The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-07
NEWBERRY, S. O., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER Z, 100:
ANTHRACITE MINE WORKERS.
TExC OF sTATEMENr FILED WITH
THE STRIKE COM NJ IssION.
Thoy Demand an Inorease Of 30 Per Cent
In Wages for Certain Work a Reduo.
tt"n OF 30 Per Cent in Houts OF
Labor the Adoption Of u Bet
ter 8yetem OF Weighing.

the anthracite mine workers case,
which was filed with the strike com
mission on Sunday night, has been
made public. Copies of the state
ment have been furnished to the op-
orators, who will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement
in full is as follows:
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission: The mine workers make
of the operators the following de.
maEds, which we're formulated by
the Shamokin Convention held March
18 to "a, and for the enforcement of
which the strike was inaugurated:
| First. An increase of 20 per cent.
upon the price" paid during the year
1901 to employees performing con-
tract or piece work.
| CD The present rate of wages is
much lower than the rate of wages
paid in the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work.
(2)~The present rate of wages is
lower than ia paid in ether occupa.
tions requiring equal skill and train.
ing
(3) The average annual earnings
! in the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earn
ings IN the bituminous coal fields for
substantially similar work.
(4) The average annual earnings
in the anthracite coal fields are much
less than the average annual earnings
for occupations requiring equal skill
and training.
(5) The rate Of wages in the an
thracito fields is insufficient to com
pensate the mine workers in view of
the dangerous character of the oc.
cupation in relation to the accidents,
the liability to serious and permanent
disease, the high death rate and the
short grade life incident to this en-
ployment.
(6) The annual earnings of the
mine workers are insufficient to main.
tain the American standard of>llving.
Cd The increased cost of living
has made it impossible to maintain
fair standard of life upon the basis
of present wages and has not only
prevented the mine workers from
securing any benefit from increased
prosperity, bat has made their con-
| dltlon poorer ON account of it,
(8) The wages of the anthracite
mine workers are 80 low that their
children are prematurely forced into
the breakers and mills Instead of be
ing supported and educated upon tho
earnings of their parents
(9) Wages are below the fair and
just earnings of mine workers in this
industry.
Second A reduction of 20 per
cont. in hours of labor without any re-
duction of earnings for all employ
ees 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 o.. week, and all the reasons ap-
plicable to the first demand are asked
to be applied to the second with rep.
etition.
In addition we submit the follow
ing:
(1O) The ten-hour day is detri-
mental to the health, life, safety aud
well being of the mine workers.
QD Shorter hours improve the
physical, mental and moral condi
tions of the workers.
Q2) Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
Q3) The tendency of National
and State Government, or organized
trade and Of production generally is
towards shorter hours.
| Q4) A working day Of eight hours
is sufficiently long for the best inter-
ests OF the workingmen and of the
community.
Third. The adoption of system
| by which coal shall be weighed and
paid for by weight wherever practi
cnhle; the minimum rate per ton to
ba sixty coats for legal ton Of 2, 24O
| pounds; the differentials now existing