Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-29

the cost Of mining. but he fails 10 say that
the larger portion OF this 40 per cent is
made up OF grades OF coal for which the
miners received no compensation whatever.
Indeed, up to a few years ago. or before
the Installation OF washeries the miners
were docked for loading this very coal
which brings small prices now in the mar
ket; and according to Mr.. Baer's process
Of reasoning the miners would receive less
wages for the larger grades because they
mine this gratuitously.
Misleading ss 60 Cost.
Il shall not enter deliberately into the
question Of cost, but shall say that Mr..
Baer's statements are utterly misleading.
The rise Of wages in 1900 was more than
couuterbalanced by an increase in the cost
OF living which left the miners worse off
than before. Mr.. Baer claims that this
advance OF 10 per cent which was paid the
miners in 1900 cost the companies moro
than 10 cents a ton. but this Is at least
predetermined. In March. 1902, the Engi-
ncering and Mining Journal (see issue Of
March 1877 made a careful calculation in
order to show what effect the increase OF
wages last year had on the cost of coal.
As a result of this computation, based
upon the figures Of the Delaware & Hud-
son, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
and the Lehigh Coal e. Navigation com
pany. the Engineering and Mining Journal,
which cannot be accused OF either being
friendly or fair to US, states that the con-
clusion to be drawn is that the resulting
increase In cost was not large; in all prob
ability not over 5 cents O ton at the out
side
NJ Baer claims that the average pay
a. T. - l. 81 r. . A.
hitting, for the sake Of argument, the
correctness OF his figures, this would make
on the average number of working days in
1901. a grand annual total of 1868 per EN-
ploye. or an average OF s7.05 per week
Thus as a result Of the ~strenuously OPP
posed and bitterly regretted advance wruns
from the operators by the strike Of 1906
the average adult employe of the Reading
Coal & Iron company is permitted to spend
upon himself, his wife and his children the
munihcent sum OF Sl.01 per day.
strike Only for Justice.
in closing this statement l wish to sa!
that we are conducting this struggle with
out malice and without bitterness: we be
lieve that our antagonists are acting upoI
Misrepresentation rather than in bad faith
we regard them not as enemies, but Al
opponents, anu we SlIlhe III pdtlShCS UNI
they shall Accede to our demands or submit
to impartial arbitration of the difference
between us. We are striking not to shoy
our strength, but for the justice Of on
cause. and we desire only the privilege o
presenting our case to a fair tribunal. w
asked for no favor. only justice, and "
appeal our case to the solemn judgment o
the American people.
Involved in this fight are question
weightier thar any question OF dollars an
cents. The present miner has had his day
he has been oppressed and ground dowr
but there is another generation coming uI
a generation Of little children prematuTel
doomed to the whirl OF the mill and tn
noise and blackness Of the breaker. 1t
for these little children we are hghtinG
We have not underestimate the strengt
OF our opponents; we have not o~veresti
mated our own power OF resistance, accus
toned always to live upon little, a littl
less is no uncomfortable hardship. II wa
with a quaking OF hearts that we asked 70
cur last pay envelopes, but in the grimy an
bruised hand OF the miner was the littl
white hand Of a child, a child like tn
children Of the rich. and in the heart of tn
miner was the soul-rooted determination
| starve to the last crust Of bread and hgi
out the long dreary battle to win a life Il
; he child and secure for 1t q place in tn
world in keeping with advancing ciyilizs
tion. JOHN MITCHELL,
President United Mine Workers OF Amei
ica"