The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-11

;Pa.) Leader, a paper published In the
centre OF the coal mining district. was In
terviewed yesterday. He Is strongly In
favor of the strikers. and In discussing
the situation. made the following state
ment to a newspaper man of Boston:
The whole country on Friday waited
and hoped for the peace that President
Roosevelt would bring out OF the confer
ence he had called OF the miners and op-
orators. II was not to be. however. The
peace did not come, nor cessation or
hostilities-
'Tf anything, the miners are moro de-
termined than ever to carry on their
desperate struggle for. as they declare,
living wages and a chance TO raise their
children and educate them as the children
OF free born American citizens should be
raised and educated.
This is the fight and for this the
miner has resolved TO win or die In the
attempt In Pennsylvania, where the
battle In on, there Is no division OF
opinion or sentiment among the miners
True a purchased press has, In that state,
tried. but vainly, TO throw dust in the
eyes of the American public, In Its dis
torted statements OF conditions growing
out of the strike.
"As a Pennsylwanian fresh from the
scene u
war and having as well a disposition TO
see the end of the strike today. II II
were possible by any honorable means.
] wish 10 clear UP a few OF the many
mis-statements sent out by the operators.
NOT IN STATE OF SIEGE.
First. The coal regions are not. so
far as the miners are concerned. IN
state Of siege. There is not the riot or
lawlessness described 80 vfvidly and en-
phaticaIly by the operators at the WASH
fngtou conference. II is as safe Tor man
or woman TO go abroad In any town Oh
Pennsylvania az II is in quiet and orderly
Boston.
Men are as free to pursue any avoca-
tion there as here. There IL no evidence
or intimidation. no resort TO pillage. burn
ing or destruction and this moment, IL
IL were the wish Of any or all the miners
to go TO work they could do so as safeiy
as working men OF any craft In the good
old Bay State.
.sRut contrary to the assertions of
Presidents Baer, Truesdale, Olyphant or
the others, the miners do not desire to
end the strike by a complete backdown
or surrender nor will they 40 10 work
even though protected by almost the en-
tire state guard The facts are, tho
rniners are more determined tnan ever
TO continue the struggle.
They are thoroughly organized ana
thev know full we'll that surrender means
disruption of as fine an organization as
ever the miner has had. They know that
they would be obliged to suffer the same
indignities from petty bosses, as they
have for years. and work for the same
miserable wages.
unfortunately for the general public,
the same sentiment occupies the minds
of the operators. They fear the result
of a surrender on their part. The latter
declare that II any concessions are grant
ed now they will be obliged TO grant more
and more concessions In the years to
come. when their business Will be rem
dered Improbable. That is their cry.
A FAIR DAYS WAGES.
.Tt is a question. really OF what con-
stitutes n fair days wages In Pennsyl-
vania and, in a general way. let me de-
scribe some OF the conditions existing
there The strike Of 1900 gained for the
men an advance OF 10 per cent and this
advance extended to every brance OF the
coal industry.
"Mlnsrs iaborers. those who fill the cars
IN the mines, and who are paid by the
miners. company men, those employed
directly by the coal companies and who
are engaged IN the capacity OF car run
ners, mule drivers pump runners. timber
men engineers fremen, slate bosses,
blacksmiths, outside and inside foremen's
all Of these pronted by the advance, but
the benefit was not enduring. nor did IL
bring the prosperity suggested or ina
gined by those not living in the coal re-
gions
mo sooner had the men gotten back
TO work then up went the price OF coal
sold 10 employees and all others. The
price 10 local consumers went UP an
average of 20 per cent. which on the
price formerly paid--about $3.50 per ton,
was too much. Then Immediately the
cost OF living was increased out of all
proportion to the wages received, and
all things considered. the miner lost by
that strike. while the operator gained.
The operators gain In the past two
years by the increase In the selling
price of coal has reached into millions
OF dollars and It Is this surplus they
are using now TO crush the life out OF
organized labor. The operator would
gladly give another advance OF 10. OF
even 20 per cent. II he could be assured
OF the death OF the miners union.
THAT the thorn In tho operators side.
and finally Il may be said that the real
anxiety on the operators part rs as 10
recognition of that same union. Well
might they exclaim. We will grant con-
cessions 10 our own men as individuals,
but never as United Mine Workers.'
HOW MINERS LIVE.
1T should like very much 70 tell you
how the miners nve In the coal regions.
As class, they compare favorably
with other people I have met elsewhere.
Morally, they are as clean as any peo-
pie on the face OF the earth Intellect
ually, they may not be of as high n
standard as those who have enjoyed n
different environment but their hearts
are I'm the right place.
They support their pastor. go to church
and at the same time build fine churches.
In Pennsylvania we have splendid church
edifices and good schools, though the lat
ter are occupied principally by the
young children AS soon as a child
reaches the legal age when the law will
permit II 20 work. the parents are
obliged TO send IL 10 the mines, the mills
or the factories.
The small wages the boy or girl may
receive IL sadly needed 20 aid In the sup
port OF the family. Hence. when John
Mitchell said, IN response 10 Baer's now
famous announcement. We strike I'm pa
uence, not for more than the operators
can give. but for justice. We strike not