The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-04
MINERS STATE
Their CASE.
John Mitchell for the United
Mine Workers
Files a Statement With Arbi-
tratiOn Commission.
REASONS FOR STRIKE.
Demands Which We're Submit
ted by Shamokin Convention.
A Concise and Dignified DOcu-
ment Submitted.

of the anthracite mine workers case,
which was filed with the strike commits
sion on Sunday night, was made public
today. Copies of the statement have
been furnished to the operators. who
will reply in three or four days. The
miners statement in full is as follows:
ITO the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission:
The mine workers make of the oper-
ators the following demands, which were
formulated by the Shamolxin convention,
held March 1874, and for the enforce
ment of which the strike was inaugu-
rated:
''First-An increase of 20 per cent.
upon the prices paid during the year
piece work. This demand is made on
account of the following reasons:
I. The present rate of wages is much
lower than the rate of wages paid in the
bituminOus coal fields for substantially
similar work.
-. The present rate of wages is lower
than is paid in other occupations re-
/ curing equal skill and training.
3. The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much less
than the average annual earnings in the
bituminous coal fields for substantially
similar work
a The average annual earnings in
the anthracite coal fields are much less
than the average annual earnings for
occupations requiring equal skill and
training.
cite coal fields is insufficient to COM
pensate the mine workers in view of the
dangerous character Of the occupation
! in relation to accidents the liability to
| serious and permanent disease, the high
/ duty rate and the short grade life incl
dent to this employment.
g The annual earnings of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain the
American standard of living.
=. The increased cost of living has
/ made it inDOSSihle TO maintain fair
standard of life upon the basis of pres
/ ent wages and has not only prevented
the mine workers from securing any
+ benefit from increased prosperity, but
has made their condition poorer on ac-
/ count of it.
.s The wages of the anthracite mine
workers are so low that their children
are prematurely forced into the break
/ ers and mills instead of being support
ed and educated upon the earnings OF
! their parents.
- Wages are below the fair and just
earnings of mine workers in this in
dustry-
..Second-A reduction of 20 per cent
in hours of labor. without any reduc-
ton of earnings for all employees paid
| by it, hour, days or weeks. The second
/ demand is similar to the first, in that 1t
! is designed to increase the hourly rate
! Of wages of mine workers employed by
the hour. day or week, and all the req
sons applicable to the first demand are
asked to be applied to the second with
| repetition.
I'm addition we submit the following:
10 The ten-nour day is detrimental
to health, life, safety and well being of
the mine workers.
IL Shorter hours improve the phys
ical mental and moral conditions of the
woI kers.
~12. Shorter hours increase the inten-
sity and efficiency of labor.
.13. The tendency of national and
CT r-r.zrc Of niZed trade and
of production generally IS toward
shorter hours.
IA working day of eight hours is
sufficiently long for the best interests
Of the working man and OF the com
munity.
.4Third-The adoption of a system by
which coal shall be weighed 3nd paid
for by weight wherever practicable; the
minimum rate per ton to be sixty cents
for q legal ton of 2,240 pounds; the diff
ferentials now existing at the various
mines to be maintained
This demand is made on account OF
the folloHing reasons:
q Measurement BY the legal tor
wherever practicable is the ONLY honest
and just system Of measuring the earn
ings of mine workers.
When the onera tors sell or trans
port coal it is on the basis of = legal ton
OF 224O pounds.
g The excessive ton was originally
intended to compensate the opera tor for
the weight of the small sizes of cc1i
which were then discarded. but which
ere now utilized and sold, and therefore
: there is no present necessity for the use
of anv other than the legal ton.
u The adoption of this system would
remove an incentive, both to the operator
h and the worker to cheating and dishonesty
and would allay Jealousy among the min
ers and prevent unjust discrimination anc
favoritism.
IS. The change Of the present system t.
the one asked for would prove strong
factor in allaying suspicion and discon-
tent among the mine workers
"Fourth-The incorporation in an agree
l rnent between the United Mine Workers o
I America and the anthracite coal com
/ panies of the wages which shall be pale
Z and the conditions of en- Dloyment which
shall obtain. together with sat5sfactor,
l methods for the adjustment of grievance:
I which may arise from time to time, to th'
/ end that strikes and lockouts may be IN
4 necessary
Z I'm support of this demand We submit
K the following reasons;
l Il The anthra cite mine workers shouiC
Z not be compelled to make or sign l1dt
i vidual agreements. but should have tn
I right 20 form such orEa nization ant
] choose such agents and officers as they
/ desire to act collectively instead of in
dividually when they deem that their bes
interests are subserved thereby
80. Agreements between employers ans
employees through working men OVganlza
:. tons are the ordinary method of reguiat
2 ing production and wages in the bitu7ain
:, GUS coal fields and in other Large indus
y tries and are fetal, successful and il
: keeping with the spirit of the times.
q ''s. Unions of workingmen tend to TIL
:; better discipline of the men and to the i'm
q provement of their physical, moral anS
mental condition, and to the preservation
of friendly relations between employer anC
employe.
- n Experience shows that the trad,
= agreement is the only effective method b.
which it is possible to regulate questions
arising between employers and employee
in large Industries, and that trad
....