Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-05
DEMANDS OF THE STRIKERS
Tbsir Side Of OoutrDvs1y Filed with
Arbitration Commission.
ASK HIGHER WAGES AND SHORTER HOURS
Alec R~-auest that an Agreement ne
signed for n Wetbea Of Set
tIinE Future Dinerenees
which NAY Arise.

HAZLETON. Pa. Nov. 4-7hs statement
% the Anthracite mine workers case. which
was fled with the strike commission on
Sunday nigh wst made public today. Cop
les o. the statement have been furnished 70
the operators, who Will reply in three or
four days. The miners statement IN fun
lie as follows
To the Anthracite Coal Strike Commits
zion.
The mine workers make Of the operators
the following demands. which were 1uTmG-
lsted by the shamokin convention. hele
March 70 10 a. ana for the enforcement o.
which the strike was ~tnBuEurEted-
Ask for Higher Wages
FlrEf-An Increase uf ~ per cert upon the
prices paid during the year 1hl 10 empluFes
performing contract or piece work. This
/ demand is made on account Of he follow
lnF reasons
/ Ths present rate Of wares IL much
nituminous coal fields Tor substantially sim
liar work
z The present rate Of wages Is lower than
Is pEid IN other occupations requiring equal
SKIN and training
3 The average annual earnings IN the
Anthracite coal field are much less than ths
average annual earnings In the btruminous
coal fields for substantially similar work.
Z The average annual earnings IN the an
thraCits coal helds are much less than the
average annual earnings for occupations re-
curing equal skill and training
b. The rate Of wages In The anthracite
coal heldH If insufficient 10 compensate the
min workers in view Of the dangerous
accidents. The liability 20 serious Rn6 pei
manent disease. the high death rate and the
short grade life incident 10 this employ
ment.
6 The annual earnings Of the mine work
srs are insufficient to maintain the Amer1-
2 The Increased cost Of living has made
( u impossible 10 maintain q fair standard OF
life upon the basis OF present wages and
] kpu mt Ou1v wwavnwTaT she mf-e u-n~Earp
from securing any benefit from increased
prosperity. but mas mace their condition
poorer on account o. Il.
S The wages OF the anthracite mine work
erE are 50 low that their children are pre-
mHturely forced into the breakers and mills
instead OF being supported Rne educated
upon the earnings Of their parents.
> Wages are below the fair and just earn
tnEs OF mine workers In this industry.
Shorter Hours m
Secuno-A reduction Of % per cent IL
hourE OF labor, without any reduction Of
earnings, for all employees paid by the hour,
Gay or week
The second demand is imilar TO the first,
IL that IL Is designed 10 increase the hourly
rate q wages Of mine workers employed
by the hour, DAY or week, and all the rea-
sons applicable 10 the first demand are
asked 70 be applied 10 the second with
In ADDITION thereto, we submit the fol-
lowing:
health. life. safety and wei being OF the
mine workers.
!. ElNIN6L nDAIt Improve Aht NuNnAEkAa
mental and moral conditions Of The work
Y Shorter hours increase the intensity
and efficiency OF labor.
IL. The iendency OF national and state
government Of organized trade and Of pro
oucuOn generally iE toward shorter hours
a A working day OF eight hours 10 SUI
hciently long FOR the best interests OF the
w~orktnEmen and Of the community.
Adoption of weight system
Third-The adoption Of q system by which
j nm shall ha HTnfDhan ann nuN6 Fnw nv
weight wherever practicable; the minimum
rate per ton 10 be g. cents for a legal ton
OF 2,2sO pounds; the dinereutiBls now exist
ing al the various mines 10 be maintained
This demand is mace on account Of ihe
SOIlowinE reasons:
81 MeaSurement bv the legal ton wherever
practicable is the only honest and just Eys-
lem OF measuring the earnings OF mine
. When the operators sell or transport
coal II IL on the basis OF q legal ton Of
z. m excessive ton was originally in
rended te compensate the operator for the
weight OF the small sizes OF coal which
utilized and sold. ana therefore there is no
present necessity for the use OF any other
= Tbe s6opnon OF this system would re-
move an incentive, both 10 the operator
and the worker. 10 cheating and dishonesty,
and would Ailay jealousy among The miners
and prevent unjust discrimination aDo IA
8 The change Of the present system TO
. LII e'A
factor in RllHying suspicion Enc discomfort
among me mine workers.
Ask for signed Agreement
F~ourth-Ths Incorporated in an agree
ment between The United Mine Workers Of
I America and the anthracite coal companies
OF the wages which shall be paid ana the
conditions OF employment which shall OBJ
tain, together with satisfactory methods
for the adjustment OF grievances which may
arise from time 10 time. 10 the enc thai
strikes and lockouts may be unnecessary.
il guppOr- Of this demand we submit The
following reasons;
1 ]. The Rnthraci1e mine workers should moi
he compelled 10 make or sign individual
agreements. but should have the right 10
form such organization Rnu choose such
agents and OfncerE as they desire 10 ACT
collectively instead Of individually when
they deem that their best interests are sub
] served thereby.
2 Agreements between employers and en-
ployes through Workdngmen 8 OrEz nizR rinns
are lhe ordinary method OF regulating pro-
ducti0n and wages IN the PiruminOos Goa
heids and IN other large industries and are
beneficial. successful and IN keeping with
the spirit nf the times.
g Unions Of working men tend 10 the bet
ter discipline Of the men and 10 the i'm
provement Of their physical. moral and
mental condition and 10 The preservation OF
friendly relations between employer and
enpioye-
Experience shows that the trade agree
meut iE the only effective plan by which II
Is possible 10 regulate uueEuuns arising be-
tween employers and employees IN large in