The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-27

Hannas there would be less destiiution
and complaint among the coal miners. .
MORE TESTIMONY.
Mr. Cameron Miller ex-vlce presI-
dent Of The United Mine Workers OF
America. and In personal charge Of the
organization Of the Pittsburgh district.
recently wrote a lengthy letter con
corning the Hanna mining interest
there, in the course OF which he said:
"The writer OF these lines has had a
number OF years of experience in the
miners movement, and especially In
the Pittsburgh district. where the
mines with which MF. Hanna is con-
nected are located, and can bear testl-
mony to the uniform courtesy, fairness
and good treatment accorded TO organ
lied men and their representatives by
the company. They have been ever
ready 90 forward and promote the best
interest of the coal business OF that
district, cooperating with the miners
organization and taking leading part
since the close OF 1894, In all move
ments suggested and advocated by the
officers and members OF the United
Mine Workers OF America"
Added TO this testimony regarding
Mr.. Hanna's treatment OF the miners is
a lengthy editorial from the Columbus
Record. labor organ OF high standing,
The article was written by John Nc
Bride, ex-president of the American
Federation OF Labor, and ex-president
OF the United Mine Workers. In COM
mendlng Gov. Bushnell's appointment
OF Mr.. Hanna TO the senate last spring
Mfr. Mcbride concluded hts article as
follows:
After the disastrous strike OF lSI3-f4,
when organization among mine workers
had been practically obllterated, John
siney and other officers OF the Miners
National Association were not only rec
ognized by, but secured the co-opera-
ton OF Mr.. Hanna and his company in
efforts made TO establish and maintain
the union in Ohio, and only In April OF
las. year Mr.. p. n. Penna, president of
the United Mine Workers OF America,
In his annual address, delivered AT the
convention held In this city, declared
that the organization was under obli-
cations to Mr.. Hanna's company for
earnest cooperation in efforts made by
the union to increase the mine workers
wages In the Pittsburgh district.
'Tn making these statements we not
only wish to correct wrong done 70
Mr.. Hanna, but to prevent, in so far
as we can, the labor organizations OF
Ohlo from being used in the future as
catspaws to pull the chestnuts OF the
other candidates for the senatorship
out OF the fire, under the pretense Of
condemning Mr.. Hanna for his cruelty
10 miners and his hostility to miners
unions"
HANNA's IRON MINES.
So much for Mr.. Hanna and the coal
miners. The part his manager took In
bringing about the settlement of the re-
cent strike is too fresh in the public
mind to call for repetition here. Savage
charges have been made regarding his
treatment OF his employees In the Mich
igan iron regions. William Carney. OF
Pittsburgh, vice president of the Anal
gamated Association Of Iron and Steel
Workers, made an official investigation
OF these charges, and his report, which
is quite lengthy, shows that since Mr..
Hanna bought the Winthrop mine he
has instituted many reforms. Prior TO
$780," says Mr.. Carney, when NJ. A.
Hanna & Co. became the owners, q
ground rent OF $40 per month had been
charged the miners who had built
houses for themselves. Mr.. Hanna or
dered the rent remitted and the men
have the land now absolutely free"
Only two strikes have occurred. both OF
which were amicably settled long be-
fore a settlement was made by the other
operators in the region. The other OPP
orators in the last strike called on
4 hut 0t a
mines none were needed and not once
did soldier approach those mines.
At the Chaplin mine, owned by Mr..
Hanna. the same conditions prevailed.
Mr.. Carney says:
I'm the winter Of 1896 when all min
ing was suspended and great restitution
prevailed, Mr.. Hanna not only contrib
uted literally to the aid OF the needy
throughout the district. but opened the
Chaplin and put 1000 men to work. at
good wages, though he had thousands
OF tons OF ore on hand with no market,
and was unable to collect for ore previ-
ously delivered"
In n necessarily brief article It is i'm
possible to give .the many unsolicited
statements OF workmen who have been
familiar with Mr.. Hanna's methods as
an employer Of labor. The Intelligent
Ger has already published the resolu-
tons adopted by the Brotherhood OF
Boiler Makers and Iron Ship Builders
OF America, at Cleveland, denoupcing
the attacks made on Mr. Hanna as SIAN
derous.
This lodge is composed in part OF en-
ployes OF the Globe iron works, in which
the senator Is largely interested. In
addition a mass meeting Of the men Mt
the ore docks in Ashtabuia met recent
ly and denounced the statements re-
garding their treatment by the NJ. A.
Hanna Company, saying, I'VE make
more money during the year than the
men ut other docks. and We have better
treatment than employees on other
docks. One thing is the small per cent
OF Sunday work required OF us" This
statement Is confirmed by George u.
Raser, the manager OF the ore docks at
Ashtabula, and Rev. Father Joseph f.
Smith. Catholic priest, in whose con-
gregation are many OF the employees OF
the ore docks. Father Smith writes to
Senator Hanna and says:
From personal knowledge ! know
you have always sympathlzed with your
men and have granted concessions
against the advice and wishes OF your
representatives here"
HOW HE GEORGES.
The street railway employees, all union
men, OF the Little Consolidated Street
Railway OF Cleveland, OF which Mr..
Hanna Is president. on October 5 passed
resolutions denounclng the attacks on
Mr.. Hanna and testlfyinE TO his fair
ness and business TO his employees. The
president OF the Ohio State Trades AS
sembly adds similar testimony based
on Investigation.
II may be well In this connection TO
rernil tho following Incident OF the prcs-