The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-13
COAL STRIKE
Christian View Of Il as Taken
by a West Virginia Man.

Last evening In the Pilgrim church, ,Har-
rison street. Mr.. John Mccarthy OF Hunt
insdon. W. W. addressed a large audience,
his subject being "A Christian View Of
the Coal Strike" Ee said in part:
I'VE have a false standard OF mo-
raiity. We have an over regard for
vested interests. 1t Ism OF the drink
ing class that keeps the saloons in
Providence. Vested interests ought TO
common sense Acknowledges this. but
when the hope OF human life comes In
conflict with vested interests then It is
time that such commercial interests
should stand still and listen to the rights
OF human life.
1T is a question sometimes In dealing
with vested interests whether one dares
to do right, whether II is expedient to
do right. Vested interests must obc,- the
law OF life and first must see that the
poor are provided for.
Now, these miners are not law-break-
ers. There are cases OF law-breaking. but
they are sporadic and their causes are
purely local. Governor Stone will prob
ably. after few weeks as did the gov
ernor of West Virginia, withdraw those
troops and send them to their homes,
as there Is nothing for them to do.
Their presence will add 10 the moral
right of the miners cause. The usual
methods CT corporations are fun OF bluffs
and lies. The miners cannot go to courts,
for the courts sre expensive. Even these
courts here In Rhode Island and Conneati-
cut are not fit for rich man TO go into;
how. then, can a poor man find help
there?
Now, let's suppose a case in the
mining fields. Suppose that you are
a miner who. after working a month.
you should have 500 coming to you.
You go 10 the Office, get your envelope
and find s.. You request an iternized
account Of your bill at the company
store. You are met with a stony stare.
You are grossly overcharged for all OF
those things that are sold 10 you from
this company store. and that IS where
the miners wages so. That Is the real
trouble behind the miners strike; this
is the trouble that they wish adjudi-
Gated.
There is a law that requires an In
spection OF these mines. but you can
quote me as authority when I say that
there has mover yet been n mine In
spected I'm West Virginia I'm good faith.
Always the mine authorities are notified
OF tho time when the Inspector intends
to call. and he passes through the mine,
there. there is always n clerk at his elbow
noting the name ~ tho miner who Is
questioned. and IL that man tells the truth
then he loses his place. Is elected from
his house. These are the things that tho
miners want adjudicated
1T has been necessary for these miners
to form unions. 10 cooperate. for singiy
they could do nothing and every work
ingman's welfare Is more or less at the
mercy OF his employer. 60 that these men
must need stand by each other.
These men are asking that there be
a court established that Is morally effi-
cient. This battle In Pennsylvania means
this. II Is a collusion bctween the
thoughtless rich on one hand. and the
vicious. ignorant poor on the other hand,
against the thrifty and Christian poor,
and something must be done or the
thrifty poor will be ground In pieces be-
tween the two extremes.