The bee., 1901-03-28
DOWN IN The MINES.

At this season of the year, gener-
ally speaking. there is always de-
crease in the coal business along
I this division of the Louisville &
/ Nashville railroad, but this spring
seems TO be an exception to the rule,
as great activity in the coal business
still prevails. Last week the cry of
/ the operators was, 'more coal cars"
The miners are eager TO work and
the supply of good men for the
mines is unlimited. In spite of the
pretented influence of the u. NJ. W.,
| thousands of good men can be Sc
cured to take the place of those who
have joined the gang, thus can be
seen the great confidence the labor
ing men both far and near have in
the business qualifications of the.
coal operators of this county.
Foreman Toombs, of the st. Ber-
nard building force is now working
an increased crew of men on the new
houses being erected at Barnsley,
the fact is since the influence of the
agitators is no longer felt there, the
place is on u boom, and more dwell
ings are demanded. 1t is only ne
cessary to get the idlers out of the
way when you want to push busi-
ness.
Who pays the liquor bills is cer-
tainly question of grave import
ance to the u. NJ. Workers, of adj
Joining states. A visit to this county
of a sober representative would no
doubt open their eyes. We are told
at, the county seat Of this Hopkins
County, can be seen daily, those who
profess SO much love for the poor
working people at the saloon bar,
freely imbibing in the death and
poverty dealing beverages and that
money taken from the home of the
miner who is compelled to pay per
cent Of his wages, and thus cause
his family to want for the necessa-
ries of life.
Sad indeed it is when man with
a large family Of children depend
ing upon his daily labor for support,
should through the influence of
those who care nothing for the in
jury done him, SO they gain menu
ber, be called away from job that
brings the family in about one hun
dred dollars per month, and thereby
placing himself and wife and chill
dren on the mercy of those who are
unable to supply them with either
work or living wages.
Heartrending indeed it was, to see
or hear the father of poor sick
child calling upon those who were
responsible for his poverty for do
nation of even as much as fifty cents
needed to buy medicine with, and
then to think he should meet with a
fiat refusal, is distressing in the eX-
treme. Now we are informed by
those whose statements are worthy
of belief, that such an incident
actually occurred lately in this
county, and to show the difference
between those who have the real in
terestS of the laboring man and
family ut heart, and the acts of these
pretenders, we must state, that u
coal operator who happened to be
standing by and heard this appeal
made, was touched by this cry for
help, even though it came from one
of his former employees, who had
turned traitor, and took from his
pocket, the required amount, to pur-
chase the tonic for the sick child
Thus can be seen the difference be-
tween those who love only SO far as
they can use YOU for tool, and
those who prove they are your friend
indeed, by being one IN need.
Superintendent Booth, of the Car
bondale mine, put in n large force of
new men this week and the mine
will be run regardless OF what agi-
tator Wood says. And when there
is work to be done and plenty of men
who are anxious to do it why should
not business proceed and succeed.
Several of the boys who recently
joined the U. M. WIS, when asked
their reasons for so doing, said they
were unable to work, and wanted to
make a trip south. So of course
they will be calling upon their breth-
rem for the price of n ticket soon
we suppose.
Almost daily the pitiable appeal is
heard from those who have been led
astray by the agitators and who now
cry for work to their former bene-
factors the coal operators of this
county, as "a matter of self defense
many of these appeals meet deaf
ears. If man once betrays you,
you are not likely to place another
cudgel in his hands to break your
hAlH n CAnAv,A