The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-13
COMMUNICATION.
The Striking Miners.
Editors of the P1oNEEn ExpRrss:

Editors Of the PIONEER EXPRESS:
With somewhat of an extensive exper-
ience with the methods very largely en-
ployed by manufacturing concerns, and
their manner of treatment; will not use
the word oppression, although it might
be the proper term in dealing with those
who ale in their employ. may perhaps
be excused for stating why the sympa-
thies of the general public should be
more readily extended to those poor
miners, whose only misfortune is to be
compelled to depend upon an organiza-
ton of men, where individual response
bility to conscience, to man and to God,
seems to be utterly lost in the mad eff
fort to pile up their millions of dollars.
In view of the very meagre sympathy
ever heard from individuals in their COM
ments on this matter, and the less meagre
sympathy and encouragement one vain
ly succeeds IN finding in the great news
gathering dailies, published in all of our
great cities, well realize how hazard.
GUS a role assume, in justifying in the
highest degree, the movement now be
ing made by those poor underground
slaves, who are daily lowered down into
the bowels of the earth, never knowing
in their descent whether they will be en-
tombed for ever, or through explosions of
fire-damp their mangled lifeless bodies
may in a few short hours be returned to
those who are as dear to their fathers,
mothers, sisters, brothers, wives and
children as any reader of these lines.
These poor ill-fed, ill-paid human beings
are often censured for refusing to work
for the small pittance offered them by
those who very often, through question
able and dishonest business methods, at
tain to financial, social and business posi-
tons which they arrogantly utilize in
their endeavors to oppress the poor and
helpless, whose misfortune it is to be de-
pendent upon them, not for living but
bare substance.
Whenever strike occurs in mining
district, or on great railway system, or
in any chain of manufacturing industries,
the meagre reports published concern
ing twill always indicate that such strik-
ers were accustomed to have fair or good
employment, with fair or good wages,
and that the concerns merely wished to
make little reduction in their pay in or
der to enable them to meet the sharp
competition forced upon them by rival
concerns, while ina vast majority ofcases
those companies not only have no COM
petition, but themselves, actually regu-
late both the output and the price con-
sumers must pay for their products.
The writer will state as matter Of fact,
that no body of men in the history Of
strikes, ever struck on the fKsl reduction
in wages, neither on the second, very
seldom has strike occurred on the third,
and very often not on the fourth. Should
the Press make mention of these matters,
it is referred to in such general way that
the public mind is not impressed with it,
then when patience ceases to be a virtue
and men protest against these successive
assaults on their daily wage, immediate
ly the impression is given out that these
men are getting saucy, they want to bull
doze and coerce the poor employer. A
vast amount Of sympathy is poured out
J for the prosecuted coal barons, or the
railroad kings, and the poor half starv-
ed aud illclad striker pictured and car
ricatured in the most hideous and repul-
sive form. Friends who dare to speak
in their behalfa are characterized as walk
Ing delegates" ''agitators," ''cranks, /"
anarchists" and similar terms for which
certain people seem to affect they have
copyright or patent 1t can. be. stated
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