The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-22
STRIKE LEADERS, METHODS.
Miners Correspondence Which Tells the Truth
About the Present Coal strike.

PITTsBUR G, Aug. 21.-Here is n letter. pa
thetic in the simple honesty OF its tone. written
BY n miner in the employ OF the New York and
Cleveland Gas Coal Company to the pastor of
his church. 1t reveals the actual condition OF
things at the mines of the company at Turtle
Creek, Plum Creek. and Oak Hill. under siege
by striking miners:
BELOVED PASTOR y BROTHER: I suppose
you have noticed in the papers that We have
troublesome times at Turtle Creek. There are
thousands OF miners. all outsiders. cncanpcd in
and about Turtle Creek. They march around
every morning trying TO keep our company's
men from going to work. and. ! am sorry To say,
very nearly succeeded in bringing out the Oak
Hill miners. at which mine | am working. Up
to date ! am still working. and. II the law pro-
:ects me, l will. with the Lords help. continue
to work. You will doubtless know that we
have n yearly contract with our company. II
runs till November. Besides. ! heartily approve
OF Mr.. DO Armitt's uniformity plan. BY its
adoption ut least many OF the abuses
which dishonest operators practice could be
corrected. In tho face OF this | think
It would be wrong for me to strike. especially as
i have no grievance against the company. for
Mr.. he Armitt has always been very Kind TO me.
Now, dear pastor. | do not pretend TO know Il all.
l therefore would like TO have your advice or
opinion on the course l should take in this mat.
ter. Will you please. dear pastor. let ME hear
from you as soon AS you can"
The writer Of the above letter is an American
miner whose name Is not published because pub
LEGATION might place him and the little property
he owns in peril. The advice Of the pastor in
reply to the letter was for the man 10 remain at
work. which the man has done. despite the fact
that his life has been threatened for so doing.
In a desk at his Office W. p. De Armitt- Prcsi'
dent OF the New York and Cleveland Gas Coal
Company. has fully 200 letters received by him
from miners Of the company who have remained
at work, an OF the same general tenor. telling Of
the periTs b~esctting them and their families
from the striking miners surrounding them and
their homes. The conduct or the thousands OF
marching strikers besteging the De .Armitt
mines has been heralded abroad as wonderfully
top. but this remarkable lot OF letters received
by President De Armitt tells an entirely differ
err tale. Tho letters were writton in confidence
~ the men 10 their employer, and they recitc n
story OF tho true situation of affairs at tho Dc
yading strikers to compel men to quit work.
The writer's OF the letters generally complain
no grievances OF any kind against the company.
perfectly satisfied with. their condition and
w wnst be S aie,a feS' TO By an an i rp"snsnsi 10 Hor WSfo q;
Slavs, Poles, Hungarians, Italians and Bclgians.
urged on on, by n oEi' snmiiio and ah ,ae l bS sb of them enG
daily because they dare to exercise the privilege
Of Xmcrican citizens to labor Mos, Of tho let
: tors lRN hlTtSs On iHIS Ibllt. SuC lolNti hheb.
Tho leaders of this gang get up In public and
preach pence and keep within the luw. and IN
priyntc tell their dupcs to knock us on the head
J with clubs and wiring our ncckS.'
Many OF the letters tell about efforts OF the
strikers and their leaders to break up the fam
lilies OF the writer's, while the writer's are a,
work in the mines. by trying to induce wives tt
desert their husbands. and children to disobcy
their fathers. Failing to accomplish anything
in this direction. the writer's assert, the ennis
saries of the strikers insult these wives ant
daughters, tcrrorize them: and threaten theil
homes with destruction. Five or six cases ar,
cited where sons have been led by tho striker
, TO rebel against their fathers. TO refuse to go L
work. and TO leave home for the camp
is stated, have been led away from thei
homes TO go roaming about the camps o
the strikers. Some of the letters speak bittcrl,
OF Mrs. Mary q. Jones. who has been 30 mucl
/. in evidence ut the camps OF the strikers eve
!, since these were established. This woman 1
denounced as q - fomenter of mischief" a :" dan
! Ecrous female Anarchist. who ought to b
. driven out OF Pennsylvania back TO Chicago"
> being alleged that in the absence of the miner
! sho goes about trying TO croate domestic di.
= cord by preaching anarchy to our wives" an
, "tryinR TO make fools OF our young daughter
2 andlead them away from parental control. a
4 she did that little fool. Emma Hans" Emm
= Haas is the girl whom Mrs. Jones crowned u
. tho Pennsylvania Joan OF Arc.