Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-14
Anthracite Coal Strike Com
mission Begins Actual Work
of Taking Evidence
MITCHELL MAKES AN ADDRESS
President of Mine Workers Union
Makes Splendid Argument for the
Workmen's Side of the Controversy
in the Anthracite Coal FieIds-Syn-
opsis of His Remarks.

4 Scranton, Nov 1.-THE anthracite
i coal strike commission today began
! hearing the miners side of the case
4 After the workmen have concluded
their case the operators will make their
defense. 1t is expected more than two
| weeks will be taken up in the hearings
and it Is likely the commission will hear
| all the evidence in this city. AS early
! as the corridors of the LackaWanna
court house was crowded with people
/ of all classes and conditions, eager to
gain admittance. Only few OF thern
however got thru the doors, as almost
every seat was occupied by the mine
officials and representatives of the
| workers. Shortly after 10 Judge Gray
brought the gavel down ana the plo-
| ceedings opened. Judge Gray annouhc-
ed that sufficient time had peen given
| for the parties to the controversy "
be prepared for the hearing ana Ina.
| the commission would hear the repre-
sentatives of the miners hrst. frssi-
dent Mitchell said he would hle Iur-
ther statement, on Monday, IN answer
| tc some allegations of the operators.
He then addressed the COMMISSION.
His statement contained 6,ooo Worus,
+ an abstract of which follows:
Mitchell prefaced his statement VIII
the hope that the commission Wouio
.Succeed in establishing q relation
ship between the operators ana miners
that will insure peace and civility IN the
industries for an indefinite period he
then recited the demands for Increased
nav for the miners, shorter day Tor
tha day laborers weighing of coal ana
lindustrial agreements, refusal OF all
of which led to the strike. He took
up each demand and presented argu-
mont on the same ground which he has
set forth in previous published speeches
and statements and showed why, from
the miners point of view, the demands
could be granted He laid special stress
unon the hazardous and unfavorabie
conditions under which miners ard Ia
borers are forced to work, saying the
entire 90 per cent increase demanded
would not suffice to carry an insurance
of thousand dollars. He submitted
statistics showing an eight hour day
prevails in the mines of Great Br1taln
land in all the mines in twelve states
of this country He said the present
method of measuring coal in the an
thracite region was productive of moro
discomfort than any other injustice i'm
posed upon the men. Mitchell out
lined the history and Of the policy OF
the United Mine Workers and ex
planned that by it's constitution, an
thracite and bituminous mine workers
had home rule, or local government
of local affairs. THE only manner,
he said, .in which the national organ.
ization is permitted to interfere is,
that before strike is inaugurated by
La district organization, approval of the
president of the national union mus
be obtained; but he has no authority
to inaugurate a strike Thus the coal
mine operators are afforded a greater
measure of protection against strikes
than they would have under separate
and independent peace and friendly re-
Iations can be best maintained thru
trade agreements with the organization
which our people have elected to join.
Fully 80 per cent of the employees of ths.
anthracite mines are members of 1t,
from choice. They desire to retain thei
memberships in it. Failure to recognize
the organization has caused many To-
cal strikes during the past year. The
fault rested upon the operators an
miners alike.
"The miners failing to secure redress
for their wrongs, the companies having
refused to treat with their representa-
tives, had no choice but to submit to
the injustice or inaugurate a strike.
Recognition of the union does not mean
dictation or interference by men not
employed by the companies. 1t simply
means that the officers elected by the
mine workers shall exercise supervis-
ion over the organization or shall coun-
sci with the mine workers as to how
their trade affairs shall be conducted.
The miners have as much right to Sc
Iect a spokesman to act for them, to
present their grievances and manage
their affairs as have the stockholders
of the anthracite coal companies tol
elect their officers to perform like
functions"
For the information of the com
mission, we herewith outline more
specifically plan of procedure, which,
if adopted, would prevent local strikes
ing the time covered by the award, !
which you are empowered to make.
'First-The rate of wage, hours of Ia
bor method of weighing and paying
for the product of the miners work
should be in corporated in an agreement
between the representatives of the var
ious coal companies and representatives
of the organization of which the COM
plainants in this case are members.
"Second-There should be commit |
tee of conservative representative mine
workers selected by the employees at |
each colliery. 1t should be the duty |
of this committee to cooperate with |
the mine foremen in adjustment of |
local disputes which can not be set |
tied between the mine foremen and |
mine worker or mine workers involved. |
Third Should the mine foremen fail I
to adjust the grievance complained of
the matter in dispute should be referred |
to the colnpany's superintendent and
the general grievance, committee. which
should be constituted of representa-
tives Of mine workers from each COL