Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1902-11-20

President Mitchell said he would file
a further statement on Monday In am
Swer to some allegations of the OPP
orators. He then addressed the COM
mission.
Abstract Of MitcheI's Address.
His statement contained 5000 words,
an abstract of which follows. Mitchell
prefaced his statement with the hope
the commission would succeed In es-
tablishng i relationship between the
operators and miners that will insure
peace in the industry for AN indefinite
period. He then reeited the demands
for increased pay for the miners short
er days for laborers, weighing of coal
and industrial agreements. the refusal
of all of which led to the strike.
He took up each demand, and pre-
sented an argument on the same
ground which he has set forth in pre-
vous published Speeches and state
ments. showing why from the miners
point of view the demands should be
granted.
He laid special stress upon the haz-
ardous and unfavorab bile condition under
which the miners and laborers are
forced to work. saying the entire 20
per cent of increase demanded would
700 on each life.
ClSnC-F1OQTs STATISTICS.
He submitted statistics showing an
s-hour day prevails in the mines of
Great Britain and In the mines of
twelve state In this country
He said the present methods of
measuring coal In the anthracite region
was productive of more discomfort than
any other injustice imposed upon the
men.
Mitchell outlined the history and
policy of the United Mine Workers, and
explained that by it's constitution tne
anthracite and b!tuminouS mine work.
ers had home RUE, or local government.
for local affairs The only manner"
he said s.in which the national organ
lzation is permitted to interfere Is that
before a strike is inauGurated by the
district organization. the approval of
the president of the National Union
must be obtained; but he has no author
lily to inaugurate a strike. Thus the
coal mine operators are afforded a
greater measure OF protection against
strikes than they would have been UNI
der separate and Independent organiza-
tions.
Recognition of Union for Good for All.
We demand recognition because we
know that permanent peace and friend
ly relations can be best maintained
siii =. 20 WIN the or
si., 1,t'ioii MI peolie nave
.,ps e ~, 10, ~ Joih. uils ~ per cent OF
are members of IL from choice They
desire to retain their membership In 1t.
Failure to recognize the organiza-
ton has caused many local strik es
during the past year, the fault of which
rests Upon me operators ana miners
alike. The miners. failing to secure
redress for their wrongs. the co,n-
panirs having refused Ia front ,,i,h
thairI ,o,5,asa,,t.,,i,..,, 49,, '" ~
~. ,,,. ~, 70 ,i'i ny eloicc
put W supiiiil W illJustiee or organize
'tnd strlke
Doesn't Mean Dictation
representatives. - ~ -
lteVosiil.lon VI tlle union does not
mean dlctatlon or interference by the
men not employed by the companies.
1t simply means that the officers elect
ed nv the mine workers. shah 900,
s,,,,ey,,sion over the s,al,'i. sAeleiso
BY !, i' ,, oNel lhe orshhlZatlon or
shall counsel WIN inc mine workers
as to how their trade affairs shall be
conducted.
1.-THE miners have as much right IN
1..s,,a,t ,bei,, ,,,ia,.,n,as 1ot eiieiii, 10
present :, t,ieii grievances una manage
their allalrS as nave the stockholders
of the anthracite coal companies to
lions"
H. tho ,,fo,,,o+io, ~ ~,
W ~ 't,.,.,, VI eiie eoialnls-
sion we Aete"itn out!lhe more specific
any eas p.ii. " plu.euufe winch. III
.l, mou,u ca. iuetl slflKes
anu ~ NJ eae ,,,, aver aiI'i harmony our
lug snu ,i',o ,,,,,,, ns 'he award
",lin M. ~ - s'po" ~ W make
han nf yeishns md W., ~ iap 9 una