The bee., 1899-09-21
DOWN IN THE MINES.

In eastern Kentucky the miners
have some queer ideas as to what
constitutes case wherein an opera
tor of coal mine is justifiable In
discharging one of their employees.
AS an illustration of the views held
by the miners at the Wingo mines
one man who was driver was guilty
of the offense of killing a mule, and
the company exercised the right all
companies should possess and dis
charged the slayer Of the animal
when, as punishment for so doing,
one hundred of the miners came out
on strike. Show us the justice in
such strike. 1t Is taken for granted
that a thorough investigation was
made by the company before they
discharged the man, and, therefore,
the action of the miners was In no
way justifiable.
Only a short time ago one Purcell,
a chronic agitator sent out by the
U. M. W., came to this county on a
mission of mischief and while here
made an incendiary speech, calling
upon honest, contented miners to
rebel against their employees, be-
tween which there was no disagree
ment or grievance TO adjust, except,
in Purcell's opinion, the unpardona-
BILE crime of opposing the u. M. w.
by refusing in any way to recognize
the organization. While here the
operators took the view that give
him more rope and he will hang
so they let him pass by un-
noticed. But from the following
you will see that in another
portion of Kentucky they have
called him down in his mad career
and he is to be held accountable
to the law for his evil doings:
London, Ky- Sept. l5.-G. M,
Purcell, member of the national
board of the United Mine Workers
of America and resident OF
Terre Haute, Ind, was arrested
here on n warrant issued by the
operators of the Pittsburg, Vic
toria, Pittman and Laurel coal
companies, charging him with in
ducing the miners who are on
strike at the above and the new
Standard and Kentucky
mines to walk out while under con-
tract.
Purcell says that he will show that
there is no contract existing between
the operators and the miners, and
that he was arrested without bond,
that he might be kept out Of the way
while the operators intimidated the
miners into working again without
and he further said that
he and the national board would
fight his arrest, and that they intend
making test case of 1t.
The miners, who number 1900,
struck, for a 10 per cent increase,
such as was given by the operators
Of all the other mines in the eOmpe-
titive district. These mines are all
located at Altamont and Plttsburg,
this county. The operators Of the
lily mines, which have also gone
put, will tomorrow agree to the 10
per cent raise.
Late revelations indicate that the
honor of winning, whether real or
imaginary, is what the u. NJ. w.
most desire and IL they can secure
hat honor even at pecuniary loss,
hey are satisfied. An evidence of
his can be seen In their proposition
made to the Oakhill coal operators
when they agreed to bear the total
expense of n weighman, II they could !
,e allowed to say they won, but the
would not agree to it.
Foreman Robinson, from Empire |
mines, came home last Saturday.
He still complains of the scarcity Of
,oal cars, and says furthermore that
lis company received one order for
ifty cars coal to be shipped at once |
yhich they are unable to I'LL.
From the testimony given before