Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-15
THE STRIKERS DEFENSE.


THE sTRIK ERg DEFENSE,
The objects and Designs Of the Coal
Burners' Association.
1t is the aim Of the SENTINEL to do ms
tice at all times to all parties, and with
that view we cheerfully give place to the
following communication
EUREKA, August IA, 1879.
EDITOR SENTINEL: knowing that tho
SENTINEL has always been the champion OF
the rights Of the people, / hope you will
not refuse to insert the following statement
Of facts, in justification Of the Coal Burn.
ers' Association :
Although a great deal has been said about
this coal burners strike, still no one has
yet touched the keynote Of the ouestion.
The matter has been ventilated but mar
TALLY, and generally in favor Of the corpo-
rations and contracting middlemen. Onlv
one side of the medal has been exposed n
the unbiased and disinterested public to
judge upon. Rumors are being circulated
to the effect that the furnaces would shut
down, through the cause OF this coal burn-
ers' strike, to prejudice the people aeainst
the most sacred right OF the American peo-
pie, the right Of free labor, free speech.
freedom Of public meetings, unions. orders
or societies, but with great care hushine
the real motives that may justify a tempo.
rary suspension Of our furnaoea. Not even
the slightest hint has been thrown TO the
judicious public to demonstrate the wrong
treatment these poor coal burners have
been subjected to through their contract
ors, who have grown fat and opulept.
generally at the expense Of the poor produce
ers, while these latter are left in the most
dire destitution, aud driven to despair to a
degree that but two alternatives are left to
them, either to starve to death, or to rise
against monopoly, their oppressor land
although 1t L. to be regretted) by q natural
instinct Of nature and law of self preserva-
ton. They have chosen the latter, and
though this strike has been going On for q
month, yet no lives have been taken or
threatened. nor any property destroyed by
the consent, will or knowledge Of the main
body OF the association,
The burners main object Is not 80 much
the question Of the thirty cents, as it is the
Of all further contracts and con-
tractors. There is no harm in that, and il
everything is well meaning and bona fide
on the other side, why don't they grant the
burners their rightful demands. join the
ohion eud otiihc kOk lltinH RAtCct OuT-
ing the last two or three years the greatest
to themselves the arbitrary right Of even
denying the burners the sight Of their coal
receipts, contrary to the Just and fair GUS
tom Of former days, when thines we're oeA.
Quoted In . more satisfactory way for either
party; but now they insolently answer,
"When you have your grocery bill paid
then we will settle up business p Mean
while the burner works on, for months and
years, and when this settlement comes, in
nine cases out Of ten. the poor burner in
for his hardship. toll and privations
ali KINGS, has shs pleasure Of knowing
his contractor (who is generally also
his DEALER that he is yet indebted to him.
Is it q wonder, then, if these poor victims
Of monopoly, driven TO the wall by despair,
at last gather up the few good impulses
lefE them by nature. and spuIred by 4 fam.
ished stomach, rise. demanding q change
in the order Of things, and an ameliora-
ton OF their condition? Let the public
judge. Let the people draw Q parallel Of
the situation Of the contractor, who got
rich at easy work, and the miserable, pitt
full state OF the poor toiler Of the forest
Why, these yety snntrsstors ars TO Q great
coal producers themselves, but, be-
ing Of a very charitable disposition and
TO prodigality, they don't want to
join the Union. They prefer taking TWEEN
ty-six cents for coal instead OF thirty cents.
They would rather donate the extra four
cents to enrich the wealthy stockholders of
the companies. OF coprsa il Wouldn't 90
10 join the association whose main bylaw
reads ssWe want to abolish all further
contracts" That's what keeps them of.
There is more In 1t by staying out-in
words. by managing or monopo-
lizing the coal Of the outsiders in the way
have heretofore. These facts ought
TO be criterion enough 70 revesl the whole
business. fhis row and trouble about
Alpha has been kicked up and mpgnifed
to an exaggerated, gigantid proportion in
order to arouse the public indignation
and have a strong force sent there that
scare the harmless bands. carrying
their point at the expense OF the State. Here
make believe BY their assumed tsrsi.
ned looks that an army pf lawless rebels
and revolutionary men worse than o bar
barrie invasion) threaten destruction at Al
pha and all around. while people coming
there know nothing about II, ana
have TO come 10 Eureka to be informed OF
that fact.
Enough, gentlemen /; throw down your
mask, be fair and just, and in stonemept
for the past be at least humane In time to
come. And since you have been made rich
by these poor workers, don't try to raise
p~rejudices or talk Of sending an army with
guns, bullets, ety.; bat 1t better becomes
your duty to send an army Of cheese and
maccaroni to quench the hunger Of these
poor, famished, desperate wretches, who
are really more hungry than ilEalsposed.
RIpIrAq