Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-08-03
The Miners Strike.

The dispatches tell us that ten car
loads OF colored iaborers from the south
have been shipped into southern Kan
sas TO take the place Of the 5000 miners
who have been induced TO abandon
their lucrative positions and to go out
on a hopeless strike. The result Of the
strike at Weir City and Pittsburg will
probably end as all other strikes In the
west have ended. A few men and
possibly few innocent women and
children will be killed. The employers
will lose the profits resulting from the
shutting down of their mines for few
weeks; the miners will find their luc-
rative positions occupied by other men
who are willing to work, and they left
without means or employment, and the
great world will move on about as
before,
1t Is about time that the instisators
OF such strikes should be called by
their right names. The man who by
force of arms assaults another and
takes his watch and pocketbook Is
called o robber The opportunity to
labor is TO the laboring man equally as
valuable az his watch or his pocketbook
and the man who aides, counsels or
assists in depriving laboring man Of
his opportunity TO labor Is as vile a
robber as any highwayman who stops
the California stage coach and compels
the passengers TO disgorge. There are
one hundred chances to one against
the success Of any strike in this
country.
According to the best statistics
5000 men were employed in the
mines of Cherokee and Crawford
counties. They we're receiving wages
at the average rate Of $3.50 day
making $l5, 900 day for the whole or
500, 900 week. The total loss Of
wages up to this time is nearly 81 ,000,-
900. 1t is altogether probable that one
half of these men have lost their posi-
tons permanently. The men who
have aided, counseied and encouraged
the strike which has robbed these
miners Of nearly million collars In
wages and taken from them the oppor-
tunity they had to labor at remunora-
tive wages are no better than 30 many
thieves and robbers and they deserve
ust such punishment as the law metes
out to any other class Of thieves and
robbers. The conduct Of the strike
leaders shows them TO be towards and
desperadUes. The scoundrel Walters
who stood up before "a meeting OF
strikers and advised them In making
| their murderous assaults upon the lDen
who wanted 10 work to drive "theil
women and children" before them In
their attack, shows both the instincts
| of u blu.e and a coward. The coward
again told them "if three or four Of
you find II backlog" referring to the
men who are willing to WORK. give
him sound thrashing. They cannot
hang you for that" The brutal ant
bloOdthirsty towards who drove theil
women and children ahead Of them In
their mad endeavOr to deprive tn,
laborers in these mines who are ready
and anxious to work, OF their positions
are Just as truly robbers as is the
highwayman The intent to rob is III,
same whether II be to deprive the
victim Of his money or Of his means Of
making money. And the leaders whI
| Asr hat M 1ut Nfal AZ
from these strikers their wages anC
their opportunity to earn wages in tn
future are criminals and the men VIII,
would by threats and assaults rob tn,
men who are willing to work, OF thei
positions are criminals and should b,
punished as other criminals.