The New York herald., 1874-11-27

were COmpeiltu bO ACCcpb OF remain Iult,
said scale OF prices being lower than
miners had ever worked for previous TO the war.
,. Ars1 this monopoly mad been formed, and s, the
operators VINO were willing 10 pay the miner his
former hire were prevented from doing SO on
carrying. or railway, companies which as just
stated were in the ring. For instance the Phila-
delphia and Reading Railroad Company demanded
50 Tor carrying q ton OF coal from Pottsville 10
Philadelphia, distance OF only % miles, AFTER
nve months OF most bitter struggle; IA which which
the miners, over thirty thousand In number, never
committed an outrage nor any act OF personal vio-
lence, resumed work because power compelled
Just and unreasonable terms. Since 1871 the men
have tried hard to their daily bread, subjected
to the hardest and most grinding terms.
TIE panic came. In very short space OF time
It's effects were felt In the coal mines. After
many of the mines ceased working and all OF them
reduced their time. hundreds were thrown out
OF employment whose associations prevented
about marked reduction In wages; but at
The same time the panic raised the price
0l coal; the panic was therefore considered by
the operators as an excuse TO reduce the wages OF
their men, and at the same time an excuse 10 in
crease the price OF coal per ton. during all the
excitement OF the panic the companies stores, at
which all miners were indirectly compelled to
deal. held their goods at their uniform price,
despite the TACT that the panic mad greatly re
duced the wages OF the men. The foreman OF
every NINE was compelled to report eacn night
the amount Of every mans earnings during the
Therefore, from what I have stated above, it
coal regions are not the developments OF any re-
cent circumstances, but the natural and inevitable
issue OF grievances tnat have been accumulating
Wyoming and Lackawanna valleys thousands OF
men are idle; they are not naturally in
to work; they are willing to labor Tor
iair remuneration; 1t Is not their desire
to increase their wages by raising the price OF
coal. They simply ask the opportunity OF sup
porting themselves and their families. AT present
hundreds are out OF work and their families are
now, they soon Will be- Beyond all question this
season will be the most deplorabe the coal re-
of Scranton will find it almost Impossible
to live, without external ala and assistance. The
winter is just opening. thousands OF men are out
OF employment; they have no means to stay where
they are; they have not enough money to remove
themselves and their families elsewhere and they
must live. The citizens OF scranton do not appre-
clate the situation OF the miners nearest them:
They do not consider their poverty, want and
distress. The abode Of the miner is seldom
visited by the operator; but l can state
truly. that unless some extraordinary change
takes place TINS winter-to the thousands OF labor
ing men now out OF work-will be the most terrible
and deploraole this district has ever seen. ! say
this after travelling the valley from one end 10 the
other. after visiting every colery After convers-
ing with all the men and learning their senti-
some thing be done l cannot see now hundreds OF
JAMES o'HALLORAN.
Catholic Clergyman Denies the Exist
ence OF Terrorism and Murder0us
Gangs OF .sMol1y Maguires.'
MAHANoY CITY, Pa, Nov. %, 1874
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In your issue or the goth inst. a correspondent,
writing from this place, gives terrible picture OF
the state OF society in the coal region. The per-
petration OF all the horrible crimes recounted by
your correspondent, Is laid at the door OF the
molly Maguires" who, "snce their denuncia-
W Catholic have necOminQiV de-
termined to perpetrate still more nagitous
crimes in order to terrorize .the communities
where the priests reside ana oficiate." ! have re-
sided and 0fficiated in this town for four years,
and have yet to discover the existence of such a
society, much less a single member OF such an
organization as the molly Maguires.n My congre-
CATION is OF the largest in the county, covering
a large territory, in the very heart OF the coal
region, and just the place where person would
inler from the tone Of your correspondent most
vorabe to the growth or ''Moily Maguirlsm.n On
the contrary. the people peaceaole, intelligent
and law-abiding Daniel Doherty. who is now in
prison, charged with the murder OF CHIEF Burgess
Major, is % classsd by your eorsespopdent d as no
this town Tor the last two years during which
time l met and conversed with him fre-
quenty. l always regarded him as young
man OF sober and orderly character.
l never heard his name mentioned
keeper OF the hotel where Doherty boarded, pub
fishes IN card in the Miners Journal that
UOnerLy was one OI JDe UlOS4luOUenSlVe ana quiet
men that ever stayed in his house, and ne has
kept bOarders q long time. deem 1t my duty to
say so much in defence OF Doherty. whom your
correspondent would have US believe TO be an in
carnate devil.
Tue object OF all this is to keep public opinion
ard Incense the Court against DOherty, whose
trial. am told, Is to come up In q short time. 1t
has also been asserted by your correspondent that
notices of a threatening character have been sent
them to leave. Believe me, there IS no
truth in this Whatever, and that the
whole correspondence Is fabrication or falsehood,
and / would not answer II were 1t not that your
widespread circulation does the people OF this
county a great injustice. IL Is true that have
condemned all secret organizations because !
consider them one OF the great curses of our coun
OF them is better than the other. Free Masons,
Molly Magulres, Odd Fellows ana kindred societies
are all cnips OF the same block. They are all the
enemies OF religion and morality, and in this town
OF these societies are half so bad as dlmnu-
tive Lnputan society called the "Modocs.D These
little fellows Though some oil them are old men)
create considerable trouble by making night hide
GUS, Frightening the people by firing on revoivers
furnished by some OF our good citizens and
paid Tor on time. II your Correspondent had
visited me any other respectable citizen OF the
town or county the NEW YORK HERALD would not
have been deceived. have been pastor or this
congregation Tor years, had charge OF souls In
Philadelphia and sewhere, and must, in JUS
lice, say that the people of Mahanoy City are as
pious and good citizens as ever met with. As TO
the unfortunate riot between our iremen it oc-
Cured through mere child's play, one company
turning the hose on the other. | am yours, with
much respect, G. A. MCFADDEN,
Pastor OF st. Canlces church.