The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-15

of coal, but while docked they are COM
PEELED to remain at their post OF duty
Then there IS the prevailing complaint
ply with the semi-monthIy pay bill The
nfne-owners make the excuse that they
have never been asked to pay thus DuE
If asked would do So
Finally, the miners complain of favor
itiSm to certain miners on the part or
foremen, which enables them to make
big wages, and the companies say that
found guilty Of favOrttism will be immed-
lately discharged"
Julian Hawthorne. writing from shamo-
kin for the Philadelphia North American,
two weeks before the strike, said Of the
conditions.
Il sat in a little bedroom. fifteen feet
square in the back OF an inn, upstairs
and listened TO the talk of three or tour
men, They sat on cane-bottomed chairs
or perched themselves on the edge OF the
bed On the table were books and news
papers and documents. on the floor pig
sIop Jar, which We used as spittoon- The
men were very plainly clad. their faces
showed strong features full Of character
and Individuality One of them was SUI
ferfug from an acute attack OF rheuma-
tiSm in his back 1t had caught MIN as
he was shoveIing coal in the mine that
morning. They spoke in low voices. with
out excitement, but with immense poIll
and ernnhssis- Their taIk was not mag
fnSffSse-f r. vas f1ari WITH Facts There
were no harangues- Each put in MS car
as occasion served ana pulled MS stroAe
no attitude of conjecture spscula ton or
theoFfzing about them They had thought
fences. they we're easy masters of their
topic Often alongside OF the grim incl
sIveness and poSitiveneSS OF their speech
there would g1eam forth a touch of mas
c11lfne hurnoF- 1t is only IN beaten men
that the light OF humor dies out, and these
men were not beaten, though no one knew
so well as they the hardness OF their Ire
and the darkness of their prospects they
were miners with the coal dust washed
OF their hands and faces and with their
upper air clothes on and their topic was
operators and the likelihood OF strike
II found myself at headquarters IN the
fun sense Of the word, and as observed
their faces. listened to the tones OF Their
voices and considered the purpOrt Of their
utterances I was assured that they were
forrnuIarfnsz in rough, direct, poignant
sentences the condition. the needs. the re-
solves and the hopes of the mass Of their
y must have sat there three hours OF
more, during which time al the aspects
can attempt at present an outline only Of
what was said It was ali intensely inter
estfng but history must select with econ
onny In these voluble and breathleSs days
She can not tell il ALL 1 wanted to know
whether there was genuine distress am0ng
the miners or whether they were simply
DISCONTINUED because IN the general alleged
were getting less than they thought they
were entitled to- also wanted 10 know
whether strike was lnevlla9iss every
thing else having been tried and found m
effective Then would ask what re-
sources the men had for carrying on the
which the operators could put up Incl
deutaI1y were the operatREs really DESTROYS
Of being fair, and did they know what
the condition Of the men actually WAS or
were they tyraunicaI and arbitrary. believ-
ing the men TO be unable TO defend them
selves2 Finally. there were a number Of
minor points that required confirmation or
denial If the operators would consent to
Conform with the legal statutes already
existing, such as the law for sem1-n1onthlyr
payments and for fixing the number Of
pounds In a ten OF coal. would the strike
be avOidedz
EXPLICIT AND SATISFACTORY RE-
PLIES
On all these questions I received ex-
p1icft and satisfactory answers The dis
tresS is genuine and not fictitious The
average miner gets about dollar q day.
but as there Is no work for him on sun
days and holidays he can count On but
SIS month though as one Of my Inform
ants remarked. he has TO 90 living the
odd four five days just the SaEne-
was shown vouchers for a weeks work.