The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-02-20
THE ROBBING "PLUCK-ME."
ANOTHER CHAPTER oNITs INloUITlEs
Nine-Owner Lawrence Makes a Poor De-
Tense of the scheme by Which Miners
Are Pillaged-Big Hobbies Working
to Defeat Proposed Reforms.


selves from pauperism by voting for Gen. Har-
rison and protection to American labor. To.
day these same coal monopolists fill the lobby
of the legislative halls begging democratic
members to protect their ''pluck-me" stores
and robbing coal screens. The miners sent
here practical miners to point out to the COM
mittees the abuses practiced by the operators
There is no law now on the statute
books fixing a uniform coal screen, and
the operators construct screens to suit
themselves. Under the present system
of coal mining in this state the miners are
paid so and 90 cents per ton for
digging coal. Before it is weighed, it is
dumped over long inclined screen made of
long diamond-shaped iron bars. One or two
stays are placed across the bars to arrest the
coal which causes about so per cent. to fall
through, between the bars, and into the
operators car. The coal digger receives
nothing for this. He receives the scale price
for the big chunks which cannot fall between
the bars. In reality the miners only get 60
cents for the coal they dig.
The miners have made a fair proposition TO
the operators in regard TO standard screen,
but the operators object to any legal screen
and are keeping big lobby here TO prevent
any legislation upon the matter. In the lobby
the miners at great disadvantage. They
cannot send lobbyists to hang around the prin-
cipal hotels and the state-house, as the coal OPP
orators are now doing.
The "pluck me" stores are also in great
danger, and the coal lobby has a very difficult
task in defending them. THE SENTINEL has
already exposed the "pluck-me" system of the
coal operators of Clay county. The Brazil
block coal company, controlled by few OF Chi
cago's blOated mOnopOlists, as will be seen by
ha fOll
renee, the lifelong democrat" who tried to
deliver the Tpiners vote of Clay county in one
block to Gen. Harrison, makes a weak defense
in favor of the "pluck-mes."
Here Mr.. Lawrence admits that pluck
me" list was sent out TO the bank bosses. But
sit was the only letter of the kind ever sent 70
all of the BOSSES" Mr. Iawrence's company
owns thirteen mines and thirteen bosses. 1t
may be that "pluckme" lists have net been
sent TO "all of Them"
DIANAPOLIs SENTINEL of the 9th inst headed, 1.-The
Robbing PLUCK Me-" the Brazil block coal COM
pany is made target for abuse and misstatements.
Among other things it said that twice month
list Is made out OF the miners who do not deal with
the Mercantile company (meaning the Indiana mer-
camille company and sent the mine Bosses whose
duty il is notify those (mcaning the minerS)
that they must deal with the company stores, or
suffer the consequences. Then follows
copy OF a letter issued by Ii. W.. Perry,
the superintendent OF all the mines bearing date
March - 1855, containing the names of seventy-six
miners VINO are reported a. not pauOnlLus tue
Indiana Mercantile company stores. As ms IS he
only letter OF the kind 70 an Of the bosses, the
statement that list is made twice month" is an
error. The inference drawn that the names were
taken for the purpose of compelling the miners to
purchase goods of the Mercantile company is also
wrong, the fact being that the Mercantile company
DESTROYS # knowing the names OF those who
we're purchasing elsewhere and took this method OF
finding out in order that their trade might be SOic-
tied.
The article referred TO in THE SENTINEL carries
the idea that this company tyrannzes over its men by
discriminating against those who do not patronize
company denies the statement, and de-
feS any one TO prove that any
of its rlners have been discharged or assigned for
giving their patronage TO other stores never has
coercion been practced by this company. OF the
working for the company to-day and most of them
patronize other stores; and believe they will
corrohOrate the statement that none OF them have
been discharged or assigned to rooms containing de-
hcient coal Among them many of orr best
miners, who draw moro money each and every two
weeks than the average, some OF WnOm nave Oeen
working steadily for the company during the past
The truth is that before this company started its
stores many OF the merchants Of Brazil "plucked"
the miners working for IT, and paid per cent. conf
mission to this company for the privilege of doing
patrons OF the Indiana Mercantile cOmpany'S stores
recognize the benefits derived by them therefrOm,
and "a several Instance the company has been re-
ties convenient TO their places OF employment.
These being the facts. ii is fair 10 assume that the
oppO ,ition aud complaint come more from the mer-
chants OF Brazil than from the miners who purchase
from the stores. Respectfully,
Brazil BLOCK Coal Co.
+. L. LAWRENCE, President.
Chicago, Feb. II, 1Ss9.
The lists may be sent twice month TO ten of
or twelve of, the bank-bosses. Will Mr.. Law.
renee, or his superintendent, make affidavit
that no other list was sent but the one referred
to. bearing date March "a 1855? That was the
only one sent to call of the bosses" says Mr..
Lawrence. Why Is it. then, that the Mercan-
tile company ordered ZOO blank forms of these
"pluck-me" lists? As late as last October
"pluck-me" orders were issued TO the bosses
The Mercantile company DESTROYS of
knowing the names of those who were pur-
chasing elsewhere and took this method Of
finding out, in order that their trade might be
solicited" What business had Mr.
Lawrence finding out where the miners
traded? Has a coal operator bet
ter right TO find out where his employees
buy their groceries than mill operator or a
railroad company? This was done that the
miners trade might be solicited" This is
just what miners object TO. They do not want
TO be reminded every month by the bank boss
that it is to their interest TO trade in the"pluck
me" stores, and when they still refuse, they
object to being put TO work on horseback"
The horseback" is the solicitor employed by
Mr.. Lawrence's company-a fact which can
be substantiated by hundreds of miners if the
committees on mines will hold a session in the
mining district, where the miners can tell their
stories of woe without being intimidated by the
coal operators.
Mr. Lawrence would have people believe that
the "pluck-mes" are kept for the accommoda-
ton OF the miners. A representative of THE
SENTINEL spent week among the miners of
Clay county, and found a universal cOndemna-
ton of the ''Dluck-me" stores The unanimous
verdict of these poor men is that the pluck
me" stores are the curse of the miners.
Mr.. Lawrence thinks that the opposition and
complaint comes more from the merchants of
Brazil than from the miners who purchase from
the stores. 1t is true that in this fight for 'free
trade" the miners have the support of the
merchants. The latter have reason to COM
plain. Not only are the merchants and
miners complaining, but the farmers and
in fact every taxpayer of the county. Ii would
he better for Clay county if the rich mineral
wealth had never been discovered. The profit
from the coal and the pluck me" all goes to
Chicago. Ia a quarter of a century Clay
county will be like a deserted mining camp
the block coal will be exhausted, the farms
caved in and nearly every dollar made out of
the business will be in Chicago. The bona fide
merchants, the men who pay the taxes, who
keep up the Improvements of Brazil, have
right 10 complain. More than 100000 Of paid
up capital has been invested in ClaycOunty,
yet not a cent of taxes does the state of In
diana or Clay county receive from this enormous
capital. The Brazil block coal company pays
taxes office furniture and few mules. The
| farmer from whom the coal conn any leases the