The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-02
STRIKERS SORROWS
Mother Jones Tells an Impassioned
Story of the Sufferings of
the Oppressed.
Attempt to Break the Spirit of the
, Women by Evicting Them
from Their Shacks.

Chicago, Oct Eff Christ came to
America" took advantage Of the best uni
versity education the country affords, then
went into the anthracite and West Vir-
ginia mining regions he never would pc
able to write book which could properly
convey to the minds of its readers the
horrors that surround the lives OF miners
Tho human tongue cannot tell Of the
nliseries that blast the lives of those who
earn a living In the bowels OF the earth,
nor Of the sufferings OF their unfortunate
wives and children. My hair Is white and
] am Lurdened with the weight OF many
years. but while I have strength enough
left to use my voice it will be lifted In be-
half of those miners whose lives have
been ruined and who have been made
slaves through the avarice Of those who
not only believe but declare boldly they
have divine right to the earth and the
FITNESS there Of.
A woman OF small stature credited with
having spent three-score years and ten on
earth spoke as above to reporter. Her
hair is hite, but her form Is erect. Fire
flashed from. her eyes and her voice trem
hled with emotion as she told Of her ex-
reriences with the miners.
I have spent years with them,'' she
SAID. I have lived In their homes, have
partekcn of their scant, coarse fare, have
wept v it'll them by the deathbeds Of their
loved ones, have shared their sorrows, but
alas. l cannot say I ever rejoiced with
them. Joy Is unknown In the mining
regions Of West Virginia, as far as the
miners and their unfortunate families are
concCrnrd.'
I he speaker was Mother" Jones, the
idol Of the miners, who has spent the
greater part Of her life in effort to or
ganiLe them and improve their conditions.
She arrived In Chicago last night and left
70 day for Iowa, where she will lecture in
soveral towns the conditions Of the
miners in the anthracite regions of Penn
aylvania and In West Virginia.
Any reference to West Virginia reused
the champion Of the miners.
When asked How do the miners get
along In West Virginia?" she answered:
How do they live? They don't live
they exist Harriet Beecher Stowe never
draw a picture Of slavery that compares
with the conditions of the miners in West
Virginia. The wage slavery of that state
Is the hlacfest page in American history
tell you, you people in the north can't
realizc the arncunt Of human misery tina
exists among the unfortunates with whom
have made my home for years.
Homes Of the Wretched.
How are the miners housed?" she was
asked.
Housed? Housed did you say?" she
cried. why. cattle may have decent
roofs over them but the shacks they call
homes among the mines of West Virginia
would not be tolerated In the worst sec
lions Of your city. They are not houses
they consist of six boards bundle OF
shingles and half a pound of nails Such
are the homes of the West Virginia
miners when they ore working. but many
or them at present have only heaven fo1
roof and the ground for a pillow"
THE coal operators do not propose tc
let the strikers indulge in the luxury of q
NJ wi hf1I
have been driven out to die on the mount
ain sides. At Ptney Ridge three. weeks
ago l saw mother with her Sbabe;' G
months old. thrown out Of the shack
called home by the officers of the law
An DID, gray headed grandmother was
thrown out with them.
THE feeble old grandmother took the
babe on her lap and with tears streaming
down her cheeks said My poor babe
how soon they have begun to persecut.
YOU
Three hours later the babe died unde
Gods sunlight. I could recite hundreds
OF cases just as bad as this. The,
thought they would break their spirit
when they threw them out Of the shacks
but the women and children in man,
cases have been given shelter in barn
and the men can live on the mountain
sides until the fight is won
Children Worst Sufferers
"The children are the worst sufferers
she continued, land their sufferings alon
prompt some Of the strikers to seek EN-
pleyment elsewhere. Just 8 started 70
Iowa one of the strikers came to me an
said: Mother. I would like to stay an
fight. but I've got twins months old an
I'm afraid I'll have to go and get wor
some other place 50 I can buy matte
milk for them they'll die I said
You stay here. Jack. and fight and whe
get to Iowa I'll sell books and get none
which I will send to you and you can bu
matted milk for the babes. Tears ra
down the cheeks of the poor fellow, as
grasped my hand and said: If you'll d
that, mother. I'll stay and fight to tn
end. They can't lick U.S.
The miners will win. They have com
to the conclusion that they might as we
starve striking as working and they wi