The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-04
WORSE THAN THE DEVIL HIMSELF

Rev. DR.. e. W. Blodgett, pastor of st. Paul's
Methodist Episcopal church, CINCINNATI, has made
scathing denuncation of the coal operators in the
present anthracite coal strike Among other things
he said:
IF you were half starving and were laughed at
when you demanded better wages, and then with
Others like you struck for compensation sufficient to
support yourself and family and were treated for
striking as if you were bond and not free man,
would you not feel like fighting?
ST the stockholders and directors of the great
companies that operate the anthracite coal mines
in the miners shoes they would fight and shoot
to kill
1.-The striking miners have grievance, and it is
one that calls to high Heaven and men for hearing
The of the mines are the owners of the rail
roads.
cit is the heartess directors that are the sinners
against American law and trade and the people, not
the miners.
''In this country make symmetrical American
men out of Hessians, Huns, Slavs and the lowest
type of Europeans When dwes for while
in the atmosphere of this country he begins to ex-
pand He wants better food and clothing and educa-
ton for his children than he had whena child across
the waters.
Several years ago, when the miners of the coke
and anthracite regions demanded more their places
were filled by importatIons from Europe Now
these importatons need much as the fellows that
they supplanted and they treated as if they were
not more than half human.
THE sympathy of the masses of this nation is
with these miners. They only asked for small ad-
vance The coal barons were spending more money
on yachts and horses and IN dissipation than would
have kept them all for year. They demanded by
oppressive methods every miner to trade at the
Pluck Me Stores Their cruelty in shamelessy
robbng these men would make the devil himself
say: L would not be as mean
go down to the mines in Pennsylvania and watch
them as they come and go from their work. Visit
their dwelling places and see the squalor. Try to
read the lines of hopelessness on their faces Wit
ness their utter helplessness.
Then go out and buy your two or ten tons of coal
advanced by twist of the fingers of the coal trust
without cent of advance in wages going to these
miners and what would be your feelings?
''All kinds of bread stuffs higher; clothing more
expensiye; pure air and water costing some
thing, and these men only asking for living.
''If the American fighting blood would not warm
up, your colonial ancestors would repudiate you as
linea descendants.
laboring miner has is the result of strikes The la
Dor unions have gained over 30 per cent of their
strikes. The object of all labor organization and
is good. Some of the leaders may be
hot-headed men.
"There can be no just comparison made between
trusts and labor unions The first is an octopus the
second humanitarian, educational social helper |
"These miners'do not want any Decentralization |
They simply want chance to live. The future of
this country will be enhanced if it becomes necces-
sary to parayze every industry and settle the differ
ences that now exist Jesus Christ, the poor man
friend, would settle them"