The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-06-12
The DEsTITUTIoN IN CLAY.

mand-justice. ZANONI.
THE DESTITUTIoN IN CLAY.
! Thousands of Miners without the Seces-
saries of Life.
BRAZIL, Ind, June Especial Public
sympathy in Indiana, as everywhere else, has
been deeply stirred by the awful catastrophe
in Pennsylvania and the people of this state
are being appealed to in behalf of those suffer
ers. Yet it is apparent that there is q district
right here in Indiana which is in dire need of
assistance from those who are able to bestow
charity.
The condition of the striking Clay county
miners and their families has in no respect
been exaggerated in the reports recently sent
out from this city. Poverty and abject want
arc evidently pressing hundreds of them Just
as closely as exposure and sickness are threat
ening the survivors of the Conemaugh food.
When ! arrived here yesterday l found album
dant confirmation Of the stories of suffering.
Indeed have yet encountered no one who
denies that many of the miners and their fsmi-
lies are beginning an unequal battle against
starvation. This Is not an active period among
the farmers, and, even if it were, the continued
rains would have interrupted labor upon the
farm, so that there is nothing to which the
unemployed miner can turn his hand. The
$500 men who strnsk represented a population
of 1900, and OF this number about one-half al
most Immediately became absolutely depend
ent.
The number Of miners in Clay county last
year according to the report of the state mine
inspector was 3llO and that was a low esti-
mate. All of these entered the strike with the
exception Of 80, $50 of whom are employed in
the three mines at Clay City, and sixty more
who work in the mine of the Brazil iron and
steel company of this city, which is paying the
scale asked for by the miners. All Of the re.
rnainder laid down their picks and went out TO
take up the twoedged weapon of idleness.
They have all remained out with the exception
OF those employed in the bituminous mines at
Stanton and Newburg, between one and two
hundred in number who returned TO work last
week.
The general impression that most of the
miners reside in and about Brazil is a mistake.
There are only about 500 strikers here, the re-
mander being divided up among several pure
ly mining towns throughout the county, IN
about the following proportions: knights
VILE 800; Center Point, 260; Harmony, 2GG;
Carbon. 200; Perth, 200; Cardonia, 100; Ben
wood, 100; Asherille, 100; Hoosierville, 40
WIN the general features OF the blrlke-LDt
causes leading to II and the questions at issue
the general public is familiar. The strike began
May ], and has therefore been on for more than
five weeks. As is always the case with such
movements, many of the men who quit work
even those who had families depending upon
them for suppOrt-were nly-prepared for the
test They had little or no money, and prOvis-
ions that would at the farthest last but few
DAYS. The "pluck-me" stores, from which they
had eked ont the substance of living while at
work, were now arrayed against them. and until
the strike was adjusted there was nothing in
store for them beyond the aid they might re-
ceive from friends and sympathizers.
The situation is certainly distressing in the
extreme and deserves the attention OF the peo-
pie of the state. There are women and children
here without food and the other necessities Of
life. In few instances sickness has most in-
opportunity appeared in the miners homes,
where there Is no money either 10 buy medi-
cine or secure physician. The worst OF the
strike, however, is not to be seen here, but in
the mining towns around about Here, where
where the handful OF miners are surrounded by
neighbors who have plenty their condition is
not so bad. and find that the citizens of Brazil
seriously object to the reports that have been
made of stagnation of business here. With
town of eight or nine thousand Inhabitants
they are able to go ahead without any marked
disadvantage resulting from the strike. The
majority of the miners, too, who live here are
better circumstanced than those who live out
in the black district; many of them own prop
erty and some of them who are so provided
work ten or twelve miles out Of town.
Yet there are instances of abject want right
here in Brazil | had not been in town an hour
until heard a gentleman, who is perfectly re-
liable, telling of mlner-a man OF influence IN
his class and who, from appearances, would be
taken TO be well-tO-d0-who had made his
breakfast yesterday morning on water and
biscuit straight. The very fact that this man
was one of some influence made him too proud
TO ask assistance or to let his real condition be
known but il was found out nevertheless. 1t
is not improbable that there are other cases as
striking as this. The number of persons here
who are being supported by the relief commit
tee is about two hundred and nifty. In the
county it is $500 and is increasing daily.
There is, however, a well-organiZed effort at
relief. The strikers are acting systematically,
and have a regular committee in charge OF the
work of relieving the suffering. No one out
side of the committee and its legalized agents
is allowed to receive contributions, and it will
be remembered that resident of Center Point
who began a few days ago TO take subscriptions
on his own hook was promptly arrested and
sentenced TO the penitentiary. His name was
Samuel Wehrling and ii was the indignant
miners themselves who instigated the prosecu-
ton. The relief committee consists of Chair
man William Gault of Cardonia, Secy. David
Krauss Of Hoosierville, and Treasurer Patrick
Morgan of Benwood and a committeeman from
each locality. The committee meets twice a
week, finds out how much money il has on
hand and the number of persons who have be-
come dependent Then the money is appor-
toned out among the delegates from the
various localities The latter return home
and confer with their local relief COM
mittee, of which there is one in every local
ity. These take the money and purchase
food, which is then divided out into
as many parcels as their dependent
families-"not according to what is needed
but according TO what can be spared" as a
member OF the committee remarked in explain
ing the matter TO the SENTINEL representative.
The next day this food is divided out at regu-
lar distributing point. Money itself is never
given out, and those from a distance who make
| contributions to the miners and their families
need not fear that the funds will be misappro-