The representative., 1900-10-18

Dc1OIc duOCucI SuOI ~ uT0U UT an
other life lost in the anthracite coal
country, it is important that the re-
sponsibility for this great struggle of
10000 mine workers against small
group Of mine owners shall be fixed
1t is evident that the coal trust is
relying for victory upon a riot which
will arouse public sentiment against the
starving miners and divert attention
from the real issue. When the stree.s
Of the mining settlements are spattered
with blood, passion will take the place
of reason.
Behind the coal trust are massed the
soldiery of Pennsylvania and an army
Of private employees with loaded rifles,
ready to blow the lives out of the min
ers on the slightest provocation. The
mine owners know that if they can pro-
woke a conflict, the men who have been
for weeks pleading for living conditions
and offering to submit their grievances
to fair arbitrationssIill be put in the po-
sition Of law-breaken. #
The real issue shoufd be considered
soberly and in cold blood, before brute
force usurps the seene. The coal trust
should not be pernitted to hide it's re-
sponsibility behind the uniforms OF the
troops. That is an old device of tyran-
ny familiar to theswhsle world.
If any citizen doubts that the Goa.
trust is deliberately attempting to in
cite the striking caal miners to give it's
armed representatives an excuse for
slaughterins them. Yet him read these
statements: II
Hazleton, Pa, Sept 24.-Three COM
panies of the Eishth regiment, under
command of COL. Hutchinson, marched
into McAdoo froms Shenandoah at 5
o'clock this morning.
Day was just breaking, but Burgess
Mcclellan was up. He gave the new
arrivals hot reception. Speaking to
Col. Hutchinson. he said:
This is a disgrace and an outrage.
You come here to terrorize a peaceful
community.
There has been no demonstration
here except peaceful parades. There
has been no breach of the peace. !n,
are not needed here. You are not
wanted.
If you come into this town a step
further, you do SO in violation of The
law.
"You do not represent the state nor
the county. You are the hirelings Of a
corporation, armed by corporation to
defend it's property.
Get out of town and keep out Of it,
"You may patrol the mine property
as much as you please, but you must
not come into our town. Mayor Leon
ard, of Mahanoy City, is driving 200
armed mine guards from the town.
Troops are not needed in this section
OF the anthracite region, and the call
of Gov. Stone to have the Ninth in read
iness has only served to incite the men.
Since the strike was declared the min-
crs here have been peaceful, and will, ]
believe, remain so''
The labor troubles of the past sc
years have shown beyond a possible
doubt that the deputies posted about
the mines by the coal operators are re-
sponsible, and not the strikers, for all
bloodshed. Every mine in this city is
completely tied up, and the leaders OF
the United Mine Workers have done
everything in their power to preserve
law and order.
Troops are not needed, and only dark
On the prospects of aa early settlement
Thomas F. Corcogha, Mayor Of Pitts
ton.
The simple and sQndeniable truth is
that the mine workers of the anthracite
coal regions have. entered upon this
struggle because the trusts have raised
the price of the neceeaaries Of life, while
the coal trust has held their wages
DOWN A thoroughsand impartial inves-
tigation of the situation shows that
meat, flour, sugar, OF. ;. coal, shoes, cloth.
ing and everything that enters into q
workingman's expense account has risen
in price from Is to 50 per cent. These
are the things produced and controlled
by trusts. The mine; workers have been
receiving the same wages they got be-
fore the trust system raised the price OF
living.
How can q workingman live in such
circumstances? Be fair. Consider the
cruel lot of mine worker, crushed be-
tween the irresistible working of two
trust principles-one keeping his wages
down and the other putting his house.
hold expenses up: How can he live
What is he to do?
The anthracite mine workers present
ed their grievances to their employers
through the local Mine Workers unions
They asked for better wages. for = re-
duction in the extortionate charges fol
pQwder, for TIE abolition oe the infa-
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