Is Tess now 'n"n os'oFe the s'r'Ae Q
Says Allegations Are Misleading.
The presidents OF the various coal-carry
Ing railroads have given publicity TO
pToduetive capacity Of mine mir S WORKERS isTs de de
other words, the United Mine Workers
organization Is accused OF encouraging poo
workmanship. An examination of the re
ports on coal production compiled by tn
fact that allegations OF the railroad presi
dents are misleading and untrue. as IN
ioFfsTM From isss 10 isD @ i9eSsive the mine
were In active operation an average o
1S2 days per year. and for each person EN-
coal per year. or for each day the mine
were In operation 2l6 tons were produce
per enploye; while In the year 1901, agains
which the operators so bitterly complain
the mines were I'm operation l9ih day
and there were produced 1853 tons 10
the mines were in operatl 2s6 tons wer
pp pEodTesa per employe; thus showing cor cor
there was a decided Improvement In IN
became thoroughly organized, Can N
conclude that the anthracite miner
not q better workman than he was befoT
the 10 per cent concession in wages tw
years agoP
The railroad presidents contend that the
cannot Increase wages without making
corresponding increase In the selling priC
OF their product 10 the consumer, and haN
accused the mine workers of suggesting
proposition that would impose a hardshi
upon the public by increasing the mark,
price OF coal 10 cents a ton, the amour
that would have bell required 10 meet a
the demands, made by. the miners. How
ever, their sblicitude for the public wel
has not deferred them from advancin
the market price of their coal more tina
81 per ton since the strike was inaugurats
without giving any part OF this increai
? 70 the n Inc workers
Can AnOrd Increase.
In substantiation OF our claim that n
coal companies can aford 10 pay Increase
wages TO the mine workers without n
creasing the cost OF coal to the consumer
we submit the following extracts from a
government reports, showing the sellir
value OF coal loaded on cars az the mtni
for the eleven years beginning with 1850 an
CcOntnasd on Third Pags.l