Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-23
MITCHELL MAKES
A STATEMENT.
,-E
y a Reply to the Letter Of the
Coal Presidents
MINERS POSITION DEFINED
..s That the coal They Pro-
'r s,.u BIZ Honestly weighed
And Recorded.

.,,,,o,harre Pa, June 22.-John NH
,,,ll. president of the un''eo "'"e
w., ,v,.ssrs Of America, today issued the
,slosing statement. II is a reply 10
=. letters OF the coal presidents ue'
s,,,ox TO accede to the demands OF the
. ~,oer, which were issued about ten
tay ago:
mTcHELEs STATEMENT
M the PublIc-If the contest now IN
...sress IN the anthracite coal regions
ppsrnsylyania affected only the well
N The railroad and mining cor
.s,iops ON one hand and the coal
rIne workers on the other, the pubic
sauld have no vital interest at STAKE
M would consequently be less con-
,.,nsd than 1t now Is In the contlnu-
.1ca the extension or the termination
- tbe conflict but inasmuch as there
third important interest involved,
shIch although In nowise responsible
ns ,he nresent strike, Is nevertheless
.n,nnoeent victim thereof, II Is but fair
"a nroper that the general public
ssoold be fully and accurately Informed
nan the merits Of the question In con-
uwersy. :, s 49,, 49,. haze
vsitsa until the close of the sixth week
Al me strike TO issue a statement OF
M nature, sufficient answer may be
,ound in the fact that we have 'hesi-
,,isd 10 utter any word or to take any
SosliIon that would impede or embar-
ss.s easy reconciliation with the coal
on,rators Every delay and precau-
Mn every conceivable concila-
Tow effort that honorable and
eon,svatlye mn could take to
avn a rupture, and every means
,h,t thought could suggest to bring
ne matter in dispute to arbitration
was resorted to by the union, both be.
fare me strike order was issued and
sine. II went into effect, but without
avail the coal magnates replying TO
an our oyertures with the declaration
Ihat there was nothing to arbitrate.
NM statement on their part Is equiya-
lnttukaying that the coal-mlne work.
EN- have made unreasonable demands
ana have struck without real or suffi-
Glen, cause. To this let plain and un-
vanished facts and figures reply.
For more than 20 years the anthra-
cite cOal-nne workers OF Pennsylvania
have chafed and groaned under the
most Intolerable and inhuman condi-
tiou Of employment imaginable. Their
average annual earnings have been
less than those Of any other class OF
workmen IN the United States, notwith-
standing the fact that their work Is
more hazardous and the cost OF living
greater than in any other important
American Industry. The total number
Of persons employed In and around tine
anthracite coal mines is l4f 500; they
are employed never TO exceed 200 days
IN any one year, and they receive as
compensation for their services an av-
enge Of N.R for o l0-hour workday.
il will thus be noted that they earn
annually less than $500. Such pay may
supply living on par with some
classes OF European laborers, but who
Will say that Il is sufficient TO sup
pft American citizens or enable par
ats 10 educate and properly main
nln their familles2 True II IL that a
Aper cent increase In wages was
snn'ed by the coal operators as
luke concession two years ago, but
y IS also true that a large portion Of
ns " per cent was paid back TO the
Wnpahes TO buy the suppression OF
u ga powder grievance. Moreover,
Eorulng TO reliable commercial agen-
ss the cost Of living has increased,
Nlneularly In the purchase OF food
Guns from 30 10 40 per cent, so that
Is purchasing power Of a miners earn
q 100 '"e '''"'e
Inc Presidents of the various coal.
aHyng railroads have given publicity
W. va statement that during the year
~. ,he productive capacity OF mine
.g'keS deteriorated an average OF
~ per cent, In other words. the
s.eo hine-Workers organization IL
Sseu Of encouraging poor workman
up An examination of the reports
.osl production compiled BY the
~. '.a states government discloses the
INA, ~. usl the allegations OF the railroad
nsnueIlls are misleading and untrue.
T, ue following figures will demon
4. NV From 1880 to 1900. inclusive,
,v N, m.nes We're In active operation an
~ OF ls2 days per year and for
Ss. Avn person employed there were pro.
fsr s'',oS tons OF coal per year. or.
~, 'sVh day the mines were in opera.
No. -, MOI, IONS We're produced per en-