The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-08-04
MINERS PREPARED
FOR A LONG FIGHT
Some Supplies Already Have
Been Sent TO Men
The SYSTEM is EXPLAINED
Mr.. Mcqueen of the sloss-sheffield
Company Says His Company Has
Not Suffered--Six Furnaces
Are Now In Blast.

President Flynn and National Boar(
Member Farley, of the United Mine
Workers, were away from Headquarters
practically all of yesterday and 1t was
stated by the men in charge that there
was practically nothing of an important
nature to give out
Among the operators there was an equal
amount of reticence but without any
direct authority for the statement it looks
as If some sort of proposition will be
made by one side or the other within the
next few days.
Mr.. Flynn and Mr. Farley went to
Dolomite yesterday and may go to Bloc
ton today The local officials say that no
significance attaches to these visits. 1t
is customary for the officials, especially
during a strike, to visit the various To-
Gals, and take observations as to the
effect of the strike on the men as well
as the. companies.
Some of the miners have become little
short on provisions and the district treas
ury has been called on. Supplies have
been sent to several of the mines but so
far there is no evidence of dire want.
I'VE do not pay the men on strike so
much money, as is the case with some
other unions" said Mr.. Farley recently
"but we care for the men who are act
ually In need. The system is very simple
In every local treasury there is some
money. This money is first used to help
the men over their difficulties. When all
of the local money has been expended
for supplies a call is made on the dis
trict headquarters. When that is ex-
hausted a call is made on the national
headquarters.
1--WE have ample money in the treas
ury," continued Mr. Farley, ito carry us
over a long fight. We are well prepared.
When our funds are exhausted we can
call on the national treasury and there Is
no danger Of the men suffering. These
supplies are usually sent to one of the
officials of the local, where help is needed,
and he establishes a commissary, az II
were, and issues the provisions to the
families. The man in charge generally
uses his own judgment as to which FAM
lily or families need the most. Usually
any miner can get what he needs ny
simply calling for 1t. 1t Is not necessary
to go through any red tape process"
The last report of the treasurer of the
Alabama district of miners showed SIS, 900
In the treasury. This is constantly being
added to by revenues received from the
men who are at work. In the national
treasury there Is something like s1,00O.000
Many have asked If the national board
of the miners would send a man here to
assist in settling the strike. This was
brought to the attention of the minors
who happened to be about headquarters
yesterday.
mo- indeed" they said. There will be
nc use to send man from headquarters
here. Mr.. Farley is fully able to handle
the situation with the assistance of Pres
ident Flynn and no one knows this better
than President John Mitchell
j. w. Mcqueen vice president of the
Sloss Iron and Steel company, being ask
ed as to the status of the strike of coal
miners, answered:
I'VE are affected as little as any citizen
of the district. We have seven blast
furnaces. Six of them are in operation,
and the seventh is undergoing repairs.
When the latter work is finished, we shall
have all seven In commission. We have
plenty of coal In stock and in process of
mining and are prepared to fill all con-
tracts promptly"