The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-07-19
MINE LEADERS TELL
WHAT WORKERS NEED
IN HARD COAL FIELD
(Ry Associated Pressl


SCRANTON, Pa. July 19.-In argu-
ing for the mine workers before the
anthracite mine commission here to-
day, Philip Murray, vice president of
the union, declared the outstanding
development OF the hearings which
are drawing to close Is the estab-
llshment for all time in this industry
or the principle of the living wage.
The operators have declared re-
peatedly their acceptance Of this prin-
ciple and their purpose to adhere to 1t
and have stated that the sole point of
difference with us is one of fact. as
to what constitutes living wage and
how it should be determined" Mr..
Murray continued.
Analyses Statement
1T was not until the cross examin-
alton that we secured from the operat-
ors the amazing statement that a
mine worker can live and support a
family on American standards on a
wage of S3.34 per day. That is their
translationof the principle of the liv-
ing wage into concrete figures; that is
their measure of the worth OF a man
under present day conditions. Mr.
Huber's 1884 per day, plus Mr.. War
J riner's cows and chickens, fresh air
| and beautiful scenery, furnished us by
the operators without price to us and
without cost to themselves, comprise
! the sum total of their contribution to
the information Of the commission as
| to how to determine and what to fix
as a living wage for 1000 workers.
Our demands have been met by the
| operators with the contention that
they are now paying us a living wage.
and with the further declaration that
if there should be any wage increase
it would mean an advance in the price
of anthracite to the consumer.
Encounter Opposition
when we sought to demonstrat to
by an inquiry into the monopolistic
domination of the industry and its alb
normally large earnings. direct and in
direct, that our Just wage demands
could be met and be absorbed by tho
operators out of their profits without
an increase in the price Of coal to the
consumer, we encountered a technical
objection from the operators, who
raised the question as to the jurisdic-
ton of the commission to go into mat
! ters of costs, prices, profits and
monopoly.
1--WE submit that we have estab-
lished beyond contradiction the fol-
lowing points:
81. Anthracite workers are not now
receiving living wige.
"2. A living wage in this industry
would be largely in excess of the
maximum earnings which the oper-
ators show in their own table.
Our demand for a minimum age
of SIS per day. with differentials, is
reasonable and conservative.
Therefore, we contend that we
have earned the Judgment of this
commission for our full wage de
mands on our submission in this
phase of the case"
On the question of union recogni-
ton. Mr.. Murray said:
There can be no real industrial
peace or accelerated production in the
anthracite industry until the United
Mine Workers of America are given a
full and complete recognition of their
union. This is no threat. 1t is mere
ly the statement of a fact. It cannot
have, nor does it claim to have. the
influence over the great body of mine
workers which it should have until
the operators accord it complete rec.
ignition"