The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-29
BARBAROUS.
Col. Rend, Who BOlted the Meet
ing of the Mine Operators
Because it Took No Steps to
Stop the Strike,
RAISES HIS VOIC E
On Behalf of the Striking MIN
ers of the East.
Says it is a Brutal and Barbar-
GUS Conflict.
Miners Have the Right to Live,
He Declares.
RAISES HIS VOICE

| Pittsburg, July 29.-Since quitting in
| disgust the meeting of coal operators of
| the Pittsburg district because the De
Arnnit uniformity scheme was the only
| subject allowed to be discussed, Colonel
| w. P. Rend of Chicago has given out an
interview, in which he said:
This industrial war directly concerns
| the very lives of fully a million people,
dependent upon the coal industry for
| their support. This war is lowering in
deeper depths of misery the already inn
poverished miners and their families in
| several states. This war is doing vast
| damage to various business interests,
| and may end in scenes of public Vlo-
| lence and loss of human life.
while this brutal and barbarous con-
| fict is going on those who are largely
| responsible for 1t, as its authors, are
| idly talking about the humbug of true
| uniformity instead of trying to effect
some peaceful settlement, based upon
principles of justice and humanity. In
stead of such a bogus convention to dis
| cuss the sham, there should be at once
a conference called of miners and opera
| tors to devise some sensible plan of
compromise that will end this industrial
warfare.
| THE miners have asked more than
| the complicate ted conditions of the coal
| trade at the present allow them
| But the miners have the right to ilVe:
| The operators are bound by the most
sacred obligations to respect this God
given right
Oak Hill. in the vicinity of the Turtle
| Creek, Plum Creek and Sandy Creek
| mines of De ArTnitt was invaded after
| midnight by army of strikers, who
| came to attend the great mass meeting
| to be held near the mines today. 1t is
| estimated that by daybreak there were
| several thousand miners encamped up
| on the hills surrounding the property or
| the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
| company's property. They came from
every direction, headed by brass bands.
| Nearly all of them carried heavy walk
| ing sticks and some were armed. There
were no threats of violence however
! and no indication of drinking. Imme-
| diately upon reaching Oak Hill the
| strikers prepared for camp. The scenes
! around Turtle Creek after midnight
were strange. Poorly clad miners
stretched themselves out on the softest
| spots they could find. Each detach-
| ment was in charge of men selected be
fore the march was begun. Orders were
implicitly followed.
In the valley leading up from Tur-
tie Creek to one of the New York and
Cleveland mines, the company had a
powerful searchlight. 1t was kept shift
ing about in hopes of flanking any
movement of the strikers to creep with
in reach of the mine, unknown to the
deputies who guarded every approach.
Long before daylight the strikers
were up and after eating their frugal
meal, prepared for the days work. The
intention was to see as many of De
Armitt's men before they got into the
pits this morning as possible.
About o'clock, 500 strikers assem-
bled at Turtle Creek and headed by
three brass bands with flags and ban
ners flying, marched past the houses
occupied by De Armitt's miners. The
strikers hooted and yelled and then
marched to the mines, where they
planted themselves before the pits thus
compelling De Armitt'S men to run the
gauntlet to get to work.
A short time time later Sheriff Low
rey, who had been wired to for assist
ance arrived from Pittsburg with so
deputies armed with Winchesters.
The strikers quietly withdrew and the
new deputies were placed on guard.
Everything is quiet now.
The mass meeting today promises to
be the largest demonstration since the
inauguration of the strike.
E. V. Debs will make the principal
speech.
When Mr.. Debs was introduced there
was great enthusiasm.
He said in part: Il am here not to
encourage passion, but to appeal to rea-
son. You are in the midst of the great
est contest the world has ever known
Whether you succeed or fail, depends
on yourselves. In order to win you
must remain absolutely sober until this
contest is over. Whisky clouds the
brain, rObs you of your money and
makes you brutal, and also makes you
do just what your enemies want you to
do"
After the meeting the Sandy Creek
miners returned to work and the strik-
erS went into camp and had lunch.The
presence of the deputy sheriffs was not
needed as there was no trouble of any
kind
President De Armitt said this after
noon that all the mines of the country
were in operation and he was certain
his men could not be induced to quit
work.