The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-05-24
THE PAy OF MINERS!
The Cost of of Producing Coal does not Ex-
ceed One Dollar per Ton!
Dreadful Story of Wrongs and Oppression.

When the coal combine investiga-
tiOn was under way wrote to that
great refOrmerand philanthrOpist, T
V. Powderly, of Scranton, Pa, for in
formation as to the price of coal at
the mines; and the condition of the
miners. He turned my communica-
tiOn over to Mr.. J. A. Lewis, editor of
the 'Miners Tribune," published at
Olyphant, Penn. have just received
from that gentleman very valuable
and interesting reply; butit comes too
late to submit to our committee. /
think it better therefore to lay it be-
fore the readers of THE REPREsEN-
TATIvE. 1t is dreadful story. AS
L read the record of human greed and
cunning, and the ways in which the
miners are hemmed in and plundered
at every turn; and the pOwerleSSness
of legislatures and courts to, so far,
bring them any relief, | am remind
ed of the farmers of the Northwest,
In the grip of an equally crafty
and unscrupulOus wheat ring. 1t is
a sad, dark picture; and it is queS-
tiOn whether the decentralization of
the public mind has not progressed SO
far that even the peoples party will
be unable to arrest the growing evil.
l. D.
Hon Ignotius Donnelly, st. Paul, Minn
MY DEAR SIR: l have now got to
work on a letter which will convey to
you, and your committee, as much in
formation concerning the coal mines
as lies in my power to give. l ear
nestly hope that it will help you in
bringing to speedy termination your
investigation on the "injustices prac-
ticed by coal corporations" I also
hope it will not weary you or prove
uninteresting. 1t is quite lengthy,
but not as long as l would like to
make it, provided 1 had more data
to write from. Remember it will not
take you as long to read it as it did
me to write it. 1t represents three
days toll, and years of experience
Speaking, as l do, from experience
there will not be any imaginary OF
fanciful pictures presented. A great
AHdHy VIII WIIUO OII UIIC COIIul UIOu vi
the miners draw their conclusions
from dreams, and imaginary scenes
Illuminated before their enthusiastic
minds. So many essays have emana
ted from the pens of corporate jour
nalists, which in my opinion have not
been worthy of criticism, that the
country is entirely ignorant of the
real condition. The bright side, il
there is such a side to the question
is always given by corporate tools
The follies and misfOrtunes are pow.
erfully portrayed. Every body knows
the faults of the miners, but few
know of the injustices practiced. Oh
course, most people have faint idea
but vivid picture can come only by
experience. Few know what oppres
ses him but every one knows he is Op
pressed. Few realize to what exten
his servitude has extended. A grea
many theOriZe and most of thei
theories are steps to alteration. Th'
potential receives more consideration
than it should. The pressure of th'
gold of corporate power renders voice
and pen incompatible with the justice
to the miners.
THE PLANS OF THE ROBBERS. =
| cannot present anything but ;
general observation relative to Goa
mining and the methods employed b.
which the coal miner is cheated ou
of the wealth which his labor pro
duces. The miners share of tn,
wealth he creates by his labor goes t.
some drone who tolls not. The tao
tics adopted by the coal barons ar
difficult to comprehend. So cOmpli
Gated is their business that the ey
of the public cannot penetrate tn
inner workings, and is invariabl
ignorant concerning the operation
of the kings of the precious commodi
ty. To fully understand the condi
tion of the miners, one must be
miner. To fully realize the the dar
ger which he undergoes for livl
hood you must visit his undergroun
home, and see him, at the peril OF hi
life, blasting the ''black diamond
which makes life worth so much t
many-for without fuel the America
home would become dreary and chez
less.
To be able to speak with any de
gree of accuracy and intelligence 20
must obtain your information fro1
the coal operators and the miners
AS am not connected with the prt
ducing companies, have not recei'
ed much knowledge from that source