Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-10-17
PUBLIC FUNDS SOLICITED.
Wage Earners Asked to Contribute Their
Earnings for One Hour Each Monday.


Earnings for One Hour Each Monday.
Washington, Oct. 14.-The American
Federation of Labor, through its exec
utive council, has issued an address to
the public, appealing for financial and
moral aid for the striking anthracite
miners, and denouncing the attitude of
the mine owners, on whom, the appeal
says, must rest the responsibility for
the hardships resulting from the coal
famine. The address in part is as fol-
lows
''To the Public and Organized Labor:
The strike of the miners is now in it's
23d week. That the strike occurred
was entirely the fault of the presidents
of the coal companies. That the strike
has continued to this day is entirely
due to the contempt which the presi-
dents of the coal companies have Tor the
people of our country, and the untold
sufferings which all may endure. No
offer to settle the strike could be fairer
than that of the miners representative
at the conference with President Roose-
velt. The operators naughty ar
rogance, brutal, dominating spirit and
blasphemous assumption of divine
wealth, proprietorship, shook the uni
verse, and aroused the indignation of
all lovers of justice aud fair dealing.
What more could the miners do and
maintain their self respect and not for
felt the respect OF their fellow men,
than their willingness to submit all
matters in dispute to a commission ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt, and
wheI that was refused, to leave the en-
tire controversy to ]. P. Morgan, one Of
the men largely interested with the
operators. There has never been a
time, either before the strike or since
it's Inauguration, that the miners have
not been entirely willing to have the
questions involved in the miners
claims investigated and adjusted by any
disinterested person.
''In behalf of the miners, in behalf
of the cause of freedom, for justice and
right, the undersigned, representing the
organized wage earners of America,
appeal to all people to contribute gen.
erously, promptly, and to continue the
same until the termination of this con-
test. And to that end the following
suggestions are made:
"First-That in each city and town,
business. professional and public men
form relief committees to solicit fnan-
eial and other contributions.
"SecoDd-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, by the
working people of our country be ap-
propriated to the miners.
"Third-That the ministers OF the
gospel of all denominations make a
special plea to their respective congre-
cations each Sabbath morning in behalf
of the miners, their wives and children,
and that they constitute themselves
into relief committees among their re-
spective parishioners.
"Fourth-That the daily, weekly
and labor press solicit contributions
from their readers; Entertainments be
arranged and contributions from unions
and other organized bodies solicited.
"Fellow citizens, fellow wage earn.
ers, come to the aid of the miners in
their heroic contest, and administer a
we'll nerited rebuke for the arrogant.
oppressive and unjustifable attitude
toward the miners of the operators,
who would trample under. foot ano
crush the hearts and spirits of the mer
whom theysemploy with equally cal
lous Indifference as they outrage digni
ty, the manhood and the interests o
every man, woman and child in soul
land.
"Send all contributions to W. B. Will
son, Secretary United Mineworkers o.
America, Stevens Building, Indianapo
lis, Indiana"