The bee., 1901-09-19
DOWN IN THE MINES.

the U. M. w. at both darlington and
Morton's is evidently done for the
purpose of terrorizing the citizens.
When they first came to this county
they were loud in their boasts that
they would proceed only on peace
able terms-that is, use only their
persuasive powers to accomplish
their purpose. But they found out
soon that such chatf found no rest
ing place, so now they have changed
their tactics and the Winchester rifle
and other weapons of war have been
called into use and a reign of terror
inaugurated.
Agitator Woods latest dodge to
gain or create sympathy for his
cause in its dying moments is to try
and make people believe his valu-
able life has been threatened, and
then call the faithful to arms for his
protection. There must always be
some reason for movements like he
complains Of, and so let us investi-
gate and see why there should exist
a cause. Many months ago Wood
and some of the lesser lights of his
fraternity came to this county with
the sound of trumpets and with fly
ing banners, so to speak, claiming to
be what we might term a Moses"
to lead his children from the curse
of imagined grievances. They held
against the coal operators of this
county. But in this case the chill
dren proved to be wiser than the
would-be father, and refused to fol-
low. Since that time his efforts to
cripple the mines of this county have
proved of no avail. In fact, at the
time he came one or two small mines
in the county was under the partial
control of the U. NJ. W., but his ap-
pearance on the ground soon made
all the mines in the county solid
against the union. So far you can
see great good was done the coal op-
orators by his presence. AS time
rolled on his agelts succeeded in in
ducing few of the weak to join the
ranks of the ration-takers thereby
making room for true and faithful
men to fill their places, which had
no sooner been made vacant than an
application of at least ten men to ev-
cry one that thus quit the services
of the companies could have been
easily procured. Another reason
why the coal companies should have
felt grateful towards Wood. Then
again on every point he has proved
to be blind leader, failing to better
the condition of his people by plac-
ing them almost on the starvation
list, when he calls them from paying
jobs to join the ranks of the tent
makers. This has called down upon
his head the wrath of the citizens
who up to this time had in many
cases envied the prosperity of the
union, but who on the other hand
takes no pleasure in the suffering of
the once happy miner for the neces-
saries of life, and leads them to see
the great blessings bestowed upon
the people of this county by the coal
operators, and in many cases
former enemies have through the
evil workings of Wood and gang be-
came fast friends of the coal operat-
ors of this region. All these things
show the fallacy of the charge, that
that they seek his destruction. A
better man for the good of the coal
companies than Wood is could not
well be found. With more men at
work and the capacity of the mines
greatly increased since he came GER
tainly leaves no ground for COM
plant and he ought to feel safe.
When organizations enter into a
fight they have weak leader for
their opponents to deal with, and
Wood certainly fills the bill.
Rumor says that one night last
week one of the prominent agitators
of the county became so beastly
drunk that when ne reached his
destination all efforts to get him
awakened from his drunken stupor
was almost fruitless, and when he
was finally awakened, realizing his
condition, begged to be allowed to
go about ten miles further so that he
might sober up before returning to
his headquarters.
When you see labor leaders, as
they term themselves, making sal
oons a constant resort, labor has no
permanent friend in that man. Yet
it is common occurrence to see U.
M. w. members go in and out Of
saloons.
1t is often boasted of by the union
miners that wherever their organi-
zation controls labor prosperity ex-
lists. AS an evidence that such is