Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-09-29
for the unfortunate condition of

to renew last years working
scale, and made the only conces-
sion made at any time in the
negotiations. No move having
been made by the other side,
they rested their case. What
was last years scale? Forty
seven and one-half cents per ton.
Pratt basis, on eight-dollar iron.
How was it arrived at? BY
years of cutting and fitting
through times which included
the periods of the lowest priced
iron, under $6, and the highest
in many years, over $40, 1t was
also the only scale ever made in
this district by arbitration and
while it may not have been Il
perfect scale, it was no doubt
more nearly so than any of those
which had been made without
the Intervention of third and
disinterested party.
CONDUCT OF THE MINERS.
What have the miners done
since the strike order? Have
there been more instances of
violence and disorder than before
the strike? Ii so, the records
do not show it. 1t has been
stated in the newspapers that
two killings have resulted from
the strike. Is this true? And
if true, are the miners in any
way to blame for it? Only one
of the men killed belonged to the
miners organization, and he was
killed in a difficulty with a mine
foreman, the facts of which are
now under investigation by the
proper authorities. The other
man killed did not belong to the
organization, and was not work
ing as miner. In any event,
he was not killed by the union
miners, but by the officers of the
law, who are now under bond,
"There have been other per-
sonal difficulties, and there are
personal difficulties every day
about many other matters beside
the strike, and they cause little
or no comment. There have
been reported three or four cases
of dynamiting. No one can de-
plore such things more than they
themselves. Violence can do
their cause no good, and it may
do much harm; but beyond ant
above that is the fact that it ii
a crime against society and the
law and the miners organization
stands for the fair administration
of the law. But you have doubt.
less noticed that many of the
acts heralded as being committed
by the miners on investigation
prove to have never happened at
all, or not to have been In any
way connected with the strike.
As an instance, | may cite the
killing of the brickyard negro at
North Birmingham, by deputy
sheriifs.
AS TO WILD RUMORS.
Immediately after that hap
pened the city of Birmingham
was filled with wild rumors 70
the effect that the union miners
had attacked the non-union
miners, and had killed one and
seriously wounded q deputy
sheriff, and there was great hur-
rying to and fro and arming of
posses and scurrying for trans
portation to the scene of the sup=
posed conflict. Investigation
showed that the man was killed
in his own house, while eating
breakfast, and that there was
only one of him and two of the
officers, SO that there was never
any great danger of q slaughter
of innocent non-union miners,
cat least, one Of the dyna-
mltlngs Which was puDllshed as
the result of the strike proved t.
have been from the cause which
produces so much of both pleas
ure and trouble--woman.
hardly think the miners with al
they now have on hand care tt
be charged with all the troubles
which result from that cause
All the miners are waiting
with patience, are law-abidins
good average citizens, about a
good as those in other walks o