Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-04
Full Text of the Statement
Submitted by Mitchell to
the Strike Commission
AN INTERESTING DOCUMENT
Wages Declared to Be Below the Fair
and Just Earnings of the Mine Work
ers-Demands of the shamokin Con-
vention, Which Ordered the Strike,
Still Adhered to.

Hazleton. Pa, Nov. 4.-The state
ment of the anthracite mine workers
case, which was filed with the strike
commission on Sunday night, was made
public today Copies of the statement
have been furnished to the operators
who will reply in three or four days
The miners statement in full is as fol-
lows:
To the anthracite coal strike commits
Ision-The mine workers make of the
operators the following demands, which
were formulated by the Shamokin con-
yention, held March IS to "a, and for
the enforcement of which the strike was
Iinaugurated:
First-An increase of 20 per cent
upon the prices paid during the year
|1so1. 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
lin the bituminous coal fields for sub
stantially similar work.
2. The present rate of wages is lower
than is paid in other occupations re-
curing equal skill and training.
g. The average annual earnings in the
anthracite coal field are much less than
the average annual earnings 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.
s. The rate of wages in the an
thracite coal fields is insufficient to
compensate the mine workers in view
Of the dangerous character of the oe-
|cupation in relation to accidents, the
liability to serious and permanent dis
ease, the high death rate and the
slsssrt grade life incident to this employ
ment.
s. The annual earnings Of the mine
workers are insufficient to maintain
the American standard of living.
Z. 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 ac-
count of it.
g. 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 sup
ported and educated upon the earnings
of their parents.
9. Wages are below the fair and just
earnings of mine workers in this in
dustry
Second-A reduction of 20 per cent
in hours Of labor, without any reduc-
ton of earnings for all employees paid
by it, hour, days or week.
The second demand is similar to the
first in that it is designed to increase
the hourly rate of wages cf mine
workers employed by the hour, day or
week, and all the reasons applicable
to the first demand are asked to be
applied to the second with repeti-
ton.
In addition thereto we submit the fo.
lowing:
10. The ten hour day is detrimental
to the health, life, safety and well be-
ing of the mine workers.
IL. Shorter hours improve the phys
ical, mental and moral conditions of
the workers.
IL. Shorter hours increase the inten-
sity and efficiency Of labor
state government of organized trade
and of production generally is toward
shorter hours.
Ia. A working day of IS hours is suf-
ficiently long for the best interests of
the working men and Of the commun.
ity,
Third-The adoption of system by
which coal shall be weighed and paid
for by weight wherever practicable;
the minimum rate per ton to be 60 cents
for legal ton of 2.240 pounds; the diff
ferentials now existing at the various
mines to be maintained.
This demand is made on account Of
the following reasons:
l. Measurement by the legal ton
wherever practicable is the only honest
and just system of measuring the earn
ings of mine workers.
2. When the operators sell or trans
port coal 1t is on the basis of legal ton
Of 2,240 pounds.
3. The excessive ton was originally
intended to compensate the operators
for the weight of the small sizes of coal
which We're then discarded, but which
are now utilized and sold, therefore
there is no present necessity for the use
OF any other than the legal ton.
4. The adoption of this system would
remove an incentive, both to the oper-
ator and the worker, the cheating and
and would allay jealousy
among the miners and prevent unjust
and favoritism.
3. The change of the present system
to the one asked for would prove a
strong factor in allaying suspicion and
discontent among the mine workers.
Fourth-The Incorporation in an
agreement between the United Mine
Workers of America and the anthracite
coal companies of the wages which
shall be paid and the conditions of en-
ployment which shall obtain, together
with satisfactory methods for the adj