The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-08-11

I six cents per ton for run of mines coal and in many cases seven and even ten cents per ton advances has been granted this year.
 Reasons for Advance.
 In summarizing our argument. We ask that you decide that an advance of five cents per ton for mining coal be granted for the following reasons: l. Since the minimum base for mining coal was fixed at 10 cents per ton, the selling price of steam coal has advanced 50 to 50 cents per ton and the mining rate has advanced but 15 cents per ton
 2 Since 1897 the selling price of Iron has advanced 116 2-S per cent and the min ing rate only 46 0-s per cent. 3. The mining rate in other coal produc- Ing states has advanced over 70 per cent. while in Alabama it has advanced but 46 2-3 per cent.
 1. The large profits on the investments of the operators of Alabama will justify thom paying an advance of five cents per ton for mining.
 5. The present conditions of the iron steel and coal industry warrants an in- crease in the mining rate of at least five cents per ton.
 6. The ability of those engaged in the iron and steel business to regulate the selling price should be taken into con sideration.
 | The organizing of associations of oper- ators and the concentra tion of coal prop critics during the past five years warrant the belief that the operators are well able to regulate the selling price of coal within reasonable limits.
 8. The cost of living has increased at least 40 per cent as compared with the year 1897.
 A comparison of the wages paid day Ia in n1 of states above enumerated with the wages paid day labor in the state of Alabama will convince any one that the Alabama day wage scale is much lower than that paid In states where mining and market conditions are not more favorable than in this state The day wage scale in and around the mines should be advanced even on an eight-hour basis.
 The claim is advanced by some opera tors that the standard of day labor in ths state is not as high as in other min ing states. To that argument we desire to say that if the operators of Alabama expect to secure day labor Of high standard of efficiency they must pay their employees higher wages, and agree to let them work less hours per day.
 The United Mine Workers organization endeavors to establish n uniform stand | ard of wages for all classes of labor in
  tempt to keep inefficient men in certain positions.
 The Eight-Hour Day.
 That eight hours shall constitute days work"
 This demand on our part is so con- sistent with the tendency of the times that 1t should be granted by the opera tors without single objection.
 Man is 90 constituted that his physical and mental strength will only permit him to work a certain number of hours every | day. If he is required to exceed his phy- sical or mental capacity one day he Is not in proper condition to perform reasonable amount of labor the following day.
 It is a self-evfient fact to those who study our industrial system that the adoption of an eight-hour work day is not restraint of trade as claimed by | some operators.
 When the mine workers and operators | of Pennsylvania. Ohio Indiana and Illi- | nois met in Chicago in the year 1893 and | decided to establish an eight-hour work | day. it was claimed by several operators | that an eight-hour day would so limit pro- duction that 1t would bankrupt them and | drive them out of business. No one has | ever heard of one of those operators going |
  from a ten to an eight-hour work day.
 As proven by reliable statistics. the facts are that In the mining states where the eight-hour day has been established the i production and output of coal has increas- ed 4L per cent per man under the eight | hour system as compared with the ten | hour system In the mining Industry.
 Under an eight-hour system the man | is not required to remain so long under ] ground and inhale the impurities which | affect his health and his ability to con tinue working a long number of hours l with the same energy and ability that l he would less number of hours This Is one very strong reason for the increased production of coal per man under an eight hour system as aginst a ten-hour system
 Result of Eigh-Hour Work.
 In many of the mining states where the eight-hour day is established, the oper- ators were so thoroughly convinced that their employees, under the eight-hour sys tenn performed greater amount of labor per hour than under the ten-hour system, that they, the operators. voluntarily paid their employees a premium of 10 cents per day on the regular scale of wages for eight hours work. We firmly believe that the same results will obtain under an eight-hour day when established in Alabama The Alabama operators claim that their employees will not work regularly when required. The reason for this Is the long hours that they are required to be in the mines. Give the Alabama mine workers an eight-hour day and they will be much more prompt and regular reporting for work The following coal-producing states and districts, representing an annual produc- ton Of over 120000.000 tons of coal. have in force at their mines an eight-hour work day: Arkansas. Kansas Illinois, Ohio Michi- gan. Indian Territory. Missouri. Iowa, Indiana. part of Kentucky. the western and central districts of Pennsylvania. hEvan West Virginia is in line of prouress