The representative., 1900-10-18

nous company store system and, whe,
sick, the right to select their own doc.
tors.
The coal trust ignored the local un.
ions of the Mine Workers. The un-
fortunate men presented their case in
temperate, respectful, almost humble
words. They pleaded with their en-
ployers for a conference, promising to
withdraw from any position proved to
be wrong. They asked for a reason
able arbitration of the issue. TIE coal
trust still ignored them.
Then the coal unions appealed to the
national organization, the Mine Work
ers' Union of America, for permission
to strike. The national leaders were
opposed to struggle. They appealed
to the coal trust and it's allies to make
some concessions, to agree to con-
conference to arrange for arbitration
anything to avert strike.
The only reply of the coal trust was
made through the newspapers-they
would not recognize the miners unions.
Then came the strike.
Consider the facts. The coal trust
consists of the following organizations:
Pennsylvania Railroad company,
Alexander j. Cassatt, president.
Lehigh Valley Railroad system, Al
fred Walters, president.
Delaware and Hudson Railroad COM
pany, R. M. Olyphant, president.
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
Railroad company, w. H. Truesdale.
president.
Central Railroad company, of New
Jersey, J. R. Maxwell, president
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
company. Joseph H. Harris, president.
Erie railroad and New York, SusQue-
hanna and Western railroad, E. R.
Thomas, president.
Delaware, Susquehanna and Schuyl-
kill company, Irving A. Stears, presi-
dent.
ANOW 1OA n, OAtdl1O 0Au w CoIClA IL oil
road, Thomas B. Fowler, president.
AS these nine railroad companies pro-
duce about u per cent of all the hard
coal supply and absolutely control the
freight charges for all the mines, they
are supreme. They regulate the amount
OF coal mined and the price at which
| 1t is sold.
The coal trust violates the federal
antitrust law Yet its members 60
unwhipped of justice because President
Mckinley and Attorney General Griggs
refuse to prosecute them. The coal
trust violates the constitution of Penn
sylvania which prohibits railroad cor
porations from owning or operating
coal mines. The coal trust violates
the law of Pennsylvania, which COM
mands coal companies to pay their en-
ployes every two weeks instead of every
month. But the members of the coal
trust keep out of prison because the
governor of Pennsylvania will not take
them into court.
The open crimes of the coal trust
crimes that injure a whole people-are
committed with impunity. Why? Be-
cause the members of the coal trust
contribute literally to the Republican
campaign corruption fund Is that all
unfair statement? Are the facts not as
clear as sunlight?
But when the starving coal miners
combine lawfully to secure more wages
they are denounced, and their organiza-
ton is lightly referred to as "outside
interference"
The governor of Pennsylvania is
meek enough in the presence of the coal
trust. It's fragrant criminality leaves
him unmoved.
But it is different with the labor trust
the Mine Workers Union of America
A scuff1e, blow, a random pistol shot
and the armed soldiery of Pennsylvania
is instantly in motion, the hills AMI
valleys swarm with eager troops and
armed mercenaries hired by the coal
trust and it's plant sheriffs. Presently
the starving miners are called upon tC
look down the mouths of loaded rifles
and cannon. The whole armed force OF
the state stands behind the coal trust.
Why should the crimes Of the coal
trust 60 unpunished while the slightest
offenses of the workingmen are visited
by death New York Journal, Sept. q
1900.