The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-07
ANTHRACITE MINE WORKERS.
TEXC OF STATEMENT FILED WITH
TIE STRIKE COMMISSION.
Thev Demand an increase OF go Per Cent
in Wages for Certain Work Reduc-
ton OF 20 Per Cent iu Hours Of
Labor the Adoption OF a Bet
ter System OF weighing.

mission on Sunday night, has been
made public. Copies of the state.
ment have been furnished to the op-
orators, who will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement
in full is as follows:
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Com.
mission: -. The mine workers make
of the operators the following de.
maEds, which were formulated by
the Shamokin Convention held March
| 18 to "a, and for the enforcement Of
| which the strike was inaugurated:
First. An increase of 20 per cent.
upon the prices paid during the year
| 1901 to employees performing con-
tract or piece work.
(1) The present rate of 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 is
lower than is paid in ether occupa-
tions requiring equal skill and train
ing.
81 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.
(4) The average annual earnings
in the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
(5) The rate of wages in the an
thracite fields is insufficient to com
pensate the mine workers in view OF
the dangerous character of the oc-
cupation in relation to the accidents,
the liability to serious and permanent
disease, the high death rate and the
short grade life incident to this EN-
ployment.
(e) The annual earnings of the
mine workers are insufficient to main
tain the American standard of living.
10 The increased cost of living
has made it impossible to maintain q
fair standard of life upon the basis
of present wages and has not only
prevented the mine workers from
securing any benefit from increased
prosperity, but has made their con-
ditlon poorer on account OF it.
81 The wages of the anthracite
mine workers are so low that their
children are prematurely forced into
the breakers and mills instead of be
ing supported and educated upon the
earnings of their parents.
(0 Wages are below the fair and
just earnings Of mine workers in this
industry.
Second. A reduction of 20 per
cent. in hours of labor without any re-
duction of earnings for all employ
ees paid by the hour, day or week.
The second demand is similar to
the first, in that it is designed to in
crease the hourly rate of wages of
mine workers employed by the hour,
day or week, and all the reasons ap-
plicable to the first demand are asked
to be applied to the second with rep
etition.
In addition we submit the follow
ing:
(1O) The ten-hour day is detri-
mental to the health, life, safety and
we'll being of the mine workers.
QD Shorter hours improve the
physical, mental and moral condi
tions of the workers.
(12) Shorter hours increase the IN
tensity and efficiency of labor.
Q3) The tendency of National
and State Government, or organized
trade and of production generally is
towards shorter hours.
| Q4) A working day of eight hours
is sufficiently long for the best inter
ests OF the workingmen and of the
community.
Third. The adoption of system
| by which coal shall be weighed and
paid for by weight wherever practi
cable; the minimum rate per ton tt
b. sixty ceuts for legal ton of 2,24(
pounds; the diferentials now existing
at various mines to be maintained
| Ibis demand is made on accoun