The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-22

tno mead on u a week II no pTopicln NJ oii
for the wives OF the miners who more
than any other class OF people In the
country are rejoicing over the end OF the
great coal strike.
These women, long accustomed 10 SELF
denial and privations. have proved during
the FIVE months OF the strike that they
can do all OF these things on very much
less than 81 week
Some OF them have been compelled TO
do II on 80 cents a week for while the
generosity OF the sympathetic public ana
trades unions provided some relief, II
was by no means adequate TO meet all de-
mands as every one OF the $4,000 wives
and 100000 children OF the striking miners
can testify.
Had Il not been for the patience of
the merchants and landlords OF thou
sands OF houses-hovels for the most
part--in the tiny mining villages ana
towns scattered on the hllsides and In
valleys, many women and children must
have died OF starvation and exposure dur
ing the continuance OF the strike.
These merchants and house owners.
realizing the integrity OF their humble
patrons, extended credit for the neces-
earfes of life and rent and contented
themselves with the assurance that some
day they would be paid I'm full
The absence OF ready money compelled
many a failure OF small merchants un-
able to meet their bills. but for the most
part they pulled through and are now
rewarded with the eertainy OF speedy
payment There Is not a single mer-
chant-grocer. butcher. baker. clothier,
dry goods dealer-in any town In the coal
region but carries on his books the names
of miners I'm sums varying from Is TO
GO for credit extended during the III days
OF the strike.
MINERS OWE 100000
The aggregate OF these debts is esti-
mated TO Approximate 5000 900. That
every dollar OF II will be paid there is
not the least doubt. for the sturdy miners
are, as a rule as honest class Of men
as can be found throughout the length |
and breadth OF the country. With the |
pittance OF relief afforded by the distri- |
button OF money by the Mines union. It |
was impossible TO prevent starvation |
without this credit In the stores.
The actual per capita relief allowed a
miner for the support OF hts family was |
barely suffcient to provide plain bread. |
union stretched the individual allowance
20 the utmost limit possible in distribut-
ing the money at hand. The weekly
amount allowed each person entitled TO
relief varied according 10 the circum-
stances and the Judgment OF the officers
OF the local union
Thousands OF miners refused relief:
few hundreds had provided for long
siege by saving every penny possible dur
the preceding two years. Others found
work outside OF their trade. In some In
stances men curt down their living expenses
20 the minimum provisions necessary for
bare existence, and actually contributed
their mite TO the relief fund In no case
was more than IS a week granted a fam
lily. and then only in the most extreme
cases.
The average OF the relief distributions
made every two weeks during the strike
was as follows:
For man and wife, $3.50
For each child. 35 cents.
For single men, .25 each.
A BIT OF RELIEF.
This distribution gave each adult a
Traction more than eight cents a DAY
with which 10 provide bread rent cloth
ing and medicine. Zach child, who very
naturally shared In the allowance, al
lowed by the union to its parents was
allowed in addition a fraction more than
two cents q day, which was paid TO its
parents every two weeks.
Only the wives and mothers can tell
how they managed TO provide adequate
food for their families on the allowances
made them Perhaps they do not know
themselves.
The correspondent asked the wife OF a
miner at Minors Mills, a suburb OF
Wiikssbarre. to explain how she had ac-
complished the seemingly impossible task
We'll, IL was the place OF us women
70 help the men win this fight" she said,
land IL fell 10 our lot TO scrimp to save
every cent. No bone was thrown away
until even a dog wouldn't look at Il.
Not single crumb wasted, and then
many days. bless you. sir. the man and
children went TO bed hungry
But we were In the fight. and us wo-
ment had TO bear our part with the men
We didn't pay any rent. Ny man has
not paid any since the strike began. our
little house Is owned by a miner, and
he would not. could not. throw us out
All the landlords have been helping US,
because l guess they know nobody In a
mining town would live in their houses
they threw us out.
How did we liveg What did we have
60 eat? Well, we had bread always.
Sometimes there was not anything else
maybe a little black molasses and coffee.
made over and over again until II WASH {
even colored water.
NO NEW DRESSES.
I'VE had milk once in a while. but for
the most part used molasses instead of
sugar. Meat7 Not more than twice a
week ~ the outside. A herring or dried
fsh. perhaps, and on Sunday slice O.
ham. The neighbors that had more than
they actually wanted gave 10 those a-
didn't have anything. but II wasn't often
anybody had anything 70 spare
The stores trusted vs. for the oil for
our lamps. and wicks too Fuel we found
I'm the woods OF on the culm banks ai
the mines. where we picked up coal tho
companies didn't want The big store.
where we've dealt for years trusted az Tor
calico and cotton.
Il guess no woman or daughter OF 4
miner thought OF getting a new dress
Were wearing our old ones-last winters
They were not new. but by trimming then,
We covered our bodies The children wen,
barefoot. and. az you can see. have nc
shoes now. though It's getting cold enough
for them. That's what worries me worst
- alL That's why I'm glad the ,trlks