The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-09-07

: tisements Have Been Placed in the
Newspapers to Get Men to Work in
Pennsylvania in Place of RecaIci
trant Strikers-Stories of Victims.
Special to The Globe.
NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-Public SYM
pathy in relation to the coal strike
is equally divided. Unfair methods,
when resorted to by either side, are
properly to be condemned. The shang-
haieing of men for the old navies of
Europe was an act which was prob
ably eXcusable during the early stages
of civilization, but under no consider
alton should it seem possible that 1t
could be reSorted to at the present
day.
AS matter of fact, however, the
owners of the Pennsylvania and other
anthracite mines seemingly have had
to have recource to something which
nearly approaches the old fashioned
way of obtaining recruits for offensive
purposes. In this work they have pos
sibly avoided a supreme court injunc-
ton, but have not helped to a solution
of matters generally.
Almost since the strike commenced
the various coal producing concerns
have been doing some overt work of
character which should almost seem
to be open to criticism.
Their emissaTies have advertised in
prominent daily papers in the various
leading cities of the United States for
help, which they obtained under false
pretenses, advertising for men as en-
gineers, firemen, etc, and then landing
IT. IN tn
in various capacities,
This has been a matter of gener-
ally accepted information, and perhaps
in many cases only men who had no
other recourse than to accept employ
ment on any terms that were used,
but in contradistinction to this some
cases have occurred which show a
distinct purpose on the part of the
operators agents to overstep the
boundaries of the law.
"Thirty-Two shanghaied."
The case has become so aggravated
that it was found necessary to prefer
complaints, thirty-two men and boys
having recently been "Shanghaied"
from New York city. All have made
affidavits to this effect and the case
, will come before the grand jury, the
district attorney having admitted that
the charges are properly brought. The
emissary of the railroad company,
who is charged with being responsible
for these offenses, is understood to be
a detective in the employ of the COM
pany, known as Herman Seidman.
OF the thirty-two persons who have
made affidavits against this man two
particularly are specified. They are
David Altman and Frank Felt, both
boys who had been employed In the
butcher business.
TN ,aiY Il
cisely how they We're lured to Pitts
ton, how their car was attacked by
strikers, how they were fired upon
and rescued by band of armed men
and brought to a shelter adjoining a
coal mine.
Jacob Press has been rescued from
his captivity owing to the efforts of
friends. He is a bright boy about sew
enteen years of age and has been en-
ployed as a messenger boy by one Of
the telegraph companies. His story
forms the basis of the charges to be
brought against the alleged agent Of
the company.
His story in brief is that he an
swered an advertisement and early in
August met Herman Seidman who told
him he had work for him on a railroad
in Philadelphia. Anxious to secure a
chance for advancement in life he
grasped the opportunity.
The wages promised him, according
to his affidavit, was $45 a month and
board. He states that there was not
man among the thirty two engaged
who had the remotest idea that they
r would have to take the places of coal
mine strikers.
Story of Jacob PRESS.
when we got to Jersey city," says
PRESS, 1--WE were put into passenger
car. Doors and blinds were all locked
when We got aboard. We were travel
Ing on a fast train and expected to be
in Philadelphia in few hours, but it
was midnight before we reached our
destination. Then we found out that
we were at Pittston. On arriving
there we were put to work in the col
lieries, sleeping at night on railroad
cars and on cots. We had been fired
upon on entering Pittston and were
kept in a constant state of anxiety,
fearing that we might be killed at any
moment.
1T told the mine superintendent that
/ had not been hired for such a pur-
pose as he had put me to, am said
that I wanted to go home to my faith
er's house on Stanton street, New
York city. He calmly told me that 1
would be paid on the first of the rs,xt
month and then would receive but one
weeks pay. 1t was understood that
the company should keep back two
weeks pay. Finally they agreed to
release me, giving part nayment on
my wages, and 1 escaped. Preiss'
father corroborates the statement. The
evidence of other men who were de-
coyed to Pittston bears out this evil
dence. In fact it seems to be a hat
ter of ordinary news that men have
been shanghaied for use in the mines.
The effect of these revelations has
been the development of considerable
sympathy for the striking miners. It
is felt that unfair means have been
Escorted to by the coal operators and
that the extreme criticism of the strik-
ers is scarcely warranted even though
violence has occurred on many occa-
sions.
It is thought also that the exposure
of the conduct of the companies
agents" may lead to the settlement of
strike which threatens to be one of
the most disastrous in American his
tory. Curtis Howard.
Too Realistic Portrait