The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-12
tion in this letter. Brazil will survive and
so will the miners until there is time to
analyze it. w. A. w.
EFFECTS OF THE STRIKE.
The Demand and Manner Of Relief - the
Miners Represent It


Miners Represent It
From Star Correspondent Of the Journal
BRAZIL, June 11.-When . strike Is sus-
tanned by miners. as well As all otherclasses
of wage-earners there is more or less tight
ness in the affairs of m any before the
cause. as it is generally called. has time
to shape itself. From the iron.worker to
the day-laborer the proportion of the inn
provident to the provident class is about
the same, unless ar exception is made of
the miner. He is a good worker, good
liver and good spender. His wages are
earned by the most exacting toll,
and when he gets above ground there
is no one more entitled to the good
things of life. 1t is not that the
miner 10 more extravagant than those OF
other vocations The number of open
handed, without thought of the morrow, is
no larger in his class than in that of others
The number of hberal-spirited with care
for the future is no smaller than that which
in other branches of labor accumulates
little and is able to come in contact with
adversely with feeling of equanimity.
The miner is like everybody else so
far as the experience of frugality
or extravaganza is concerned. II he
is out of work it depends upon the con-
ditions of his surroundings whether he is
willing to listen to reason or the sophistries
of the agitatOr and the political demagogue.
1t is just that which is troubling him now
in the Brazil regions, and will so long as he
has assurances that relief committees will
supply his necessities while be is con-
tending for what he terms principle.
The Benwood district. where are located
some of the miners Of the Jackson Coal
Company, is represented as one where the
effects of this strike, or lockout, as the
miners prefer to call it, or complete inac-
tivity, which it really is, are to be seen
at their worst. Relief for that district is
typical of what relief for the other dis
tricts means But in another sense it is
representative of the strike, which for
convenience tho condition can be called.
The labor agitator is absent while the
covert influence of the political demagogue
is felt. II told the boys" said Jesse Nick
erson, a solid miner of hard sense, just
such man as one would 60 to for ad-
vice, that they were making q mistake
to strike. They must sooner or later
recognize the changed condition of block
coal. 1t is a competitor now, and one that
is at disadvantage in the market. ! tell
them to accept the price. and wait for
time when the market is better" While
he was talking, outside the company store
Of that district, where the conversation
occurred, sat dozen miners on the fence,
or on the ground, with the
rails for a back rest. They We're
comfortably dressed, apparently cOntented
and ready in exchanging gossip about their
own affairs Not far away was the line of
There could be seen the housewife about
her household duties. some churning others
attending To whatever work demanded
their attention. The children, well dressed.
does not mean clothes of high price,
or silks and furbeiows-were play
ing or going errands, or doing what
ever their fancy suggested. Directly the
school-bell rang, and at the school-house
were gathered many little ones education
went on. if the mines didnot. About many
cottages were small vegetable gardens. and
at as many more could be seen cows and
chickens: As a bit of colorIng to. this To-
cality, which imaginative writer's have in
vested with a shadow of approaching
starvation, a little fellow, neatly clothed,
quick of step. and eager to do favor. came
out of the cottage.
"Can you open the gate so can drive in.
my little mani" said the writer.
'Yes. sir" promptly responded this oblig-
ing son Of q striking miner. rs he put down
a well-tilled bucket he had in his hand and
large slick of tempting white bread, COW
cred with delicious yellow butter. in the
a singular quantity in the BEN
wood district, or any other. for
il there is anything miner
miners wives know how to make it. But
that was not all. At the counter of the
company store. short time afterward,
stood one of these miners helpmates. She
did not appear sad or downcast The ex-
preston upon her face was calculating,
rather than apprehenslye; as she looked at
the packages the clerk was putting
in her basket Of capacious dimen-
sions. While the good wife was making
her purchases in came girl of thirteen or
fourteen years of age. She might have
been neater in appearance, but her clothing
was reasonable and her face pretty. She
wanted some trifiing article, and getting it,
left, TO give way to other customers.
While this trading was going on. showing
that no want existed that the people could
not supply, the writer and Benz. Navin,
young miner of intelligence and good
.tal1er, were engaged in securing and giving
information about the relief that was absO-
lutely necessary to keep the wolf from the
door. Mr.. Nevin has charge of the relief
in the Bradwood district, and he said that
$50 families in it required assistance.
"Am to understand that $50 families are
in necesSitous circumstancesW asked the
writer.
"That is the number of families on our
list. All do not need assistance now,
and some will throughout the strike be
able to take care of themselves. There are
many though who need help"
Are they in wantp
"No. 1t is not that. They have nothing
to carry them through, nor did they have
anything when the strike began. Some
have been assisted by their neighbors and
it is this class we seek to relieve"
''Is any one starvingp
ooh. no. 1t is only help for those who
will have nothing until the strike is settled
that we ask relief.o
"Out of these $50 families, what number
is it necessary to assistp
about 112, l think"
'.Do all these people apply to you for re-
liefg'
mo; some who had assistance last week
did not come Yesterday
do you g i've relief to all who askf"
"Yes."
"Then you make no effort to INQUIRE
whether the assistance is worrhily bestowed
or notp
1--WE get the best information we can on
that point by inquiry, but it may be that
In some sinstances we are imposed upon.n
1t was on Monday an incident Oc-
CURED which points to the probabili-
ty. of imposition. A miner, 1T is said,
who owns house and lot, and is other
wise well fixed. got his proportion of Mat
Is..... Il Il