The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-07-09


full statements of the outrageous re-
preston of the Anthracite coal min
ers and the shameless gouging of the
public by the coal operators. The
same is true of the bituminous coal
operators. This story will be inter-
esting to both the miners and con-
sumers of coal. Read it:
SCRANTON, Pa, June "a
Charging that both the general pub
lie and the mine-workers are the vic
tins of unconscionable profiteering
on the part of the coal operators,
Philip Murray, Vice-President of the
United Mine Workers, today filed
with the Presidents Anthracite Coal
Commission, in session here, a de-
mand that the miners in the Pennsyl-
vania anthracite fields be given a
minimum wage of six dollars a day.
eff the excessive profits resulting
from the coal monopoly were elimi-
mated and the industry conducted
with a wholesome regard for the
public welfare" said Mr.. Murray,
"a liberal return could be made to
the capital honestly and prudently
invested, the wages of the anthracite
workers could be increased to Ameri-
can living standards, and the price
of coal to the consumer could be
greatly reduced.
"Under the practical operation of
the coal monopoly since 1898, both
the worker in the mines and the con-
sumner of anthracite coal have been
grievously exploited. Until condi-
lions have been turned to the public
interest, there can be no permanent
hope in the industry either for those
who labor to produce coal or those
who use it for domestic or other pur-
poses"
The miners demands, summarized
are as follows: the establishment of
minimum living wage Of six dol
lars a day for the adult workers; an
| increase of one dollar day to all
day men who receive above the min
imum; increases of 81 per cent or
all contract rates; the extension OF
the S-hour day to those occupations
based on a longer workday, such as
engineers, pumpmen and stablemen;
Standardization of rates of pay fol
the same work throughout the field
and formal recognition of the United
Mine Workers of America.
The present proceedings are the
outgrowth of an extended series OF
conferences between the representa-
tives of the workers and operators
| for the purpose of agreeing on new
wage scale to fill the place of the
one that expired on March 81 this
year. The President appointed 8
commission in Many after conferences
| in New York and Washington haC
proved ineffective. Hearings will be
held in the mine-fields and in Wash
ington until an award, which is de
sired by the President in less thar
sixty days, is formulated.
Mr. Murray, in his opening state
ment, emphasized the fact that the
workers, although in acute economic
distress, have remained at work
throughout the entire dispute, pre-
ferring to suffer Individual hard
ships rather than bring about gen
eral suffering to the public.
"Throughout this period of more
than three months, the representa-
tives of the United Mine Workers
have realized the Importance of con
tinuous production" Mr.. Murray
said. "They have also been keenly
conscious of the far-reaching indus
trial results which would result
from stoppage of work. The con
slant effort, therefore, has been t.
prevent threatened breakdown il
this industry which would undoubt
edly cause general distress to thu
public and be attended by serious
and widespread dislocations in othe
industries which are dependent on tn,
anthracite coal industry We hav,
constantly striven, therefore, even t.
the impairment of our own interests
to prevent any rupture of industrial
peace or any interference with tn,
continuity of production. We believ,
that no men have gone further will
concessions than have we in orde
to reach an agreement and thus pre-
vent industrial warfare and interfer
ence with essential production"
Although contending that an in
crease of 36 per cent in wages is nov
necessary to restore the prewar an
thracite rates of pay, which wer
described as deplorably insufficient
in view of the advance of 104 pc
cent in the cost of living in the Goa
fields since July, 1914, the worker
asked the commission not to con
slider increased living costs as beinl
the only basis of wage-adjustment.
ITO keep wages merely on basi
of living COSTS" said Mr.. Murray,
to perpetuate a make-shift and in
equitable system which permits of n
hope of progress by the mine work
err"
"A new conception of wage stand
El,o- Lao, l.