Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-05-01
The Minotola Strike.

Through the strike at Minotola, little
town ON the w. J. and Seashore r. R.,
east of Newtield, the people are learning
some facts about condition of white
slavery they never dreamed of President
Gompers of the Federation of Labor. and
D. A. Hayes, of the Glassblowers' Union,
addressed a meeting of workmen and
friends there last Sunday The leaders de-
clare that conditions existing there are
about the most shocking in their experience.
Minoto1a is practically owned by George
Jonas, in whose glassworks all its popula-
tion was employed. He owns the houses,
all the land except one plot, owns the only
church, pays its minister, and owns and
controls the solitary store where the neces-
stiles of life may be bought. His manager,
David Apologize, is postmaster, and his
sister, Miss Jonas, has charge of the rail-
road station. Nothing can be done in the
village without the supervision of the Jonas
Company.
The wages are from S. to $12 per week.
of which the men never see a cent. The
company store account always balances
evenly with their pay envelopes When it
did not they were forced to take the re-
mainder in COAL"
Worst of all, they declare, was the rule
that no man who could not bring two boys
to work with him ever received employ
ment. To replace the boys that ran away,
it was charged, the Jonas Company sent
back into the country and got others, then
paid them such low wages that they could
not afford to leave the town.
| President Gompers received an ovation
from Americans and Italians alike when
Chairman William Doughty introduced
him. The President denounced the condi-
ton of Minotola labor.
'sWhy, in the most savage countries of
the earth, - he said, parents do not allow
their children to attempt to support them
selves before they are able to defend them
selves. Yet here, in April, 1902, within
hailing distance of the country's greatest
centres of civilization, we see babies of
and and s years forced to labor until
they drop from exhaustion. If they don't
do it their parents may starve."
Two little Italians, neither of whom are
10 years old, told Mr.. Gompers how they
had been made to toll in the hot factory for
81 a week.
"And this, /" he said, ''is in direct opposi-
ton to the laws of the State, which say
that no child under IA years of age shall be
allowed to work. We are trying to show
Governor Murphy what goes on here, and
if necessary, we shall take some Of these
babies to the Capitol and exhibit to him
some of Mr.. Jonas workmen."
President Hayes, in brief speech, urged
the strikers to stick together and fight to
finish.
"If we can get the outside world to know
of your conditions" he declared, "victory
is certain The dIudgery, manning and the
killing of children will appeal to the justice
of all Americans. If the people need bot
ties they can and will pay prices for them
that will not include the price of child
MURDER
EXCITEMENT IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
Especial Dispatch by Telephonel
Among the non-Union workmen who
have taken the place of strikers at Mino-
tola, are Henry Mailman, Girls. Myers and
his son, of Janvier. They drive daily from
their home to Minotola. This morning,
May 1, as they were driving along the Blue
Bell and Downstown road, near the old
Blue Bell tavern, Franklin township, two
hundred of the striking workmen sprang
out of the woods, and Selling the horse,
turned it around, and firing revolvers in
the air, started them home as fast as their
frightened horse could carry them, and it is
said they didn't hold their horse in bit.
A large party of the workmen, from the
same place, got past before the strikers
intercepted them, and reached the works.
There is much excitement in Franklin
township over the affair."