The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-30
THE MINERS STRIKE
In hutchinson Bros. Goal Works
at opekiska, W. Va.
PRESIDENT MORAN WRITES A CARD,
In which he Gives History of the
Strike, and Explains Some of its Pc
oulIar Features--.The Trouble at
the NOrthwood Glass Factory. Mar
tins Ferry, Investigated.

The INTE1ErGEScER lie in receipt Of the
following which explains itself:
FAIRMoNT, W. Va, July 20, 1902.
70 tie Editor Of tie IHtsRtoeAes.
SIR:-My attention has been called to
statement made in your paper Of July
20 concerning the strike now existing
at Hutchinson Bros. opekiska mines.
Tho statement is not correct in any
sense OF the word, and ! will give the
readers of your paper true statement
Of tho cause Of tho strike.
In the first place, lot me inform your
readers and the public generally, that
the United Mine Workers OF America
have a fair and honorable method Of
adjusting grievances existing between
mine employers and the mine workers.
There are three methods Of adjusting
grievances laid down in our constitu-
lion, namely, arbitration, Cancellation
and strikes. Neither Of those plans
were used at Opekiska mines, for this
reason: On the 18th Of June the
Hutchison Bros. discharged eight Of
their miners without giving any reason
for 80 doing. l was called there the
next day, and met q committee OF the
miners, and after hearing their side Of
the case, informed the committee that
we would visit the company's office and
Bee the superintendent Of mines to try
and arrive at satisfactory conclusion
OF the trouble. / was introduced to
Mr.. Crawford, assistant superintendent,
but on being introduced to him he re-
fused to speak to either the mine COM
mittee or myself.
After waiting for reasonable length
Of time for him to say something, l
asked the committee to see the mine
foreman, and alter arriving at the mine
/ met William Hanson, the mine lore
man. undertook to state the case OF
the discharged miners to this individ-
ual, but was unceremoniously ordered
off tho premises twice, and told that if
/ did not leave at once would be ar
rested.
The majority Of the miners employed
ut this mine were present when this
occurred and witnessed the treatment
Of their committee. AS a matter of
course there was no other remedy left
the miners but to strike.
There have been statements sent to
The evening NelCS from this vicinity in
regard to the action OF the miners that
are mallciously false, such as their be-
ing drunk and disorderly and intimi-
dating the employees. The fact is. and
] can get fifty affidavits from the best
citizens OF this community to prove it,
that the miners were sober and well
behaved. The only drunkenness that
has been INDUCED in at Opekiska has
been among the deputy sheritfs and a
few company tools, who pounded each
other until their fists would,not stand
to carry on their brutality any longer.
II there is any trouble about this we
will produce sufficient evidence to sat
isfy any fair minded person. The COM
pany is trying to operate their mines
with the scum of this community, and
about twenty OF the mostignorantP Poles
that can be found, guarded by the sher-
i'll Of Monongahalia county and his dep
uties.
There is no desire on the part OF the
organized miners OF this valley to do
anything but what is fair and just,
That is something they have not had in
the past, but are fully determined to
maintain in the future. American
miners are being discharged every day
in this coal field, and their places filed
by the ignorant scum OF Europe impor-
ted to degrade American workmen.
Respectfully,
n. F. MORAN.