The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-25
TO MINE WORKERS
OF OUR VALLEY.

many years and haa Allied the position as fore
nan Of such in this time. And right here would
say your trials and suffering and low wages
are nothing new to me. While it. may he hard
10 say, nevertheless 'tis true, the suffering and
the condition OF thing, around tic mines mp
to the present time il the effects Of oir seed
srwing whrn there were no monopoly Ot coal
mines | am speaking more Of tho valley Of
Schuylkll. where mines were owned and opcr.
atCd hy individuals. II was then the ". y. 4.
was organized, and being a member OF such
Know OF what speak 10 be true. Many ot
tie union men at to present day remember full
well the six and nine months strikes We had
then. No Den can pic'uc the suffering and
the condition Of the mining class were in
those days. Aud all brought about hv tho an.
leaned the ignorant class of the mining
population, and. worse than words car tell, a
set OF officials OF the organization vino knew
no miuhood--trditors Of tie dCcpest dyc--.ticlI
was the ruling Iu,er Of the miners union in
the seventies.
strikes were as Numerous "A ,hjIds' play then.
For tic least offence strike wa, declared e.
was strike, strike until the indi, operators
were compelled TO sell ont to larger capitalist.
Wages were high in those days \ boy l., years
turning fan could got ~ and 50 a week: and
he would be poor miner than could not carr
iiom Sl2o to $50 a month and upward after his
costs "crc deducted. But they were not salts.
fed. The question oi eight hours a day was
agltatcd, and Il general convention Of the Schuli.
NlIl hIhe'N was called ~ session. Noling would
"o ""' S"'N'' lle p'ltef c!asS OF common
S'"'' N'i'''r' 'pieSaW the calomt% they wctc
comlilG 10. The downfall OF the union was a
e''"'h'N Az hlouGht ABOUT by the hot'hoadcd,
ignorant class, who know no better, who over
'"ch tue no'tcr element by The majority. TIC
atilkc came and when victory was in sight
iIr men were sold out bv tho officials of the
oIH W. b. " We not only suffered privation
III cur struggle nut were whipped sorcly ~
III" l'Sh oi injustice. NN time went by bosses
.ah more 9uthpritE ana became more domineei-
ihs' wages were reduced, and so it has been
up n'l S"mc time ago.
'h'h "galh worse evil beicIl us. class
"i people OF foreign bhtl came focklng 10 the
nl"cs VINO 'ou'd MOI speak one word OF English.
"h" hId 10 be called by numbers, offered their
s'N"eS Hee 10 learn the way OF mining.
know of miners receiving pay for such. Forerncn
were brlhed m time for good places, until many
!'s' their position. such was my personal ex-
l'l'ehce Whllc lniho worker. until ! became
80 d'"3usted WIN nhning and organizations for
~" "eiio'' oil miners that resigned ! be-
hcVe III union and am a strong advocate of
S"''' but "hcn principles are trihed with and
men Wlh not reason with common sense, bettec
by FAR to let each ono 90 his own way.
sulE"' lhe agitation has been before MS for
i'W weeks unlli business is crippled or dead,
80 to speak, that the thinking man does not
know which way to tuTn, and the result who can
Ten Let lhlS communication appeal TO The
hemhcrN oil Inc labor union OF The anthracite
coal heldS' Arc You and Your families prepared
Tor long struggle: Have YOU considered the
sunenns YOU ~" riSking yourself not only YOU,
hAt also the business men at large? Tell Inc
tranNIy what are You striking for? What is
your grievance now? Is it because YOU want the
'o"' companies TO recognize you as members
ot your union: What chlds play game arc
You at' Have not the coal companies been
ti'r ana agreed to all YOU wish for. aud sail
they were willing 10 settle all grievances a,
employers 10 employees ii You 90 to them Do
yon not know the press aud public sympathy il
against you Tor such nonsense? Awake from
your dream Of strike; use common sense and
lair play and do not cut your nose OF 10 spite
your face.
Let me ask common scusc question or vo.r
union of the anthracite region: low /. II yo,,
have elected western man OF the soft coal
region to fill the office Of president Of yo,r union
(oulu yOu nat Nrd ,,,r -. ''''