The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-06-22


MscesSary-Miners IaaU abiding people.
Let Facts be Submitted to Candi,
People.-Declaration Of Independence.
We sought an interview the other da,
with Mr.. Patrick Burke, of Massillon
with view of obtaining some informa
tion about mining and strikes, as we'll a
of the situation of things, and the pros
peCt of a peaceful adjustment of the diff
Culties between coal operators and th
miners. Knowing that Mr.. Burke wa
an experienced and skillful miner-haC
been a most successful prospector-tha
he was the first man to bore and fine
the new coal fields southwest of Massil
lon-the first one found being that nov
known as Clark's bank knowing, too
that Mr.. Burke had an interest in one o.
more banks, and might be considered
rather an operator than a miner, bu
knowing, too, his sympathetic heart haC
induced him to come to the rescue anG
bail some of his fellow miners who were
lately arrested and imprisoned, we con.
cluded we could get from him an unbi.
assed tale
Editor-Mr Burke, good morning. If
you have no objections l would like to get
some information from you as to mining,
strikes, and some of your own history,
with a view to publish in the STARK
COUNTY DEMOCRAT.
Patrick Burke, with enough of the rich
Irish brogue left to be interesting, Ger
tainly, Mr.. MCGregor, if 1 can give you
anything worth putting in your paper
yoT are quite welcome to dos The pa
pers, generally, have misrepresented the
miners, and seem to have got many peo-
pie to think we are all bad and danger
GUS men.
EditOr-How many miners are there,
Mr.. Burke, in the two valleys at PRESENT.
Bltrke-A thousand or twelve hundred
sir, and most of them on strike.
Edit0r-Will you give me sketch of
yourself, place of birth, age, &C.,
Burke-Well, l was born in Ireland,
county Galway, about 36 years ago
came to this country over 13 years ago,
and served a regular apprenticeship in
Pennsylvania for about two years at mi.
ming; learning especially how to drive
entries, which is the important branch
of the business. l came to this county
about eleven years ago. and first worked
in Foltz's slope. Mining business was
small then to what it has been since
Foltzs slope, Clark's shaft, Shriver's
bank and the Furnace bank were the
only ones then in operation only two
of these are now in operation, and they
not much. Miners were then treated
more liberal than they are nowhere
not cheated in weight as they often are
now.a-days-in fact, this cheating in
weight is one great cause of the dissatis-
faction and trouble between miners and
operators,
EditOr-What were you paid per ton at
that time?
B,rke-Eleven years ago we got So a
ton-the price then was put down to
81 80, this led to strikes and to trouble,
but the price came down, and finally got
to $l-about seven years ago. After a
time we got raise of ten cents without
a strike, At this time we had to pay for
coal for our own use $3.50 ton.
Edltor-I have seen, it stated, Mr..
Burke, that miners are thoroughly or
ganized-that they constitute a sort of
secret society, which is dangerous to
those who nay oppose them.
Burke-Most of this is an entire mis-
take-men Of the same occupation have
a common interest, and naturally and
properly consult over their affairs, as
coal operators and people generally do.
When necessary, miners get together to
consult, and as usual in such cases, the
prevailing opinion is submitted to. Mi
ners surely have as good right to con-
suit in this way as other people have.-
The coal operators and railroad compa-
nies work together and keep their own
counsels. Why not the toiling, labori-
ous miners2
EdttOr-The common opinion seems to
be, the miners are always in the fault
And must say to you what have al
ways thought, that strikes are unfortunate
affairs, injurious to miners as class, and
hurtful to general business, disturbing
the regular movement of interests impor-
tant to the general public and to the
world.
Betrke-That is true-strikes ARE bad
things, and no people know it better
than miners and their poor wives and
children. They are the greatest suffer-
ers. But it must be remembered that
miners have rights-that when coal op-
orators combine to cut us down to starv-
ing wages, it is natural we should unite
and consult to protect ourselves. It is
not the miners that get the profits. We
can see and understand this when we
know the fortunes that have been made
by coal operators in a few years, 1t is a
great mistake to suppose that the miners
always cause strikes.
Eiit0r-Undoubtedly, Mr.. Burke, mi
ners have rights-they can accept or re-
ject the terms of their employers, but
when violence takes place, the miners,
as a class, are blamed, and this is one of
the unfortunate features of strikes.
Burke-That is true-and miners feel
the effects of it. As body, miners aret
opposed to all violence. We always ad-
wise obedience to the law, and no miners
in these valleys ever did or would have
resisted the officers of the law. l was
not at the Warrington bank when the |
late disturbance took place there, but l |
know there was no intention on the part |
Of the miners to violate law or have any
disturbance. The whole and sole object
was to interview the green hands, who
were all foreigners, lately come over, and
had been deceived. These men were
working for $l.75 day, and the coal
they took out was costing the operators
probably S. ton. Some $50 miners as
5embled at the Warrington bank on
Good Friday for that purpose, and that
purpose only-that is, to have a fair and
talk with these laboring men,
mostly Germans, and if they consented,
,pnH thnrn hooly tn Hlnynla,I |