Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-23

Ihese foreigners were brought here in
great numbers and were taken Immediately
to the coal mines by the agents who had in
duced them to leave their homes once in
the mining district hundreds Of these crea-
lures were herded together in great barn
like structures. They lost their identity
completely. Their employers did not know
their names and they were given numbers
70 distinguish them one from the other.
They were compelled to live in these houses
ana were made to pay an exorbitant rate
In rent Some Of them were furnished
meals in the company houses and others
were compelled to get their food at one or
more of the boarding houses owned by the
company.
Regarded as AFFECT Slavery.
1.-The immigration continued. thousands Of
these ignorant foreigners coming to our
shores to go into what was almost abject
slavery in the mines. After a while those
who had wives were permitted to send for
them, and hundreds of other women were
brought over to provide wives for the other
men. When these families arrived thew
We're housed in the novels of the company
The company did everything. Phe child
was brought into the world by the COM
panys surgeon, 1t grew up under the care
or the company's task master and received
Its meager education in the company's
schools. When it grew to an age for mar
rage 1t was married to another of the COM
pany 8 children by the company's preacher.
When 1t died 1t was buried In one Of the
company's collins, by a company priest in
the company's cemetery. The families that
dld not eXpend all their earnings In the
companys store were suspected OF buying
food and provisions elsewhere, and were
warned not to continue such a practice as
1t would lead to dismissal. The men knew
not what it was to handle a single dollar of
their wages
Continuing, Mr.. Gompers asserted that
THIS oppression was accompanied by a con-
slant reduction of wages, until the earnings
OF a man of family We're so low that 1t was
hdruly possible for him to make both ends
meet. Their spirit was almost broken The
speaker alluded to the strike of the miners
In the soft coal district in 1897, when 200
COO men went out on a strike and demanded
an increase of wages, better hours, &c,
and their demands were acceded to- The
price Of living" said Mr. Gompers. .is
higher now than it was than, and the cost
of maintaining a family has increased ac-
cordingly. The men want more reforms.
Ihey want another increase of wages and
they want to have a man Of their own en-
plo! ment to check off the weight of their
coal as 1t is mined and not be subjected to
the work of a company check-weighman.
who frequently makes the miner send out
from $500 to $500 pounds to the ton.
Appeals for Contributions.
The speaker, in closing, appealed to those
present to contribute and secure contribu-
lions for the support of the families of the
miners.
Rev. Alexander Kent, the next speaker
In referring to the conditions in the mining
regions attributed the cause to the system
of private ownership, and asserted that If
the miners should secure what they are
striving for and should return to work,
there would be no permanent settlement SO
long as the mines remain the private prop
erty of a few.
so long as the system Of the private
ownership of D1hlic ,1til a.,
the speaker, The workman will have his
grievances. Strikes will occur and the peo-
pie will suffer-
by what right" asked DR.. Kent. do a
few individuals hold as private property the
coal of Pennsylvania which was placed
there by the Creator for the use of the
people?' He denied the right of govern
ment to Confer ownership because the doing
SO infringed upon the rights of the people
The speaker suggested the initiative and
referendum as practical method by which
legislation desired by the people could oe
secured and many of the evils, which. he
asserted, are the results Of unwise and
vicious legislation could be remedied In
concluding DR.. Kent advised the workmen
to enter the field Of politics and support
only those candidates who are friendly to
labor.
The meeting was enlivened with music
furnished by the National Guard Orches-
ira, under the leadership Of John n Pts
toria, by permission of Local Union, No.
1871.
The Resolutions Adopted.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Gompers' ad-
dress resolutions were read by Secretary
Dickman and unanimously adopted set
ting forth:
The mine workers in the anthracite coal
regions of Pennsylvania are engaged IN
resisting the impositions of conditions
which are the prolific causes Of poverty.
Ignorance, vice and crime: conditions which
will deprive 10000 wage workers of the
common privilege granted by the charter
of this republic, and which tend to provoke
laWlessness, disorder and bloodshed, and
| which, If tolerated and continued, will seri-
ously imperil the stability Of our institu-
TONS
In the struggle now pending we are ex-
perlenclng the evil results Of the absolute
ownership and control of a product which
Is necessary for the comfort and wants
OF the people by few, who by a combina-
tion or organization Of capital arrogantly
claim themselves because Of corporate So
called vested privileges to be absolyed from
all moral obligations both to the half mill
lion miners and their helpless dependents
and to the public generally.
The repeated refusals Of the mine ou,n
ers to submit the questions at issue to in
vestigation and arbitration places the re-
sponsibilty for the conditions as they an
ply both to the miners and the Consumers
Of coal wholly upon the operators and
they should. therefore. be severely con-
demned at the bar Of public opinion
Expresses Sympathy.
Therefore, we citizens of Washington
| in mass meeting assembled, commend the
| mine workers Of Pennsylvania for their
effort to obtain just and equitable condt-
tions OF employment and extend to them
our sympathy espresso in substantial
means Of support, pending an honorable
and satisfactory adjustment Of their griev-
ance.
That the Congress Of the United States