The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-06
MEN STATE CASE
DEMANDS OF MINE WORKERS
FILED WITH THE STRIKE
COMMISSION.
MORE PAY, EIGHT.H0UR DAY

Present Rate of Wages Lower Than |:
Paid in Bituminous Field and ir
Other Occupations Requiring Equa
Skill and Trainins-Argument Made
Sustaining Demand for Shorter
Hours and Recognition of Union.
Hazleton, Pa, Nov. 5.-The state
ment of the anthracite mine workers
case, which was filed with the strike
commission on Sunday night, has
been made public. Copies of the state
ment have been furnished to the op
orators, who will reply in three Of
four days. The miners statement is
as follows:
ITO the Anthracite Coal Commission:
'The mine workers made of the op
orators the following demands which
were formulated by the Shamokin con
vention, March 18 to "a, and for the
enforcement of which the strike was
inaugurated:
"First-An increase of 20 per cent
upon the prices paid during the year
1901 to employees performing contract
or piece work.
This demand is made on account
of the following reasons:
'The present rate of wages is much
lower than the rate of wages paid in
the bituminous coal fields for substan.
TALLY similar work.
1.-THE present rate of wages is lower
than is paid in other occupations re-
curing equal skill and training.
''The rate of wages in the anthracite
coal fields is insufficient to compensate
the mine workers in view of the dan.
gerous character of the occupation in
relation to accidents, the liability to
serious and permanent disease, the
high death rate and the short grade
life incident to this employment.
'The increased cost of living has
made it impossible 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 &C
count of it.
"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.
Shorter Hours Demanded.
"Second-A reduction of 20 per cent
in hours of labor without any reduc-
ton OF earnings for all employees paid
by the hour, day or week.
"The second demand is similar to
the first in that it is designed to in
crease the hourly rate of wages of
mine workers employed by the hour,
day or week and all the reasons ap-
plicable to the first demand are also
to be applied to the second with reit-
Grafton.
I'm addition thereto we submit the
following:
''The ten hour day is detrimental to
the health, life, safety and well being
of the mine workers.
S1iOlIC lMplOFS LuS puy
cal, mental and moral condition of
the workers.
Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
"Third-The adoption of system
by which coal shall be weighed and
paid for by weight wherever practical
BILE; the minimum rate per ton to be
60 cents for legal ton of 2,240
pounds; the differentials now existing
at the various mines to be maintained.
"This demand is made on account
OF the following reasons.
Measurements by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only hon
est and just system of measuring the
earnings of mine workers.
When the operators sell or trans
port coal it is on the basis of legal
ton of 2.240 pounds.
1.-THE excessive ton was originally
intended to compensate the operator
for the weight of the small sizes of
coal which were then discarded, but
which are now utilized and sold, and
therefore there is no present necessity
for the use of any other than the legal
ton. .....#. .-H.... ...." @.
Recognition of the Union.
"Fourth-The incorporation in an
agreement between the United Mine
Workers of America and the anthra-
cite coal companies of the wages which
shall be paid and the conditions of en-
ployment which shall obtain, together
with satisfactory methods for the ad-
1ustment Of grievances which may
arise from time to time to the end
that strikes and lockouts may be un-
necessary. .....-
"In support of this demand we sub
NIT the following reasons: Ns
'The anthracite mine workers should
not be compelled to make or sign in
dividual agreements, but should have
the right to form such organization
and choose such agents and officers as
they desire to act collectively instead
of individually when they deem that
their interests are subserved thereby.
Unions OF workiEsmen tend to the