The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-29
CLINTON MINERS PROSPEROUS.
Condition the Result of Men Accept
ing the Fifty-Five-Cent Scale.

ing the Fffty-FiVe-Cent Scale.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
CLINTON. Ind. July 2S.-Mine No. 3, a
plant of the Indiana Bitumincus Mining
Company which has been idle the past
three months. resumed yesterday and 150
men who ave been in destitute circum-
stances and suffering for the necessaries
of life went to work. The mine operators
lost their contracts during the wage squab-
BILE in May, and although the miners, with
few exceptions. have been ready to resume
at 55 cents per ton, the operators have
been unable to replace the contracts for
feited. and the idleness has been forced.
The news that new contracts had been Sc
cured was hailed with delight both by the
business men and the miners, who have
learned a practical lesson from their idle
ness. Notwithstanding the complicated
situation Of mining matters in other parts
of the State, there is a fair measure of
prosperity in the Clinton fields. The men
are getting almost steady employment and
are making good wages, considering the
demoralized state of all other branches of
labor and business. The pay rolls of the
several mining companies aggregate about
$4,000 per month, a large portion of which
finds it's way into the tills of Clinton mer-
80 "a hAch AiahCS iii
ton prosperous.
Both the miners and operators here are
working independently of the State Fedora
ton OF United Mine Workers, and at the
convention held at Terre Haute last May
the Clinton men were practically read out
of the. organization. The situation regard
ing the wage scale is a peculiar one. and
should the State organization succeed in its
demand for a 6o-cent scale it would mean
that the Clinton mines would be idle until
such time as the eastern Illinois men could
be induced to strike for an advance. There
has been a perpetual effort the past two
years to induce the Grape Creek. ILL.,.
miners to demand the advance, but it has
not been successful. and while the strike
is on in this State the Grape Creek miners
are reaping a. harvest. Should the Indiana
operators concede the GO cents per ton the
situation would be but little better. as the
difrorential In the wage scale between In
BILE fer Indiana to compete in the Chicago
markets. Besides the difference in the
price of miping. the interstate-commerce
bill gives Illinois an advantage Of 3 cents
per ton, which. when added to the differ
ence In the regular freight rates. practical
Iy shuts the Hoosier State out of the Chi
cage market.
The operators claim that notwithstand
Ing Indiana coal is far superior. they cam
not overcome the difference between ILL.,
nois and Indiana in cost of production. and
to accede. to the present demands of the
miners would not better the situation or
give assurance Of any more work. They
say they could sell some coal. but nothing
like an amount sufficient to warrant them
running their mines even on half time.
The 55-cent scale being paid at this place
is based on the price in force at Grape
Creek. ILL.,. which is the only direct COM
petitisn to the Clinton fields. 1t is an
agreement entered into by the miners and
| operators which has brought about happy
| results TO all parties concerned and kept
thousands of dollars moving about Gin
ton where otherwise idleness and almost
starvation would have prevailed.
Tho miners throughout other portions OF
the State are highly incensed at the Gin
top men for working at less than the price
demanded by the State organization. bui
the men here feel that the peculiar situa-
ton of Clinton.s competition I'm the Goa
fully ~tnstiaes their action in breaking
away from the federation and accepting
wages which at least assure them a rom.
Portable living. There are a feT men here
opposed to the action of the Clinton miners
in accepting the terms of the operators
and after work was begun on the 55-cent
scale these did all in their power TO induce
the men 10 quit. Failing to convince then
that striking was better than working a
even living wages. and that loyalty to the
mans loyalty to his wife and children
they ADOPTED abusive tactics. The mel
who had gone to work were called rats.
"scabs." 'blac klegs' and traitors. and on.
or two of them were assaulted. The men
however. were determined to work. an,
mentors. The men who tried to max,
trouble saw after a time. they were de
cidedly I'm the minority and their case wa,
hopeless. gave up the fight apd applied 70
work themselves. Fhey had gone too ia
in their attempt to make trouble, and whel
they, made application for work they wer,
told they were not wanted. The operator
had been watching their movements. an
say they will shut down their mines nov
before they will give even a days work
There are about thirty of these black
listed miners. and as they are unable T.
find work any place at any price they ar
in almost destitute circumstances. A fey
years ago some OF these men were the mos
prosperous miners in the camp. and som
OF them are property owners. They are Il
the building and loan associations and hav
their homes almost paid for. hut now a
they are out OF employment they canno
meet monthly payments. and unless the.
succeed in finding employment outside tn
mines they NAV lose their homes. Mos
all the victimized men are either Demo
Gratis or Populists-advocates of free sill
yer. and attribute their condition TO tn
money system rather than their zeal [
nave the wages they demand. The mos
friendly feeling exists between the me
who are at work and the operators. VIII
say they will advance the price of minin
fust as soon as there Is an advance In tn
price at Grape Creek. The operators her
saw they will aid their men in any effort I
induce the Grape Creek men to demand a
advance