The bee., 1901-02-28
DOWN IN THE MINES.

| Inc breaking IN TWO OF u "TRIP aJ JDe
No. 8 mine last Saturday caused
some damage to the timbers along
the main entry, but Foreman Cavi-
ness and a small crew of men soon
had things in tip top shape.
There is no doubt but poverty is
often the breeder of crime, and there
fore it can not be wondered at when
families are placed i'm condition of
penury at this season OF the year
when coal becomes scarce--in fact
no coal or money in sight-that coal
trains are robbed at Barnsley and
other points by those who are
in want and distress. Now we don't
blame the man who stole the coal as
much as we do that man or body of
men who was the chief cause of his
destitute condition. Therefore to
sum the matter up, the U. NJ. work.
ers, by their influence and acts, have
caused both distress and crime by
calling men from steady work at
good wages, and thereby placing
them where they must either steal
or become the objects of charity.
The thief who breaks in upon you at
dead Of night and robs you of valu-
ables causes you temporary loss, but
tho scoundrel who robs you of the
right to labor inflicts q greater injury
to the man and his family.
The fact is becoming more devel-
oped every day what wonderful in
fluence Agitator Wood exerts over
the people of this county. He came
to this county few months ago and
secured headquarters at Madison
vile, and at once began series of
letters to tho leading organ of that
organization wherein he has from
time to time given them history of
the condition of affairs as they APP
peared to him after he had evidently
taken a dozen or more drinks thai
day. One day he writes that prac-
tically every mine in the county was
shut down, and another time thai
there were 900 of the 1900
miners of this county out on a
strike, all of which was imaginary.
And to cap the climax, last week by
his instruction, the unions Of Barns
ley were all to be called out and tie
faithful given their orders that on
certain day at given hour work
must cease at Barnsley and so the
miners were instructed, and the re-
suit was that one boy all by himself
left the works. Such refusals 20
obey orders of the chief of the U. NJ.
workers of this district was indeed
distressing, and as we are told, that
the call made last week was to be
the last and final call, we fear that
Wood may get so discouraged that
he may leave the county. But in his
next letter he will satisfy his dupes
on the utside of Kentucky that the
call was successful, and the mine is
practically closed down, and they
will believe it and send him another
peck of beans for the faithful.
When the highwayman holds you
up and demands your money and at
the same time displays a deadly
wespon, you feel nervous and 'Our
power Of resistance grows weak and
In order to save life you feel lik
compliance with his demands is nec-
cessary. Such acts are punishable
by law, and yet the honest workman
may be met on the highway by
body Of mon armed and who take
pleasure in the display Of same,
while from their lips can be heard
tho implied threats: "You must
como out of the mine by certain
hour or bear the consequences"
These robbers of wives and children
feel secure and defy the law to speak
against them. We believe the eyes
of our people are becoming gradually
opened to this serious condition of
affairs and that one highwayman
will be held as amenable to the law
as another in the near future.
There is no better way to find out
the condition of affairs in general
around our coal mines than to ask
the mine foremen. They not only
know every crook and turn in the
mine but keep themselves well p 'st-
ed on all quest ons pertaining to la
bor. They know almost every man
personally, and soon acquaint them
selves with their disposition and
know when one will do justice to this
or that piece of work; whether or
not they are friend or enemy of the
company under whose employ they
are.
One who was near by last Saturday
when the hand-out establishment
was opened at Barnsley says that
the principal stock in trade seemed
to be molasses, only one out of the
H. 4.