The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1902-10-17
FOR AID OF COAL MINERS
APPEAL OF THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Have Issued an Address to the Public
From IL to IL A. Nj. on Monday is
Designated as Miners Hour Strike
In Its 23rd Week-The Responsibility
Lays With the Operators.

Washington, oct. 14.-The American |
Federation of Labor, through its execu-
tive council. issued an address to the |
public, appealing for financial and moral
aid for the striking anthracite miners and
denouncng the attitude Of the mineown-
ers, on whom. the appeal says. must rest
the responsibility for the hardships re-
'sulting from the coal famine
The address which has been under dis
.cussion in secret sessions OF the council
for several days, designates the hour be-
tween IL and u on Mondays as miners
hour and is as follows:
ITO the public and organized labor:
1.-The strike of the miners is now in
it's 2Sd week. That the strike occurred
was entirely the fault of the presidents
of the coal companies; that the strike has
continued to this day Is due entirely to the
contempt which the presidents of the
coal companies have for the people of
our country and the untold sufferings
which all may endure.
mo offer to settle the strike could be
fairer than that of the miners repre-
sentatives at the conference with Presi.
dent Roosevelt. The operators naughty
arrogance brutal, dominating spirit and
blaspnemous assumption of divine wealth
-proprietorship, shocked the civilized
world and aroused the indignation of all
lovers of justice and fair dealing.
what more could the miners do and
maintain their self respect and not for
felt the respect of their fellowmen, than
their willingness to submit all matters in
dispute to a commission appointed by
President Roosevelt, and when that was
refused. to leave the entire controversy
to J. p. Morgan, one of the men largely
interested with the operators?
There has never been time. either
before the strike or since its Inaugural
ton, that the miners have not been en-
tirely willing to have the questions in
voved in the miners claims investigated
and adjusted by any disinterested person.
"These circumstances, in connection
with the strike, are recounted so that the
people of our country may place where it
properly belongs the responsibility for all
the suffering which the people may have
to bear by reason of impending coal
famine. The cold blasts of winter con-
front us, the chattering teeth of young
and innocent children; the shivering of
the weak, poorly Clad underfed men and
women; the stoppage of the wheels of
industry and commerce: the health I'M
dermined and thousands driven to un-
timely graves; the calamity threatening
our entire social life tranquility, with all
the dire consequences which may follow
are all upon the heads of the mine
operators.
1.-The principles, the cause for which
the miners are bearing the greatest
sacrifices and burdens, are as dear to the
hearts of all as to the miners.
1.-The miners must be sustained in their
righteous and holy struggle.
1.-THE miners must at least have bread
for themselves, their wives and their
little ones.
"In behalf of the miners. in behalf of
the cause of freedom, for justice and
right, the undersigned, representing the
organized wage earners of America. APP
peal to all people to contribute generously,
promptly and to continue the same until
the termination of this contest. And to
that end it is suggested that:
ElISl-ln teitu CITY anu lOMls DuSlllCSS
professional and public men form relief
committees to solicit financial and other
contributions.
''Second-The hour between 10 and II
o'clock of each Monday morning during
the continuance of the strike is desig-
mated as miners hour and the wages
earned during that hour by workingmer
bo tri1, cd
the miners.
"Third-Mnisters of the gospel of al
= denominations make a special plea ir
their respective congregations each Sab
bath morning in behalf of the miners
their wives and children, and that they
| constitute themselves into relief commit
: tees among their respective parishioners
"Fourth-The daily, weekly and labor
press solicit contributions from theii
readers; that entertainments be arranged
and contributions from unions and othel
organized bodies be solicited.
"Fellow citizens, fellow wage earners
Come to the aid of the miners in thei
heroic contest and administer well mer
tied rebuke to the arrogant. oppressive
2 miners of the operators, who woulC
: trample under foot and crush the heart
: and spirits of the men whom they EN-
ploy with equally callous indifference a
. they outrage dignity, the manhood ant
the interests of every man, woman AM
child in our land.
"Send all contributions to w. B. VIII
n