The bee., 1901-04-25
DOWN IN THE MINES.

After the lapse of several months,
the people of Christian County now
see that law and justice can not al
ways be trampled under foot, but
instead, those who defy the enforce
ment of law will in the end receive
the punishment due them. Less
than year ago, members of the l..
NJ. w. at the Empire mine in de-
fiance of all law and right told the
managers of the Empire Coal Com
pany, that they would not vacate the
houses then occupied by them. Ac-
ton was at once commenced, in the
courts of the county,!and afterk sew
eraI trials in the .difrerent courts,
justice reigned supreme, and now
the fellows who allowed themselves
beaten .out of ga job, are also
houseless so far as the Empire Coal
Company is concerned, who have
! through legal step after step regained
control of their own property. Now
the question arises will this same or
ganization, which was instrumental
in robbing these workmen of job
furnish them and their families with
work and houses. The Empire
Coal Company justly feel proud Of
their victory in getting rid of a class
of labor, so obnoxious to them.
One good reason why those who
wodld under ordinary circumstances
visit our county to perform acts of
lawlessness, do not come, is because
of the fact, that the truth has reached
their ears to the effect that shot guns
and pistols are numerous in this
county, and thousands of willing
hands to use them. The impression
the L. NJ. w. is trying to create
abroad that public sentiment is in
their favor is a false one. Outside
of few scheming politicians,
backed up by n few faithful follow
ers, but few meh can be found in
this county, who at heart sympa-
thige with these who would destroy
both life and property to build up
little kingdom for Jim Wood and
gang. Life is sweet" and as oil of
them do not profess TO be sanctified,
and therefore not ready to go at
moments notice, they are not anx-
ious to invade the county at this
time, and face determined set of
men who are ready in self defense,
to battle for home and right.
A few days ago while in conver
sation with a farmer from the Nebo
country, we learned that the farmers
as a class see, destruction to their in
terests if the efforts of the mine
workers to destroy the mining in
terests of the county should prove
successful. TO use his own words,
"There are two thousand or more
miners in this county, who, if the
mines We're shut down, would be
compelled to labor elsewhere and
and they would go to farming. That
vocation he said, is now over sup
piled and the result would be a great
loss TO the farmer by an over prOduc-
ton, and the total destruction of a
home market. Now he claimed the
farmer with this small army OF min
ers steadily employed had one of
the best markets for all lie produced
right here at home, furthermore he
could see not only decrease in
the demand for farm products and
price OF same. but also u decrease of
about one half in the value Of their
land. 1t was indeed q gloomy out
look this tiller of the soil took. but
n study of the situation will show to
the close observer that his reason
iDgs from business standpoint was
undeniable and beyond successful
contradiction.
Instead of keeping it secret as they
should, the Mine Workers boast of
the fact that they have actually
paid over $l50,O00 towards Il strike
corruption fund. Just think that
such an amount of money should be
spent to support men. in idleness,and
that because the coal operators re-
fused TO allow their business taken
entirely out of their own hands, and
operated by the rule or ruin gang.
Actions, it has been truthfully
said, speak louder than words, and
If that statement is true, the ULited
Mine Workers, who recently char
tered boat TO come to Sebree, on
an unlawful mission, and because
the necessary supply of food could
not be found, free for all, proceeded
TO destroy property, are indeed a set
who do not deserve to be classed as
civilized. Their home is in a saloon
or other quarters where rufiians
meet. The same destructive spirit
moved them when they went to Sc
bree to take possession Of the mines