The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-30
FROM HEART OF
STRIKE REGION
MT. Miller Smith, of Thurmond,
Gives Account Of Situation.
NO DANGER TO LIFE AND LIMB
Says Men Now at Work Are Unmoiese
ted-Troops to Protect Property
Not Life-Many Richmond Men
There-Cause of Strike.
NO DANGER TO LIFE AND LIMB

Miller Smith, a jolly, good natured,
husky man from Thurmond West Vir-
glnia, reached the city yesterday after
which caused Governor White to send
a regiment OF troops for the protection
OF life and property
But Mr.. Smith declares that Thurmond
is as quiet as Richmond. There is abb
Solutely no trouble between the men at
work and the men idle" says Smith.
The troops We're asked for by Sheriff
Daniel because the miners, who are not
at work refuse to move out Of the houses
of the operators and refuse, also, to pay
the rent. Rent has been due ever since
the strike began, June 9tfl, and now whep
they are being forced outAhey are rails
ing q row about 1t.
Mr. NTH gives a clear story about
the situation. lie is in the employ of the
Mcdonald Colliery Company at Thur
mond. He will not say what is his busi-
ness IN Richmond. When asked II he
was looking for men to send up there
he laughed / denied that he was. but
ADDED that if he found any abie-bodied
fellows willing to go up there he would
ten them how to get there, give them
ucket and Insure them job
PAY FOR "A DAYS WORK.
..rhe wages he said. ARE $500 day
and 90 cents an hour for every hour over
time
How many men are now being worked
by the Mcdonald Conpany?'' was asked.
"Between three and four hundred, he
replied
He stated that this was about one-third
of the usual number in the mines. The
other colliery companies of Thurmond are
employing about one third of their
normal force, he said, and paying the
same wages.
The Mcdonald Company normally got
out from four to six hundred cars OF
bituminous coal a day. but now We're get
ting out about Two hundred
MANY RICHMOND MEN.
ANY Richmond men up there?" was
asked.
About one hundred and fifty was the
reply He continued that Richmond men,
steadily at work. We're to be seen at every
hand He stated that seventy-five went
fr IN this city Thursday. He did not
know who was getting up these men fer
the mine operators he said he certainly
was not: al least, that was not his special
business here.
Mr. Smith was emphatic in his denial
that there was any trouble or strife be-
tween the idle miners and the men at
work. The idle men We're loafing about,
bue were entirely orderly, SO far as inter-
fering with the men at work. Many of
the men working We're the old miners.
while the others had been imported All
able-boGied men can get work there with
out fear of having any trouble or being
subjected to any more danger than at any
otrtr mines. The cause OF the strike was
the refusal of the operators to comply
with the demand OF the strikers to pay
forty cents. for the short ton of 1000
rorIds. instead Of the long ton Of 200
ponds.
MINERS LOSING. He SAYS
iie could not tell how the strike was
going to end. He thought the miners We're
lceirg ground. The miners who were idle
vere getting dollar day from the
rnions. and ccl this their families were
living But this was not enough to sup
them and pay their rent too
The Chesape and Ohio is hauling
more coal now than at any time since the
strike began, while the Norfolk and
Western is getting more business than it
can possibly do.