The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-14

the iron ore and copper mines, all OF
which work is less hazardous, freer from
liability to disease. requiring less expert
ence and less skill, and is better paid
than labor in the anthracite fields"
The Argument on Hours.
In supporting the demand for the re-
duction Of the hours of the day laborers.
Mr.. Mitchell showed that it amounted
practically to a demand for 20 per cent
increase Of compensation for $4,000 men,
or 81 per cent Of all mine employees. Con-
tinuing, he said: -
1.-THE eight-hour day is the standard
working day in the mining industry. Eight
hours constitute q days work IN the coal
mines of Great Britain, in all the silver,
gold and copper mines and in the bitu-
minous coal mines in the states Of Ar.
kansas, Kansas, Missouri. Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Ten
nessee, in western Pennsylvania and the
Indian Territory.
1.-THE report of the United States geo.
logical survey demonstrates that more
coal has been produced annually since the
Inauguration of the eight-hour day than
In any preceding year. Each miner pro-
duced more coal per working day in
eight hours than he formerly produced in
ten hours. and there is no reason why
the same result would not be obtained in
the anthracite field. The bituminous
workers receive, in many instances from
20 to 40 per cent higher wages for eight
hours work than are paid in the anthra-
cite mines for ten hours work.
The Matter of Weight.
Defending the third demand that coal
shall be weighed and paid for by weight,
and that 2.240 pounds shall constitute a
ton, Mr.. Mitchell declared that the present
method of measuring, the coal produced by
the miners in the Lackawacna, Wyoming
and Lehigh regions has been the source Of
more discomfort than any~other of the
many tnjustices imposed upon the miners,
and there can be no contentnent among
these workers until an honest system has
been adopted. Paying for coal by the car
or by ton weighing from 2,740 to 3,190
pounds is a fragrant injustice The cars
have been made larger; more topping is
required, and there has been no. CORE
spending increase In the amount paid Der
car or per ton. The miners have been
| forced to produce a constantly increasing
amount of coal, for which they receive no
additional compensation.
"The miner should be paid for every
pound of coal he mines that is sold by the
operator. If 2,240 pounds constitute
| ton when coal Is sold to the consumer and
when railroad companies are paid for
| transporting coal to the market, what JUS
| tice can there be in denying the miner the
| right to be paid for his labor on the same
| basis? --.
1.-THE anthracite companies, not satisfied
| with an extra legal ton of from 2,740 to
$3.50 pounds, have a system Of docking.
| by which they appropriate an additional
| part of the miners earnings. A miner is
| locked all the way from 500 to 1000
pounds upon a car as a penalty for load
| ing impurities for which he has already
| been penalized to the extent Of from 100
to 900 pounds In excess measure OF weight:
in other words, he is punished twice for
| the same offense. +-
! "A system somewhat similar. but less
unjust obtained in a portion Of the btu
minouS coal fields many years ago, but
the miners are now paid by weight upon
the basis Of a. legal ton; they are not only
permitted but are encouraged by the op-
orators to employ check weighmen to see
that the product Of their labor Is properly
thereof" 49,.
"a Trade Agreement
| Mr. Mitchell then. took up the fourth
demand Of the miners for trade agree
ment, with the necessary machinery for
the adjustment Of local grievances. He
outlined the history and policy Of the
United Mine Workers Of America and ex-
planned that by it's constitution the an
thracite and bftuminous mine workers
had home rule for the local government
of local affairs. 49,. y 20. - +
'The only manner" he said Sin which
the national organization is permitted to
interfere is that, before a strike Is In
|augurated by the district organization, the
approval Of the president of the national
union must be obtained; but the president
Of the national organization has no au-
thority to fnaugurate strike. Thus the
coal-mine operators are AFFORDED greater
measure Of protection against strikes
than they would have, under separate
and Independent organization"
| AS to the responsibility OF the mine
workers organization, Mr.. Mitchell said:
cat the present time the United Mine
Workers Of America has contracts with
the operators Of fourteen states and dis
tricts, fixing the amount the miners shall
receive per ton, the number of hours
which shall constitute days work, and
the methods and machinery for the adj
tjustment of local grievances by joint con-
ference with the mine owners. These are
mutual contracts which are advantageous
to both miner and operator and protect
the public against the effects of strikes
or lockouts.
.'The reports of the United States gov
eminent on the strikes in the mining In
dustry show that the number and duration
of strikes has been materially reduced
= each year since the system of joint confer
ence and mutual agreement has been in
troduced.
"Where the United Mine Workers CT
America is recognized and contracted with
it assumes the responsibility Of disciplinins
it's members. The trade agreement has
proved effective in restraining workmen
from engaging In local or general strikes
There have been no strikes of any niagni-
tuds in any Of the coal mining states In
. which trade agreements exist. We, seek
to establish the same method adjusting
wage differences in the anthracite field.
ut is said that the competition between
anthracite and bituminous coal is reason
, upon which the anthracite operators OPP
pose a recognition of the miners organiza-
! ton. That this objection is neither valid
!. nor consistent is clearly demonstrated by
. the fact that many of the railroads Off.
cered by the same men who control the
, anthracite coal mines enter into trade
, agreements with railroad organizations, 9
majority of whose members are employed
{ upon other and competing roads.
) 81 1--WE demand recognition because we
). know that permanent peace and friendly
Ill relations can be best maintained through
!, a trade agreemer. with the organization