The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-05
MARKLE TELLS HIS
SIDE OF STORY OF
EvICTIONS
Makes Out Good Case, and
Leaves the Impression That
the Miners Are at Fault in
Every Respect-Lenienti in
Collection Of Rent for
Shacks.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Jan. 4.-The
answer of G. B. Markle &, Co, indie
pendent coal operators, to the demands
of the miners was made public here
today, The answer will be submitted
to the anthracite strike commission
which reassembles in this city tomor-
row. 1t was written by John Markle,
managing partner of the firm.
The statement is, in part, as fol-
lows:
1.-The firm employees about 2,4O0 men
and many Of its employees reside in the
village of F'reeland, about two miles
distant, and Hazleton, about seven
miles distant from Jeddo. The Iessees
erected and own all the Improvements
upon the property including breakers,
stores, shops and tenement houses.
From the time of my first connec-
ton with the business, in 1880, there
have always been q resident physician
and assistant physicians upon the
property, until recently, with the ex-
ception of a short interval. The firm
selected the head physician, who chose
his assistants, and we collected rs
cents month for the married men and
80 cents month for the single men
over twenty-One, and the amount col
lected was paid over to the physician
This arrangement was not compulsory
upon the men or families.
"Pluck Me" Stores.
''Stores for the sale of general mer-
chandise and of miners supplies have
always been maintained upon the prop
erty, and have been and are an ac-
commodatiOn to the men and their
families. The men have never been
required to deal there"
Continuing, the answer says a slid
ing scale basis of labor had been
agreed upon in 1875 and had from that
time been generally in force in the
Lehigh region. Work at the mines
continued uninterrupted until the lat
ter part of 1900, when John Mitchell
made his headquarters at Hazleton and
endeavored to organize the Markle en-
ployes.
In September, 1900, another list of
grievances was furnished the firm, the
company's answer being that if the
men were not satisfied with the reply
the officers would be willing to arbi-
trate. The next communication from
the men demanded arbitration, but the
committee selected by the employees
reported that the latter had broken
their agreement with the company by
striking before their grievances had
been submitted 70 arbitration.
Finally, on Oct. q, 1900, committee
of the men appealed to the firm for an
adjustment of the differences. This
was accomplished and on Oct. 80 work
was resumed at the mines.
Everything Was Lovely.
The answer further states:
Between 1900 and 1902 many requests
We're made for the correction Of alleged
grievances, which were all taken UP and
considered and acted upon; but neither
individually nor collectively orally or in
in reference to the method of collecting
the dues for the doctors or the prizes;
respect to ventilation, or unfair treatment
at the store, nor as to the size of the
cars, nor as to the 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 condition of their employment.
Scranton complaint was made of the size
Of The cars. but in reality the size has
not been changed as will be proved by
be produced. 1t was also alleged that
the docking was excessive, but the ac-
cOuntant will testify that it was less than
z per cent Objection was also made that
the full 1G per cent advance was not
given. The manner in which the advance
to the men, and it will be shown by the
expert accountant that it was correctly
calculated"
Eviction Begun.
''When the strike was declared off. no.
tice was posted that those wishing to
secure employment should call at the Of
fee and bring with them the brass
checks which they had. When this no.
some Of the men objected. upon thu
ground that the men should be taken
back in q body, and the rumor was
started to the effect that they would be
required to sign an ironclad agreement as
a condition Of going to work. Many of the
notices were torn down. pickets were
ST Il in no iuhh Of fIo q
flee and along the lines of road, to pre-
vent the men from coming to the office,
whore they might have learned the
truth and arranged for a resumption Of
work.
Meanwhile, I had been Informed that
the same men who had been making trou-
Bile during the strike were taking a lead
ing part in itimidatirg and thrt atening
anyone coming to the office and returning
to work under the conditions specified.
On the morning of Monday, Oct. q, 1902,
l ordered notice to give up possession Of
the house to be served upon twelve men
who had been active in preventing the
meT from resuming work. No attempt
was made to collect the arrears Of rent
which had accrued during the strike, and
Oct. 27, judgment in ejectment was err
tered Nov. 5, and the parties evicted on
Nov. 6, 1902"
Earnings of EVicted Men.
The net earning of the evicted men for
the year 1901 according to the statement
varied from $500 to $1,000: The answer
further states that the father Of the boy
Chippie was killed as q result of his own
negligence. He was not indebted to the
firm at the time of his death. His earn
mgS for the previous six months from
February to July, inclusive, amounted to
$3.50. Mrs. Chippie paid nothing on ac-
Henry Coli, one Of the evicted men.
had always received good wages, Mr..
Markle states. Tho answer asserts that
his wife did not die in consequence of
the eviction which occurred No. g. and
she lived until December.
Attached to the answer are several ex-
hibits, one Of which Is a statement show
ing the earnings Of certain contract min
ers during the eleven and one-haR
months including eleven of the highest
earners and five Of the lowest, the high
est receiving $4,000 and the lowest $4C0.
SOCIETY NOTES.