The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-01
DEFENDS THE STRIKERS
FRED DILCHER, OF THE UNITED
NINE WORKERS, IN THE CITY.
Says the Evansville Situation Has
Been Grossly Misrepresented by
Press Reports-Present Conditions.

A meeting OF the national committee OF
the United Mine Workers will be held to-
day at the headquarters Of the organization,
in the Stevenson building, and National Or
ganizer Fred Dilcher will set before the
committee the conditions at Evansville,
where he has been for some time. Mr..
Dilcher arrived in the city yesterday after
noon. He said the conditions at Evansville
had not been set fairly before the people,
and grossly exaggerated reports had been
sent out from Evansville in regard to the
behavior of the striking miners. According
to Mr.. Dilcher's statements, the strikers
have at all times been orderly and have
neither fired nor carried guns.
can instance of the exaggerated reports
that have been sent out" said Mr.. Dilcher,
sis the story that was telegraphed over the
country about the riot last Tuesday, in
which shots were fired. The fact is that
there was not a union miner on the scene.
Some of the imported negro miners were
marching down the street, and a crowd of
children, from ten to twelve years old,
yelled 'scabs' at them The negroes pulled
revolvers and fired into the crowd Of chill
dren. It's wonder some of the children
were not killed. One little boy lay down in
a ditch and bullet struck close to his head.
Another bullet passed through the hat of a
child. The sympathizing citizens have made
demonstrations against the nounion miners
and children march through the streets
with drums crying 'scab' at every nonunion
miner they meet. but the union miners have
had nothing to do with this
us Ii not true that the local authorities
asked Governor Mount to prepare to send
troops to Evansville because the police were
exhausted from guarding against riots
night and day?' Mr.. Dilcher was asked.
1T may be true that that request was
made of the Governor he replied. but it
is not true that protection is needed against
the striking miners. The union offered the
| services. free, Of two hundred union miners
| to guard property. This offer was made to
| the mayor. The striking miners have not
| approached the mines armed. On the con-
| trary, the unfair operators have armed
twenty-one imported negro miners with
| Winchesters, and they stand around the
mines ready to shoot. The negro miners
who struck in sympathy with the white
miners are organized and are standing out
| Our organization does not discriminate
against negroes. and those who are organ.
lied at Evansville are faithful and peace
able. 1t is fact that there has not beer
| one desertion from the organized miners
| and they are initiating new members at ev.
| cry meeting. There are about seventy non
| union miners working in southern Indiana
| including twenty-one Imported negroes, anC
| there about 700 striking union miners
| store has been established at Evansville
| from which the strikers are supplied will
| food free. The food furnished is of wider
| variety and better quality, probably, thar
| the miners bought when they were working
| A doctor is employed to look after the sick
| ana all the prescriptions are filed at on,
drug store and paid for by the union Tn,
| union has plenty of money and there is M
| has two meetings week, and the rest O.
| the time the men stay at home. 1t is a.
| quiet at Evansville now it is in this office
| The union has adopted waiting policy
| 1t proposed that board of arbitration con
| sisting of the two labor commissioners ant
| the judge of the Circuit Court at Evansville
be allowed TO handle the situation but tn
! operators refused. They want to deal witt
| the men individually. The men are pre-
| pared to wait as long as necessary. Thos
! operators who have come to an agreemen
| with the miners are not able to fill their or
| ders, though they are turning out coal a
| fast as possible. The operators who are at
tempting to run their mines with importe,
| Ing money, while they are making no effec
on the strikers. The Injunction suit whicl
the operators secured against the striker
will be tried Sept. L. That day is Labor day
and excursion trains for miners will be ru,
| to Evansville SO they may be present at tn
trial. The officials of the national organiZa
ton Will have conference with the labo
commissioners and the Governor to-morroy
and explain the situation to them"