The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1902-06-28

submit the books Of the coal com
panies to prove that wages could not
be increased.
In this connection the statement
calls attention 70 the fact that ton
OF coal as the consumer understands
II, is not q ton Of coal as the miner
10 paid for, that is to say, that the ton
Of coal sold the customer weighs z24O
pounds. while when the miner is be.
ing paid for his labor he Is required
TO produce and load from 2740 to z7g0
pounds for a ton, against which ~iia-
grant injustice the anthracite mine
workers 80 vigorously and justly pro
test
The companies assert that the ex-
cess weight is required TO compensate
them for Impurities and refuse matter
that is loaded with the coal and can
not be marketed.
III their statement be true" says
the statement, why is it necessary TO
continue system Of docking by. which
al times they arbitrarily deduct from
miners earnings from 10 TO Is per
cent Of the total as a penalty for load
ing impurities for which they have
already penalized him in excess
weight?
1T must be obvious to every intsIII.
gent observer that the coal companies
derive q considerable income from the
continuance Of this system Of measur-
ing the earnings Of their employees, as
they thus receive a large amount Of
marketable coal for which they return
no compensation to the miners. The
miners have asked that the coal they
produce shall be honestly weighed and
correctly recorded.
This recital Of facts disposes Of the
operators claims that they can not
afford to pay living wages for faithful
service and unceasing toll amid sur
roundings constantly franght with the
grayest danger"
The statement tells Of the fatalities
among the miners and says:
Eight times as many men and boys
are killed and injured annually In the
anthracite coal mines OF PENNSYLVANIA
as were killed and wounded in the
American ranks in the spanish-AmeTi-
can war in Cuba"
The statement says that according
TO reports Of various chiefs Of police
there have been less fnfraction Of laws
and fewer arrests during the time the
strike has been in progress than for
like period preceding IL.
Concluding. the statement says: III
Is now apparent that the real purpose
OF the coal operators is to destroy or
ganization among their workmen. II
by any chance they should succeed in
their design-which is not at all likely
another labor organization will
spring from the ruins Of the United
Nine Workers Of America, and the
contest for living wages. for humane
conditions Of employment, for better
education. for higher citizenship, will
so on until the men who produce coal,
the originating power which drives the
wheels Of commerce and industry, the
product that Is so essential 70 the vel
fare Of society. the mineral which is
the very foundation OF our national
prosperity, shall receive for their Ia
Dor Sufficient compensation 70 relieve
them OF the necessity Of sending their
boys and girls, Of tender years and
frail physique. TO the mines and mills,
there to destroy their youthful vigor
in an effort to assist their underpaid
parents to maintain their families.
Conscious OF the great responsible
ity resting upon US, apprehensive OF
The danger threatening our commercial
supremacy should the coal miners Of
the entire United States become par.
Elephants in this struggle, we repeat
our proposal TO arbitrate all questions
in dispute, and II our premises are
wrong. II our position Is untenable. II
our demands can not be sustained by
facts and figures, we viii again return
TO the mines. take up our tools Of
industry and await the day when we
shall have a more righteous cause 10
claim the approval Of the American
people.
JOHN MITCHELL,
President U. N. w. A."