The Rock Island Argus., 1884-12-16
THE CASE OF THE GOLFERS.
What a Hooking Valley Miner Says OF tbs
Situation.

CHICAGO, Dee 16.-Neal McGasben,
miner from the Hockin Valley, was present
at the meeting of tie committee for the re-
lief of the Hooking Valley miners Sunday.
and explained the entire situation. The
miners of the valley, he said, had sent him
90 Chicago for two purposes-to raise funds
and to correct the false reports sent out
by newspaper reporters who were
bribed by the syndicate. The troubles
had not materially changed for months
To accept the terms of the syndicate meant
starvation, and the miners had concluded
that they might as well starve outside tha
mines as in them There were 1900 miners
without work, which would make about l5,
900 men, women, and children in need of as
sistance. Mr.. Rena had filed his mines with
all the men that could possibly be enl-
pioyed, and those employed contributed
toward the support of those ont of work.
! Tho syndicate was handicapped, not being
able TO getoHe-tenth OF the men they desired,
and being compelled to furnish twenty
guards for every 100 men employed, in order
that the latter mig .rht not be influenced by
the strikers. IN years past the miners and
owners bad always agreed once in year on
a scale OF prices. Last year it was 20 cents
per ton during the summer months and
50 cents tor the winter. At the last
convention of lie miners at Columbus they
| resolved rot u a * T-r more wages during
| the remainder 81 tAc year. This was a re-
duct.on If II ce@t' per ton. The syndi-
cate was not satisfied with this and at once
demanded n fuTtIer reduction of 20 cent
| more, ca - c2lits, giving the men only
| thre0 day H2ti29, and afterward All
| noGEcei ttat tAey wuuld pay but 50 cents peg
| ton, reduction III 80 cents per ton. All
| nline-OHIcE5 N the state outside of the
| syndicate win II ,Iy paid 40 cents, and there
| were several il lEe syndicate who favored
| the payment 81 tlnt sum and ending the
| difficulty. Al 70 cents per ton the wages Of
miners amounted - only SIS per month on
| the average, as they were compelled to be
idle much of The time Sometimes the men
earned SO per month part of the year, but
| the year rounI gave an average OF but
| $2S. The Inost daunabIe feature Of tie
trouble, Mr., McGashen said, was the puck
me" stores owned by the syndicate. Tie
miner who failed to take more than half OF
| his wages from these store, We're discharged
notwithstanding the fact that they char. cd
| twicas as much as other stores III, syn IL
cate also compelled every man to SIGN an
iron clad oath not to belong to any ira les
union. What the miners most needed was
clothing -caSt-otf clothing or anything that
! would protect the women and children fr,,tl
the cold. The syndicate was moving heaves,
and earth to bring the strikers to their term
but they would be unsuccessful il aSsistan,.,
was rendered the suffering families Of TIE
men.
McAshen also addressed the Socialists and
at the conclusion Of his remarks several
Socialists urged the delegate to take honl
plenty of dynamite and blow into eternit,
the syndicate, the Pinkerton guards and
special patrol AMI resolutions were unani-
mou ly adopted in favor of general armino
of wori;inglnen to enforce their ideas at tn.
| ,,r,n...l. nf fira rIEa