The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29
TERMS PER YEAR:
WEDNESDAY. MAY %.
A Loud CAN on Humanity.

We print elsewhere an interview with
two representatives OF the Clay county coal
miners, who are in the city endeavoring
20 obtain some assistance for them. Sew
enteen hundred of these men are now in
idleness, because of their refusal to sub
NIT 10 reduction in wages. Under the
old scale they received from 90 cents to
Sl.10 per ton, and even at these wages,
not being able TO work full time, their
earnings for the last year or two have
been scarcely sufficient to maintain life.
The operators now refuse to pay more
than 20 cents per ton, which means that
the miners and their families shall 90 to
bed hungry every night. The miners
have offered to submit the matter TO
arbitration. but the operators refuse to
agree to this. Under the circumstances
there is nothing for the miners but idle
ness. which is likely to be prolonged for
months.
The owners of the Clay county coal
mines have made independent fortunes
out of them. Nearly all of them live in
luxury and splendor in Chicago. The
officers of their companies are paid mag
nifcent salaries-at least, they have been,
and if there has been any recent reduc-
ton in these salaries the public has not
been advised of the fact Now that the coal
trade is dull. and the handsome profits of
former years can no longer be realized Ia
the rate of wages heretofore current),
these favored children of fortune insist
that the miners shall shoulder the whole
burden, OF as much OF it as they can carry
end exist
Public opinion ought to come heart
lily to the support of these Clay
county miners in their unequal
struggle with greedy capital. We have
said, and say again, that these men should
not be asked 10 accept a reduction OF
single penny in their already meager
wages, until the salaries of the mining
officials have been largely reduced and
the dividend margin wiped out. In pros
porous years the operators make money
freely they can afford to do business in
dull seasons. il not at an actual loss GER
tsinly without profit, if It is necessary, in
order to keep their employees and their
i3nlleS nom want. Ibis may hot De III
the spirit of political economy, with its
laws of supply and demand, its wages
fund and its every man for himself and
the devil take the hindmost' maxims.
But it is in accord with the teach
ings of something better and higher and
nobler than political economy-the
religion of JESUS CHRIST. And the time
viii comet is coming fast-when the
man who demands that his brother shall
toll for beggar's pittance in order that
himself may wax great with this world 5
goods will be held infamous by the world.
But Just now starvation stares these
miners-their wives and little ones-in the
face. Their circumstances make a loud
call upon the humanity, the charity, the
sense of justice OF the well-to-do peo-
pie of this city and state The
appeals in their behalf ought to meet with
q generous response. THE SENTINEL will
undertake TO forward promptly to the
miners any contributions which may be
sent to this office for them, and all such
contributions viii be acknowledged IN
these columns. Or those who prefer. may
make their remittances direct to !. A.
CRoUsE, secretary of the miners organi-
cation. Hoosierville, Clay county, Indiana.
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