Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-09-05
+ THE ROSARY OF a RAMBLER.
..s.-s

Old sayings which we drone over in;
orations in which few years later we
inform the world in general what it
should do and how it should do IT. have
oftentimes more in them than we who
have said them over and over again
have ever known. II is only when on
every side one sees facts which prove
the sayings that they can be said TO be
worth the saying at all. We hear. when
any mooted question is under discus
sion, that there are two sides to every
question:, and that it 10 true is seldom
doubted. An illustration was noted but
n few days ago. During a visit in the
anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania
a day was most enjoyably spent at a
large mine. Down. into the darkness OF
the earth, scarcely relieved by the Ham
ing lanterns of the men, thru the engine
rooms where the force Is generated
which sends down to the men in the
acaYerns the fresh air and draws away
I the water with which otherwise the
chambers would be flooded, up to the
top of the breaker, where the work Of
selection and rejection goes on all was
pleasure TO one whose knowledge OF
obtaining coal hitherto had been to call
up over the phone a coal dealer and
then sigh over the bill when 1t came
But as there is nothing which can be Of
such Interest as the human, 1t wac IN the
miners and the laborere, OF all nation
alities and ranging from boys in their
teens to gray-haired men, who had
spent an average lifetime in the mine
that the greater interest was ia ken. The
papers We're full OF conjectures as 20 the
threatened strike, and there was little
lconvergation which did not lead up to
the ALA bsorblng subject. The difficulty
has not yet been settled, the leaders
having agreed to wait until the 9Th OF
September for their demands to be
agreed to-. Under the circumstances 1t
might be expected that the workers
would seem oppressed and give token OF
dire poverty. and need With such an
depreciation. despite what had been
heard in the city. where sympathy was
lall against the agitators of the strike,
the mine was visited. A more opportune
time could not have been chosen, for 1t
was atthe noon hour. when for the time
the We're not filled with coal. that
1 the descent was made. Were the tin
pals Of the men empty Of aught rave
coarse bread and perhaps a piece OF salt
meat? Indeed and they were not. Cold
meats and chicken, cake and fruits were
seen. and there is no telling what deli
cacies might not have been seen II all
modesty and manners had been laid
aside. but what was seen in furtive
|3glances was enough to convince one
that the workers OF the mine enjoyed
better lunches than many businese men
do. Nor were the men gloomy and rul-
4 len. az would also have been expected
Instead. they seemed happy and con-
tented and seemed to havea real affec.
ton for their manager. There was nc
reason why they should not have, for h.
IL man Of democratic and kindly bear.
Ing, and such qualities employee are not
4 slow to recognize. The explanation OF
the fact that while they had no com.
4 plant they were about to strike, lies II
the fact that they did not desire to qui,
their work, but would be compelled Il
II the leaders in their union ordered d
strike. The various reapons Assigned
why It was to the intereSte OF thos,
leaders to declare etriks can not al
be given, and 1t might not be Just to d,
%. 4unlesD we could bear In mind th,
adage on which this squib 10 founded
i for the agitatore no doubt have q side Il
their Story, too. But hefeaftef VISOR