The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-19

cent. IN the wages of a large body of men
In one OF the most important industrial
sections OF the state, its effects upon the men
who had accepted the republican view of the
tariff with some doubt but had voted in &C
cordance Herewith, must be very great, for it
would Immediately recall all the bright prom
ises of good wages and plenty of work, which
were heard so often from the republican plat
form last summer, and read from day TO DAY IN
the columns of the Journal. How TO counter
act such an influence was a problem that both
cred the editor, but the possibility OF rghung
its damaging influence naturally suggested
ITSELF and it is upon this line that the battle is
being waged by the journal. Without attempt
ing any investigation to speak OF into the con-
dtion of the strikers. it continues to dwell upon
the questions at issue between operators and
miners. which became public six weeks ago,
and then seeks to divert public attention by
few chapters on politics, which is associated by
a very imaginative thread with the question OF
the strike"
This gentleman has undoubtedly estimated
matters as they really are. So far as concern
ing its accounts of the condition of the strikers,
they have been imperfect and unfair. Instead
of calling attention to the hundreds of cases
of privation-some of them distressing in the
extreme-they have depicted the condition of
the minority, Who by thrift aud economy had
become self-sustaining and we're breasting the
present trouble without serious inconvenience.
In its representations of the questions at
issue between miners and operators II has,
without serious inconvenience to its main pur-
pose, given both sides of the story, although
the coloring is wholly in favor of the employ
ers. The latter are all saying that the Journal
has given a fair and impartial view of the situ-
atlon-whlch OF course means that IL is the
operators view, Indeed the allegation is made
that the correspondents articles were submit
ted to the inspection OF one or two of the oper-
ators here before they were sent TO Indisnapo-
lis, but do not vouch for that. The suspicion
seems more reasonable, however, that the ar
ticle In yesterdays paper was more or less in
spired by the gentlemen who visited Gov
Hovey or the previous day, inasmuch as the
papers correspondent left here Tuesday after
noon.
But as 70 the political side of the story: Just
how the Journal connects it with the strike
does not seem clear. 1t drags in the names of
Senator voorhees,, ex-Gov. Gray, state Senator
Byrd and State Mine Inspector McQuaid, and
in some ineKplcable way attempts to hold
them responsible for the strike. Whether it
means these gentlemen visited the mines and
lnsugated IT. or by personal subscriptions
or otherwise have helped maintain it. does not
seem clear. If the latter, 1t amounts to con-
domination of the miners for not going back TO
work for If those who subscribed to support
them are TO be condemned, surely they them
selves come under a severer criticism. The
abuse OF these prominent democrats is not sur
prising but in so far as it attempts to hold them
responsible for the strike it is amusing. 1t at
one time attributes Senator Byrd's interest in
the strikers to desire to run for congress, and
the next day raises it to governor. Ii also gets
mixed concerning Mr. McQuaid, and SAYS he
wants to be both sheriff and auditor although
he now has a good Office in which he is likely
to be retained, The only true statement made
about either of these gentlemen is that they
have personally exerted themselves in behalf
of the strikers. Senator Byrd has always been
a pronounced advocate of the workingmen's
cause, and his speeches in their behalf in the
legislature are well remembered. Yet, when
he says good word for them during a strike
brought on by an aggravating and hesvy re-
duction of wages, he is accused of demagogy.
Two weeks ago, when the soliciting committee
of miners was in Indianapolis, it wrote to Mr..
McQuaid, asking him to send some one TO In
dianapolis on the following Friday to
attend meeting of citizens and ex-
plain the situation in Clay. Mr.. McQuaid, who
is represented as at daggers' points with Sena-
tor Byrd, went to the latter and asked him to
make the trip. He replied that he would see
II he could do so, and would let the inspector
know. The latter so informed the committee
at indianapolis, which proceeded TO advertise
Senator Byrd as speaker at such meeting. The
senator, in the meanwhile, found his legal busi-
ness would prevent, and he informed Mr.. Nc
Quad he could not 20 to indianapolis, but
day or so later, when the Indianapolis papers
came out announcing him as a speaker he
thought he had better go, even to the detriment
of his business and he did go-for which he is
roundly abused by the republican organ at
the state capital.
As for Mr.. McQuaid, a man who has worked
in the mines the greater part of his life, it is
natural that he should sympathize with the
strikers, and to attribute bese motives to him
for doing so is the extremity of political re-
source. He has brothers and other relatives
working in the mines in this community, and it
is hardly likely he would sacrifice their inter-
ests to a political ambition.
In order to give the semblance of fairness to
what he says, the correspondent drags in
couple of republican miners whom he charges
with dishonest motives in reference TO the |
strike. Mr.. Horsfeld, democrat, and Messrs. !
Kennedy and Krauss, republicans, all prOmi- |
nent in the present strike, are accused OF |
wanting Office, and their labor in behalf of the
strikers attributed thereto. This statement |
was undoubtedly suggested by the committee |
of operators who visited indianapolis Wednes- |
day afternoon.
There is little doubt that this political agita-
ton will injure the miners somewhat just at |
present. But 1t was certain to ensue sooner or |
later, as a result of the strike. A time will |
come when the republican press will be |
heartily glad to drop the subject, and it is in
anticipation of the heavy broadsides which the |
democratic papers are certain to be pouring |
into il that the Journal is now seeking to dis |
tort the facts. f. S. SHERIDAN.