The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-09-18
ABIG STRIKE ORDERED
One Hundred and Forty Thousand
Men Are Involved.
The Miners in the Anthracite Coal
Regions Making Preparations
for the Coming struggle.


ficials of the United Mine Workers of
America Thursday issued a statement
to the public giving the causes that
have led up to the strike which was
ordered Wednesday. Among other
things he says:
The average wages of the anthra-
cite miner for many years has been
less than $3.50 annually. During that
period of time the cost of many of
the necessaries of life has been in
creased over 20 per cent. An increase
in the cost of living, without a CORE
spending increase of wages, is equiva-
lent to reduction in wages.
The laws of the state of Pennsyl-
vania make 2,40O pounds ton of an
thracite coal; yet anthracite miners
are compelled to mine from 2,7O0 to
1000 pounds FOR ton, and, in addi-
ton to that, are locked eXorbitant
amounts, often reaching u per cent.
of their daily earnings, for any i'm
purities which may be sent out with
their coal. Where they are paid by
the car, instead of being required to
furnish a well-rounded heap on the
car at the breakers, as was originally
agreed to, they have gradually been
compelled to increase the amount of
coal in each car by building the same
perpendicularly from to Is inches
above the edge.
They are compelled to purchase
the powder used in mining from their
employers, paying $2.75 per key for
grade of powder that can be pur-
chased elsewhere for $3.50 per key,
and which WHOLESALERS for about 81
per key. They are required by many
of the companies to deal in ''pluck-
me" stores or leave their employment
They must pay to the company 81
per month for doctor, whether they
need him or not, and have no voice
in saying who the doctor shall be.
The smallness of their earnings, to-
gether with the great cost of living,
has compelled them to take their
children from school before they have
reached the age prescribed by law, and
place them at work in the breakers,
in order to keep the family from
starvation. When any miner, feeling
the burden of these conditions has
gone to the management and asked
to have them removed, he has been
told if he does not like it he can
quit.
Hazleton, Pa, Sept. 17.-With the
exception of President Mitchell's ar
rival, there was little evidence shown
here Sunday that Hazleton was the
storm center of the present coal war
between capital and labor. Nothing
occurred to disturb the serenity of
the Sabbath. Quite a large number
of miners came to town, but soon
left when they found that there was
no news floating around. With the
exception of the engineers, fremen,
pump runners and repair men, no one
was around any of the mines in this
vicinity. Public meetings of miners
were held during the day at Harley,
Ebervale and Freeland, on the north
side: Shepter and Harwood, on the
west side, and at Colerain, south of
here.
The largest gathering was that at
Freeland, IL miles north, where the
union men are not so strong as the
organizers would like to have them.
This meeting was held in the open
air and was addressed by National
Committeeman Benjamin James and
a number of other leaders well known
in these regions. There were 1000
persons in the crowd. When Mr..
James asked all those to raise their
hands who were against a strike not
an arm went up.
Harrisburg, Pa, Sept. 17-The
miners in the Lykens region are di-
vided on the strike question, and it
is expected that at least half of them
will go to work Monday, A meeting
of the union men at Lykens was held
Sunday afternoon, at which it was de-
cided not to work, but it is thought
enough will stand by the company to
operate the mine. Reports from Wi
coniscO are that the men will obey
the strike order as long as there is
any hope of compromise with the
operators. A secret session of the
LyKens and Wiconisco miners was
held Sunday night at Lykens to in
vite the mine employees at Williams
town to join the strike. The men
there do not belong to the union and
are opposed to strike because of
the refusal of the miners at Lykens
and VViooniSoo 10 S1D,,O,f +1av,, -, A.