Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1903 — GAIN FOR THE MINERS [ARTICLE]

GAIN FOR THE MINERS

STRIKE COMMISSION GIVES RESULT OF ITS INQUIRY. While Labor Leader* Are Commended for Their Attitude, Rioting and Boycott Are Denounced in Stronu Terms —Union la Not Recognized. Although declaring the anthracite er al miners entitled to the increase in pay for. which they fought, the Btrike commission ’selected by President Roosevelt, in its report gives no formal recognition to the union and has some harsh things to say regarding the lawlessness that marked the recent struggle. The Individual men are blamed for crime* committed during the strike, but the commission exonerates the president of the union and the natiohal lender* of any responsibility and declares they did all possible to maintain peace. Complaints against the militia and special guards are held to prove the bad intent of those objecting, as peacefully inclined meu should not oppose the presence of officers of the law. la brief, the commission recommends a general increase of wages, amounting in most instances to 10 per cent. Some decrease of time. The settlement of all disputes by arbitration. Fixes a minimum wage and a sliding •cal*. Provides against discrimination of persons by either the mine owners or the miners on account of membership or non-membership in a labor union. Provides that the awards ..made shall continue in force until March 31, 1900. The increase in wnges where based on the sliding scale will in some instances amount to as much as 20 per cent, especially if the present prices of coal are maintained. Social conditions in the mine region are declared good, and it is stated that the average pay will compare favorably with that in other lines of work of the same grade. Touching the question of discrimination, lawlessness, boycotting and blacklisting, the commissioners state

that during the continuance of the late •trike disorder and lawlessness existed to some extent over the whole region and throughout the whole period. President Mitchell and his immediate chief* of the miners’ union are held officially blameless for violence, actual and threatened, in the anthracite regions, but a strong rebuke i* administered to those persons who resented the presence of the militia called out by Gov. Stone of Pennsylvania to protect the collieries. It appears that all th« concessions made ara clear gains to the miners, the operators having conceded nothing and havjng denied the right of the commission to inquire into their contractual relations with the miners. According to the labor leaders they flatly refused to arbitrate. According to the miners’ counsel all the awards made by the commission represent net gains to the miners, although it is admitted that Presidont Baer offered at one time to fix the minimum wage scale on the basis of $5 coal. The commission fixed this basis at $4.50. Better Wattes and Shorter Honrs,

Under the commission’s awards miners not working by the day, month or year will be granted an advance in wages of 10 per cent and minors working by the day, month or year will be granted a nine-hour Instead of a ten-hour day. The wages of the former class, it Is figured, will be advanced 12% per cent, ns they, too, have been granted a nine-hour instead of a ten hour day. 'Firemen and engineers under the decision of the Gray commission are given an eight-hour Instead of a twelve hour day and the wnges of some of these employes have been advanced. In addition to a general advance of 10 per cent in most instances and a decrease in working hours the commission recommends the settlement of all disputes by arbitration and provides a minimum wage with a sliding scale. Provision is also made against discrimination of persons either by mine owners or miners on account of membership or nonmembership in a labor union, and it is provided thnt the awards of the commission shall be in force until March ill, 1906. The miners having worked 120 days since Nov. 1, 1002, it is estimated that back pay due them will reach nearly $3,000,000 and that advanced wages will amount approximately to $8,000,000 a year. The commission in no instance met the full desnands of the miners, but the •wards made are considered liberal, in view of the bitterness of the strike controversy. Ths commission also favored tbs miners by recommending the withdrawal of tha coal and iron police and a modification of ths child labor law in fn« of ths miner*.