The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-10-15
A PLEA FOR MINERS
La BOB FEDERATION ISSUES AN
APPEAL.
Public Funds sohcited-Wage-
Farmers Asked to Contribute
Their Wages for One Hour
Each Monday-Issues
Clearly Set Forth.

Washington, Oct. 1.-THE Amer
can Federation of Labor. through
its executive council, today issued
an address to the public, appealing
for financial and moral aid for the
striking anthracite miners, and de-
nouneing the attitude of the mine
owners, on whom, the appeal says,
must rest the responsibility for the
hardship resulting from the coal
famine. The address has been un-
der discussion in secret sessions of
the council for several days, and is
af follows:
"To the public and organized la
bor:-The strike of the miners is
now in its 23d week. That the
etrike occurred was entirely the
fault of the presidents of the coal
| companies. That the strike has con-
tinued to this day is entirely due to
the contempt which the presidents
of the coal companies have for the
people of our country, and the un.
told sufferings which may endure.
No offer to settle the strike could be
fairer than that of the miners rep
| resentatives at the conference with
| P resident Roosevelt. The opera
tors naughty arrogance, brutal,
dominating spirit and blasphemous
assumption of divine wealth, pro-
prietorship, shook the universe, and
aroused the indignation of all low
ers Of jGstice and fair dealing.
"WEat more could the miners do
and maintain their self-respect and
not forget the respect Of theirfellow
| men, then their willingness to sub
NIT all matters in disputeto a COM
mission appointed by President
Roosevelt, and when that was re-
fused, to leave the entire controver-
| sy to J. P. Morgan, one of the men
largely interested with the opera
tors? There never has been time.
either before the strike or since its
Inauguration, that the miners have
| not been entirely willing to have
the questions involved in the min
ers claims investigated and adjust
ed, by any disinterested person.
s'These circumstances in connec-
ton with the strike are s.1ecounted, ;.
SO that the people of our country
may place, where it properly be-
longs, the responsibility for all the
suffering which the people may
hare to bear by reason of the inn
pending coal famine. The cold
blasts of winter confront us, as do
the chattering teeth of young and
innocent children; the shivering of
the weak, poorly clad, underfed
men and women; the steppage of
the wheels of industry and COM
merce, the undermining of the gen.
eral health and thousands driven
to untimely graves. The calamity
threatening our entire social life
tranq utility, with all the direct con-
sequences which may follow, are
all upon the heads of the mine op-
orators.
"The principles, the causel for
which the miners are bearing the
greatest sacrifices and burdens are
as dear to the hearts of all as to the
miners. The miners must be sus-
tanned in their righteous and holy
struggle. The miners must at least
have bread for themselves, their
wives and their little ones.
In behalf of the miners, in be-
half of the cause of freedom, for JUS
tice and right, the undersigned, rep
reeenting the organized wage earn
ers of America, appeal to all people
to con tribute generously, promptly
and to continue the same until the
termination of this contest. And
to that end, the following sugges-
tions are made:
"First-That in each city and
town business, professional and
public men form relief committees
to solicit financial and other con-
tributions.
"Second-That the hours between
10 and II o'clock of each Monday
morning during the continuance of
the strike, Is designated as Miners
hour and the wages earned during
that hour bv the working people of
our country be appropriated to the
miners.
"That the ministers of the gospel
of all denomination make special
plea to their respective congrega-
/ - -
tions each Sabbath morning in be-
half of the miners, their wives and
'children, and that they constitute