The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-26
THE GOVERNOR ASKS AID
FOR THE SUFFERING MINERS OF CLAY
Some Wonderful Figures and the Way in
Which They Were Produced-An At
tack Oh Dir. McCulloch-The Best
Distribution Yet Made.

DhAIi1S june 10 oDcNldI. AHO oieiO.o
from this point published in to-day's Indianap-
oils Journal is simply infamous. Not only
does it attempt to malign the Rev. o. c. Nc
Culloch and others who have taken the care to
investigate the situation here and tell what
they and learned, but it basely attempts to
mislead the public by printing payroll which
represents the largest earnings made during
any two weeks of last year by any mine in this
district in order TO convey the impression that
that is a specimen of the wages made by the
miners of Clay.
To begin with, it may be well to say who the
Journal correspondent here is. He is the same
who wrote the articles printed in the Journal
two or three weeks ago over the signature
of Fab" They bristled with misstatements
and receptions, some of which were fully
shown up by THE SENTINEL. He was afraid to
personally assume the responsibility for them,
and hence tried to hide his identity under a
pseudonym, but indignant friends of the
miners traced the letters to him. Now,
however, he has grown more bold, and
at the same time more Ubiquitous. Two
facts must be borne in mind in con-
sidering what he says. In the first place, he
has to conform 10 the Journals position in this
matter, and in the second place, he is hireling
of the operators. He does not want to be taIr,
but if ne did it would be impossible for him to
give just statement of the situation. He has
so incensed the striE ers-who, unfortunately,
are not always anxious to preserve peace and
order-that his life would be unsafe If he at
tempted to investigate the situation In the
mining district
But as to the figures in this mornings Jour
nal: He gives the payroll for Crawford &
Co.'s miners for the two weeks extending from
Oct. to Oct 20 last and is enough of a liar to
leave the impression that that represents the
pay for work actually performed in two weeks
time. One miner is charged with making
$10S.06, or S5i.03 per week. 1e gods! Such a
thing has never occurred in Clay county. The
matter of fact is that the two weeks pay re-
ferred to by the Indianapolis HonOpOtite repre-
sents perhaps two or three times that am punt
of labor, and is also selected from the latest
period of the year and from one of the most
prosperous miners. Ii Crawford & Co. wanted
to show up the earnings of their mine employees,
why in the name of heaven didn't they print
the payroll for the entire year, or
even for six or three consecutive
months? They did not dare do it; they could
not be hired to do il. Yet they would come be-
fore the people with this sort OF deception.
and through a paid correspondent seek TO con-
vey the impression that miners in CLAW county
were making so per week. Does not this sort
of action convince the people of the state that
the operators-or some OF them, Mt least-are
msrepresenting affairs? VIII it not react upon
them when the falSity Of 1t appears-as it read
lily should.
The quoted payroll makes the net earnings
OF each miner S2I0i, or $3.50 per week; but it
denotes the miners by numbers, and in many
cases these numbers represent not one miner
only but miner and one or two assistants
generally his sons, who may range in age
from twelve 20 fifteen years. and who's
earnings are likely to equal his own. 1t is
entirely probable. therefore, that where the
figures are made to say total number of
miners, 120" they should say. at least $50,
which would reduce the weekly average TO
$1,000 In addition to this fact il appears from
the payroll thai but nine OF the 40 miners
were "dockedp for powder. Now powder has
to be bought once a month and therefore there
was unfairness In the statement on that
account
But if Crawford & Co., or any other of the
operators, really want to show how rich the
miners have been getting, let them publish the
payroll for the entire year, or for the last two
years. Then the public will take heed to
them.
The semi.weekly distribution of provisions
occurred from the various points to-day. 1t
was by far the most liberal yet made, and
averaged II cents worth per head. Twelve
cents for a half week is not, however, very
"high livin'."
At the suggestion of o. c. McCulloch, the
state board of charities is interesting itself IN
the strike and will make an effort to adjust the
differences between the operators and en-
ployes. Ii has been waiting for the governor
decision in regard to the proclamation and it
will now proceed TO take some action. Mr..
McCulloch stated last night that if both opera
tors and strikers would display a disposition to
adjust matters the committee would offer its
services and probably make visit to Brazil,
accompanied by its secretary, Mr.. johnson.
Gov. Hovey says THE SENTINEL did him an
injustice in stating that the letter from the
commissioners reached him Tuesday afternoon.
1t did not reach him. he says, until Wednesday
morning The letter was mailed by the COM
missioners Tuesday noOn and but for the inef'
fcient postal service the governor would have
had it at the time indicated by THE SETINEL.