The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-11-21
MITCHELL TO
COMMISSIONERS
Strike Leader Outlines Miners
Position in an Eloquent
Address. 81
RECOGNITION OF UNION
Hearing of Evidence in Anthracite Coal
Strike Begun at Scranton Today
Will Take More Than Two
r. Weeks.

SS&oS''EF f-I g - #r. Oh
After the workmen have concluded
their case the operators will make their
defense. .g asst.
It is expected more han two weeks
will be taken up in the hearing, and it
is likely the commission will hear all
the evidence in this city.
l5&$s@As early as d o'clock the corridors of
the Lackawanna court house We're
crowded with people of all classes and
conditions, eager to gain Ambulance.
Only a few OF them, however, got
through the door, as almos every seat
was occupied by the mine officials and
representatives of the workers.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Judge Gray
brought his gavel down and the pro-
.Geeeings opened. Judge Gray an
nounceda that sufficient time had been
given for the paAties to the contro-
:Wersy to prepare for the hearings and
that theiE commission would hear the
representatives Of the miners first.
President Mitchell said he would file
Ia further statement on Monday in an
sWer to some allegations of the op-
orators. He then addressed the COM
mission. .
Abstract of MitchelI's Address.
His statement contained 5000 words,
an abstract of which follows. Mitchell
prefaced his statement with the hope
h commission would succeed in es-
stablishing a relationship between the
operators and miners that will insure
peace in the industry for an indefinite
period. He then recited the demands
fol. increased pay for the miners, short
er days for labor,.rs, Weighing of coal
and industrial agreements, the refusal
of all of which led to the strike.
He took up each demand, and pre-
scented an argument on the same
ground which he has set forth IL pre-
ENious published speeches and state
%aanents, showing why from the miners
point of view the demands should be
granted. &2, g.
He laid special stress upon the haz-
sardous and unfayorable condition under
which the miners and 1aborers are
forced to work, saying the entire 20
;per$scent Of increase demanded would
900 on each lie.
iE. Eisht-Hour Statistics. .
tie submitted statistics showing an
~S-hour&day prevails in the mines OF
Great Britain and in the mines Of
twelve state in this country.
He said the present methods of
measuring coal In the anthracite region
was productive of more discomfort than
any other injustice imposed upon the
men. r 8lE
Mitchell outlined the. history and
policy of the United Mine Workers, and
explained that by its. constitution the
anthracite and bituminous mine work
ers had home ruie,tor local government,
for local affairs. 1.-The only manner"
ne said, sin which the national organ
lzation is permitted to interfere is that
.~ibefore$.a strike is ~inaugurated by the
district organization, the approval of
~ "a 1.-GE --,Nr -, tE.. - - Z $50 H Ty-s
must be obtained; but he has no author
ity5 to- inaugurate a strike. Thus the
coal mine operators are afforded a.
greater measure Of protection against
strikes than they would have been UNI
der separate and Independent organiza-
lions s%s + Ia
Recognition Of Union for Good for All.
e5demand recognition because we
know that permanent peace and friend
Ely@#relations can. be best maintained
through trade agreements with the or
~galization which u people have
ELECTED to john. Fully 80 per cent Of
are memberso of it from choice. They
desire to retain their membership in it.
ssE5.ttEHailur to recognize the ~organiza-
zion has caused many local strikes
during the past8year, the fault of which
Hrestssupon the operators and miners
8asalik eSsas The; miners, falling to secure
redress for their wrongs, the COM
panies having refused to treat with
Their representatives had choice
hut to submit to injustice or organize
and strike. III S s&aFI$
Doesn't Mean D~ictation.
ssstRIsecognitionsof the union does not
mean dictaticn5 Or interference by the
men I@a$nnoots#enployed by the companies.
Ita5simply means that the officers elect
ted b the mine workers shall exercise
#superYisIon 8oyergathe organization or
shall counsel with the mine workers
S aass how heirStrad affairs shall be
conducted. 5a lS2
"a q, he miners have as much right to
select aaspokesnlan to#act for them, to
present thei rSagrieEances and manage
their affairs as have the stockholders
Egsef h anthracite coal companies to
elect their Ulcers to perform like func-
StAss 8HG EsS@
T#5Fo the Information OF the commits
" herewith outline more specific
4saiIySthe plan Of procedure which, If
adopted, would prevent local strikes
aInrdSpresery peace and harmony dur
55sting he#t iIne covered by the award
sswhich YOU apoWered to make
/. q rat OF wages, hours ofslabor and
lproductIS IF the miners work Should be
Incorporated I'M the greementSb between
Observation-Disclosures the various coal
reorganization Sc which accomplishments
MIN tfis Observation-Disclosures
.. here should Be a$committee of con
sis sgsad Se, .go EsseIt5atiy mina sWsaaI Sc.
.8ggatshonld he fhe utyy Of issconlHitte Il d
ico-operatslwIt1Sth min foremen adj
ii%jastnlentS of local disputes Whichscanno
amfneswprke on m tnyolved.sS
& 3.8Sflpuid aigas1nirle foreman faiIato6a