Waterbury Democrat., 1902-06-23
WRONGS OF MINERS.
President Mitchell Makes a
 Statement to the Public.
MOTIVES FOR THE STRIKE EXPLAINED
Assertions of Anthracite Operators Proved False by Their Own Re-
 ports-Average Wage of Miner Is Less Than $500 a Year.


 Is Less Than $500 a Year.
 WILKESBARRE, Pa, June 23.- President John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers of America has issued an address to the public. It is partly a reply to the letters of the operators declining to accede to the demands of the union which were published about lows:
 To the Public:
 If the contest now itl progress in the Rnthraci coal regions of Pennsylva- mia affected only the welfare of the railroad and mining corporations on the one hand and the coal mine work CTS on the other, the public would have no vital interests at stake and would consequently be less concerned than it now is in the continuance, the exten- sion or the termination of the conflict, but fnasmuch as there is third and important interest involved which, al though in nowise responsible for the present strike, is nevertheless an innO- cent victim thereof it is but fair and proper that the general public should be fully and accurately informed upon the merits of the question in contro- Hersy. If 1t shall be asked why we have waited until the close of the sixth week of the strike to issue statement of this nature, sufficient answer may be found in the fact that we have hesi- tated to utter any word or to take any position that would impede or embar- rass easy reconciliation with the coal operators Every delay and precau- tion, every conceivable conciliatory ef- fort that honorable and conservative men could take to avert a rupture and every means that thought could sug- igest to bring the matter in dispute to arbitration was resorted to by the un- ion both before the strike order was issued and since it went into effect, but without avail, the coal magnates replying to all our overtures with the declaration that there was nothing to arbitrate. This statement on their part is equivalent to saying that the coal mine workers have made unreasonable demands and have struck without real or sufficient cause. To this let plain, Hnyarnished facts and figures reply.
 For more than twenty-five years the anthracite coal mine workers of Penn sylyania have chafed and groaned un- der the most intolerable and inhumane conditions of employment imaginable. Their average annual earnings have been less than those of any other class of workmen in the United States not withstanding the fact that their work is more hazardous and the cost of liy- ing greater than in any other impor- tant American industry. The total number of persons employed in and around the anthracite coal mines is 147, 300. They are employed never to exceed POO days in any one year, and they receive as compensation for their services an average of SLAP for ten hour workday It will thus be noted that they earn annually less than $500. Such pay may supply living on par with some classes of European labor CTS, but who will say that it is suff1- cient to support American citizenship Or enable parents to educate and prop erly maintain their families? True, it is that a 10 per cent increase in wages was granted by the coal operators as y is also true that large portion of this 10 per cent was paid back to the com panies to buy the suppression of an old powder. grievance Moreover, accord Ing to reliable commercial agencies, the cost of living has increased, particu- lar1y in the purchase of foodstuffs from 30 to 40 per cent, so that the pur- chasing power of miners earnings is less now than before the strike of 1900.
 The presidents of the various coal carrying railroads have given publicity to a statement that during the year 1901 the productive capacity of mine workers deteriorated an average of 1211a per cent. In other words, the United Mine Workers organization is accused of encouraging poor workmanship. An examination of the reports on coal pro- <1uction compiled by the United States eovernment discloses the fact that the allegations of the railroad presidents are misleading and untrue, as the fol 1ow1nx figures will demonstrate:
 From 1890 to 1900, inclusive, the mines were in active operation an aver aee of 162 days per year, and for each re<non employed there were produced m. .xs tonn of coal per year, or for each d1v the mines were 1n operation PIC zono were produced per employee, while n t1e y11f 1e01, against which the op-
 11f<r~ cp b1tterly complained, the
 17 l1e n QneE4&ion 144A dazs, and