Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-09-06
THE CAUSE OF IT ALL.
A CORRESPONDENTS VIEWS ON THE
SOUTH SIDE STRIKE.
Not the First Disturbance of Its Kind
Which Conner Jones Has Caused-An
Old Miner Gives "A Bit of Labor His
tory of This Vicinity.
Freeland, Pa, September 4.

TIteluuu' ld.s SepLeH Dcf 4.
The local labor troubles of the South
Side have been the subject of much
comment on our street corners for the
past week. 1t is very interesting to the
unbiased observer to note the difference
Of opinion that exists as to the causes
which precipitated the present unrest
among the mine workers and the various
forecasts as to what the future has in
store for us. Chimerical rs it may APP
pear to many of my readers, there are
people who openly assert that the present
spontaneous revolt of labor is Il plot
adroitly hatched by the coal and iron
police to thwart the efforts of those who
would reform thatdepartment or change
its present statuS-a shrewd move to
Justify the existence of this special de-
partment and perpetuate the special
privileges now enjoyed by the individual
members Of the force.
The men who are actually employed
in and about the mines claim that the
| present crisis is another case where the
'last straw has broken the camel'S back. :"
They say it is a case whore the limit OF
human endurance has been reached.
For years the class which now arises in
| insane revolt has been kicked and cuiTed
continually. Their general treatment
has been cruel, barbarous and shame
| fully unjust. 1t is claimed by those
who should know that the actual condi-
tion of the major portion of this class is
really beneath that of the negro during
the blood-staincd epoch of slavery.
II expected this revolt, but not so
soon, said an old retired miner to your
correspondent last evening. at il
another case where we have dispensed
with the use of the safety-valve and
kept on increasing our pressure until
called back to the path of right and
DUTY by the destructive forces of the
explosion.
Conner Jones and men of his ilk,"
said my informant, "have built up
records at the expense of the blood and
Sinew of the very class which now re-
volts. Employers who were either ignor-
ant of the details of their business or
blinded by avarice have given men like
Conner Jones full swing, ignoring the
results that must surely follow.
II know this man Jones" continued
the old man as he warmed up to his sub
| iect. "He made his debut as mine
manager in our neighboring village OF
! Upper Lehigh many years ago He
knows nothing of the practical methods
| Inv which coal il ,i,a | 1, l,
won and really nothing of the system
attic and sensible discipline that must
| prevail in successful operations of Il
modern colliery. Mr.. Jones has made
his record by cutting down wages and
brutally tyrannzing over the men under
his charge. His name was used by the
industrious mothers of Upper Lehigh
many years ago us Il buga boo to frighten
refractory children. The exclamation.
Go to sleep, Jackey, and your own
mamma won't let the nasty Conner
Jones carry away her own dumping
darling little Jackey, had very sau-
tory effect on washday-Such being the
mans record in the community.
You seem incrodulous, young man"
said the old veteran, ''but sir, tell YOU.
in all sincerity, that the present trouble
is not the first strike caused by this man
Jones. 1t was his petty tyrannies and
cheating practices that Sowed the seed of
labor organizations in this vicinity in 1883
and 1884, when the men of Upper Lehigh
organized an assembly of the Knights of
Labor. The powor of the assembly was
used to check the impoSitlonS of Mr..
Jones, with the result that it gave a
stimulus to organization far beyond the
hopes of its advocates. The growth of
the order was marvellous during 1884
and 1888 A general agitation for
return to old-time prices followed. which
| finally eliminated in the great strike Of
| 1887 and 1858,
| "Hes, young man, Conner Jones was
the primary cause of that great strike.
as he is the cause of the present trouble.
and the idea OF it being a plot hatchcd
by the coal and iron police is simply the
shallow conclusions of sarface minds.
The coal and iron police could not organ
ize anything Of the kind IL they tried.
No, sir, the present strike is the desper-
ate act of men who are driven insane
by continuous injustice and ill-trcat-
ment 1T is too much to expect men
with perhaps starving wives and chill
! dren to be rational and conservative.
mo, sir said this old miner with
much emphasis, lit is not in human ma
tnrc, but it is to be hoped that this
strike will not prove contagious, and
that employers will look at things as
they exist and try to avert future trou-
BILE by avoiding and removing the
causes which produce it.
mo, thank you, young man, won't
drink Mother expects me home at 0. Sc