The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-11-15


Killed and injured is greater than in any othe
are in Operation rs pc. sens lose, their lives an
men receive less wages annually than, are Re
GeiVed by men perforsning precisely similar wos @
hazardous conditions
health and strength in this occupation is limited
IL ne escape death Injury BY fails OF rock 2
ma. There Is scarcely u uAner who has not con con
10 S 'his maiady The miness a,s ,S q
mem mem 70 water. and their work is dhhcii' ana tx
Reputable insurance companies will not issu
policies to this class OF workmen; the risks ar
men whose e eernInss nin,isiuas are s9J so low "
an ere srf in p bs r Gsnt witch aad sy not snee
! carry an insurance of si.eol.
JUSTICE OF DEMAND.
| IL seems but fair and just that wages pal1
these classes OF workmen should be as high. i
| not higher. than wages paid TO skilled artisans
J IN other industries 1t is certainly not unjus
| - ask that these miners should receive as MGR
wages as are paid To miners in the bltuminou'
coal fields. in the silver and gold mines or In
the iron ore and copper mines. all Of which work
Is less hazardous freer from liability to disease
requiring less experience and less skill. and is
peter 9e}ter paid than labor in the anthracite coal
In supporting the demand for the reduction 4
.he,vds she hsprs rs, Of the day abarcrs ar Mitchell
ss.o;o men. or 81 per cent Of all mine employees,
The eghthopr day is the standard working
81 i,,, IN tAs MINING industry Eisht hours con-
S.itute a Gay work in the coal m.nes of Great
Britain and ~ in IN al the silver geld and copper m 5
Of Arkasas Kansas aissoari m I Iowa. ''T Iinois.
indiana OHIO. Michigan. kentucky. Tennessee.
L; io5g: western pennsyiS'nA and the Indian rerF'-
The reports Of the United States Geological
produced annually since the inauguration of the
eish, esi hour workday than in any preceding year
IN IN eisht hours thaa he formerly produced in ten
results would net be obtained % in ths anthraeite
trade. TIE bituminous workers rece We in many
fer oisht hours work than are paid in the an
'hfacite mines for ten hocrs' work
MEASURING COAL
Defining the third demand. that coal shall be
weighed and paid for by weight ana that 2,241
pounds shall constitute "a ton. Mr. Mitchell de-
clared that the present method of measuring
the coal produced by the miners in The Lacka-
wana. Wyoming and I.ehlsn regions has been
the source of more discomfort than any other
OF the many intustices imposed upon the miners
workers esfe tnf fnh De no eon,sntmept among these
By M ton sSsd fFs for ,s coal a By s The car
:; flagrant Injustice The cars have been 1''i mais
i,aIser more looping is required and there has
paid per or pSr ton ke miners a h Say Sa
I9rced 70 to produce constantly increasing amount
coa1 The s miner miner should be paid for every pound Of
Z 24e pounds constitute a ton when coal is sold
paid for transporting coal to narset Sass Whss
Justice can there be in denying the miner the
BASH, sass, to be paid for his labor upon the same
The anthracite companies not satisfied with
have system Of docking through sRich hR'lna they
appropriate additional ueTf of the miners earn
10 LOO pounds upon q car, as penalty for
to the 9l extent ef s from mas 100 le 5
pounds in excess measure OF weight; In other
words. he is punished twice for the same Of
"A system somewhat similar. bu, less unjust.
paid by weight upon the basis OF legal Ton;
the operators to employ check weishmen TO see
sse an9 product Of their their lator Is
POLICY OF THE UNION
Mr.. Mitchell then took up the fourth demand
Of the miners for trade agreement with the
machinery for the adjustment of local
grievances. He outlined the history and policy
of the United Mine Workers of America and ex-
planned that by Its constitution the anthracite
and bitumnous mine workers had home rule for
the local government Of local affairs.
''rhe only manner he said. ''in which the
national organization is permitted to interfere
district organization. the approval Of the presi
lent Of the national union must be obtained; |
las no authority to- naugurate. strike. Thus |
he coal mine operators are afforded greater |
would have , under a separate and Independent |
'rganization;" ,.u,
herewith outline more specifically plan of |
rocedure which. If adopted would prevent LEGAL |
he time covered by the award which you are |
to make
First..The rate OF. wages. the hours of labor |
he N method IN, ~ wshrE na and Paying vi fo the prod
n agreement between the representatives of the |
arious coal companies and the representatives
the organization of which the complanants in
his case members
Second-There should be a committee of con-
ervatiye representative mine workers selected
y the employees at each collisry: 1t should be tie
nine foremen In the adjustment of local 6is-
utes which cannot be settled between the mine
,Temen ,.esa and the mine worker or mine workers
Third-Should the mine foreman and mine COM
he matter in dispute should be referred to the
ompany's superintendent and a general grievance |
sntative mine workers from each coliery oper-
Ted by any one company should they fail to
lanager of the coal company and the district |
resident Of the miners organisation. and should |
rsices Of some sinteres,ed person a' whpse de tae
sion should - be tina, final; pending an adjustment in
lould continue at work.
PLEA FOR CHILDREN.
Mr.. Mitchell concluded with plea for the
hildren. He said:
Our little boys should not be forced into the
lines and breakers early in life: our little
iris should not be compelled to work In the
ILLS and factories at an age when they should
nj IN f fcho1 1sr These Children are the future ci
bled to earn wages sufficiently high to give
em m s.tn,i at least & common school education, SO
es that will ultimately devolve upon them The !
ea ana s ne ~ future OF 'se naSn are not
1her .Ts BY BY the eniightened contsntment and
tie the bone and sinew OF our land"
H.