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 MarkIe,
| managing partner of the firm.
The statement is, in part, as fol-
lows:
The firm employees about 2,4O0 men
and many Of its employees reside in the
village of Freeland, 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
nave always been resident physician
and assistant physicians upon the
property, until recently, with the ex-
ception of short interval. The firm
selected the head physician, who chose
his assistants, and we collected IS
cents a month for the married men and
so cents a month for the single men
over twenty-one, and the amount col
Iected was paid over to the physician
without charge or deduction therefor.
This arrangement was not compulsory
upon the men or families.
"PIuck-Me" Stores.
Stores for the sale of general mer-
cbandise and of miners supplies have
always been maintained upon the prop
erty, and have been and are an &C
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-
pIoyes.
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 10 arbitration.
Finally, on Oct. 81, 1900, committee
of the men appealed to the firm for an
adjustment of the differences. This
was accomplished and on Oct. 20 work
was resumed at the mines.
Everything Was Lovely.
The answer further states:
Between 1900 and 1902 many requests
were made for the correction of alleged
grievances, which were ali taken up and
considered and acted upon; but neither
individually nor collectively orally or in
writing did the men make any complaint
rGfprAnpp n hn Of
the dues for the doctors or the prizes;
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 the slope cleaning or the
docking, until April, 1902, and we mad
every reason to believe that, taken as a
whole. the men were entirely satisfied
with the condition of their employment.
: In the course of the hearings at
Of The cars. but in reality the size has
not been changed, as will be proved by
the testimony Of the builders who will
be produced. 1t was also alleged that
the docking was excessive, but the ac-
countant will testify that it was less than
2 per cent. Objection was also made that
the fun 1G per cent advance was not
given. The manner in which the advance
was computed was repeatedly explained
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 cali at the Of
ice and bring with them the brass
checks which they had. When this no
tice was posted we were informed that
ground that the men should be taken
back in body, and the rumor was
started to the effect that they would be
required to sign an ironclad agreement as
condition of going to work. Many of the
notices were torn down, pickets were
stationed in the neighborhood of the Of
the lines fO
vent the men from coming to the office,
whore they might have learned the
work.
Meanwhile, I had been informed that
the same men who had been making trou-
bic 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
ordered notice to give up possession OF
the house to be served upon twelve men
VINO had been active in preventing the
meE from resuming work. No attempt
was made to collect the arrears Of rent
Which had accrued during the strike, and
the notice to quit having been served
Oct. q, judgment in ejeetment was err
tered Nov 5, and the parties evicted ON
Nov. s, 1902
Earnings Of Evicted Men.
The net earning of the evicted men for
the year 1901, according to the statement
varied from $3.50 to $1,000. The answer
ote1ICo tAieII tiiO Adt1iCt VI Il6 OOy
Chippie was killed as q result of his own
negligence He was not indebted to the
mgs for the previous six months from
February to July, inclusive, amounted to
$3.50. Mrs. Chippie paid nothing on ac-
count of rent or coal.
Henry Coll, one Of the evicted men,
had always received good wages Mr..
Markle states. Th3 answer asserts that
his wife did not die in consequence OF
the eviction, which occurred No. s, 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-haIf
months, including eleven Of the highest
earners and five of the lowest, the high
est receiving $4,000 and the lowest $4C0
SOCIETY NOTES.