Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-05
Makes = Detailed Denial Of Charges Filed
Against Them by Miners
CHARGE ALL TROUBLE UP TO MITCHELL
Say Differences with Men Had Always
Been AmicabIy Settled Until
the Miners Were Or
CANNED.

ihblIOWs II was WElAAth " JNhh MN
managing partner Of the firm. The state
ment is in part as follows:
The present firm was formed on Decem-
Der 30, 1889, for the purpose of mining coal
upon lands held by the firm under lease
IRON the Union Improvement dop
the Highland Coal company for thirty years
from January ], 1892.
The mines are situated at or near Jeddo
and the firm operates the following col.
l~ieries, viz: Jeddo No. 4, Highland No. 2
and Highland No. S. The firm employs
reside in the villages of Freeland. about
two miles distant, and Hazleton,, about
sees erected and own all the improvements
upon the property, including breakers,
stores, shops and tenement houses.
Take out Doctor Fee.
From the time Of my first connection
with the business In 1880 thore has always
been a resident physician and assistant
with the exception of a short interval. The
firm selected the head physician. WIG
cents a month from the married and 90
cents a month from the single men over
y, and the amount, collected was paid over
TO the physician without charge or deduc-
tion therefor. This arrangement was not
compulsory upon the men or the families.
In the early part Of 1888 my wife employed
at her own expense a trained nurse to look
after the sick and later, when this nurse
retired, another nurse from 81, Luke's hos
AAu IA NOVh hNA RAhNNf Whp 80
Produced the system of district nursing In
the borough of Jeddo and in the neighbour
ing villages.
Stores for the sale of general merchan-
disc and miners supplies have always
been maintained on the property and have
been and are an ACCOMMODATION to the
never been required to deaf there.
BY the terms of the coal leases g. B;
taxes on tho property. The taxes paid by
the coal operators constitute the largest
portion Of the taxes collected In the county.
Sliding Scale of wages.
A sliding scale basis of labor had been
agreed upon In 1875 and had from that time
been generally in force In the Lehigh re-
gIon. In September, 1875, a committee of
mlners presented certain demands to the
firm. An agreement was then In existence
between the company and men to settle
differences by arbitration. The company
replied to the demands and received no
I Wills ON minss cont,nTsd ,t snI
until the latter part of 1900, when John
Mitchell made his headquarters at Halle
ton and endeavored to organize the Mar
In September. 1900, another list of griev-
ances was furnished the firm, the company's
satisfied with the reply the officials would
be willing to arbitrate. The next COM
munieation from the men demanded arbi-
employees reported that the latter had
broken their agreement with the company
Dy SITlklnk DoIOTt InelF BTltNdIlCtS ndu
been submitted to arbitration. Finally, on
October "a, 1900, a committee of the men
appealed to the firm for an adjustment OF
on october 20 work was resumed at the
mines.
Believed Men Satisfied.
Between 1900 and 1902 many requests were
made for the correction of alleged griev-
ances, which were all taken up and consid-
cred n acted upon, but neither individu-
ally nor collectively, orally or in writing.
| did the men make and complaint in refer
ence to the collection OF dues for the doc
tors or OF the prices charged at the store,
nor was attention called to any defect in
respect to ventilation, or unfair treatment
at the store, nor as to the size of the cars,
nor as to slope cleaning. or the docking,
until April, 1902, and We had every reason
to believe that, taken as a whole, the men
were entirely satisfied with the conditions
Of their employment.
complaint was made OF the size OF the cars
but In reality the size of cars has not beer
changed, as will be proved by the testi'
mony OF the builders, who win be produced
1t was also alleged that the docking was
excessive, but the accountant will testify
that II was less than 2 per cent. Objection
was also made that the full 10 per cent ad
vance was not allowed. The manner II
which the advance was computed was re
p~eatedly explained TO the men and Il vii
be shown by the expert accountant that
Referring to the appointment Of the com
mission, Mr.. Markle says:
Notice IL MIsunderAtOod.
AS we had not been parties to the cor
r~espondence under which the anthracite
strike commission was appointed and tn
strike declared OF We were not willing I
a distinct understanding that they woul
abide by the awar to be made by IN
commission. Notice was accordingly poste
that those wishing to secure employment
should call at the office and should brin
with them the brass checks which the
had , When th ,Sat so@. Was tb sOs men O y
jected on the ground that the men shout
be taken back in a body, and the rumo
be required to sign an ironclad agreemen
as a condition of going TO work Many G
tie notices Were torn bo aSwn, p n sbs otsr
end along the line of the roads to prever
the men from coming to the ofice, WheT
they might have defined ne truth an
Meanwhile, l had been informed that n
! same men who had been making troqbl
during the strike were taking a leadin
part In intimidating and threatening any
one coming to the Office and returning
work under the conditions specified.
Tells of EvtetiOns.
Or the morning Of Monday, October 2
1900. l ordered notice to give up possessio
D OF the house TO be served upo twelve me
from resuming work. No attempt was mac
r sa S during the strike and the mott,
Ak2M -
! to quit having been served october z
Judgment in ejectment was entered Noven
: Der 5 and the parties evicted on Novemb'
4 6. 1909.
9 The net earnings OF the evieted men Il
5 the year 1901, according to the statemen
varied from $3.50 to $1,000. Tn answer fu
r Their states that the father Of the b
s Chippie was killed as a result Of his ov
Z negligence. He was not Indebted to Il
Q firm at the time Of his death. His ear
n ings for the six months from February
d July, inclusive. amounted to $3.50. MI
o Chippie paid nothing on account Of rent
coal. Henry Colt, one Of the evieted me
had always received good wages. Mr.. Ma
g kle states. The answer states that his wi
aid not die in consequence OF the evietio
! which occurred November 6. as she liv
until December.
Attached to the answer are several g
hibits, one OF which is a statement sho
ing the earnings Of certain contrl
miners during eleven and one-half mont
y including eleven Of the highest and I'VE
Il - $500 ~ ANgkaaN aan.NaN,. =