The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-18
ONE THOUSAND MINERS
NOW IN THE CITY FOR
THE GREAT CONVENTION
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PACED

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGED
the operators. for the methods adopted by
the attacking operators have been of the
worst
while the miners have resorted to no
violence or violations of the law, the OPP
orators have done everything in their power
to injure The Merchants Coal Com
pany has evicted almost eighty families,
and the Somerset Coal Company has turned
many thirty miners and their families
out into the cold and let their houses stand
empty The evicted miners are taken in by
their fellowworkmen, and in some cases L
saw many as FIVE and six families living
in one little cottage. The worst case or
eviction, l think, of which j have ever
heard that of mother with little
babe on her breast. She was turned out or
her home on one of the coolest days OF the
winter and had it not been for friends she
would have persisted. The operators believe
that by evicting the families they can break
our strike. They attempting TO import
miners who have had no experience what
ever, but work is practically at standstill.
The nonunion men are brought there on
false pretenses and in most cases they quit
work and leave when the true condition of
affairs is told them. About three hundred
men have been imported. but the miners
have sent most of them home from their
own meager wages.
at is one of the most peaceful strikes
that the organization has had, as the
miners are abiding strictly to law Ihey
intend to hold out until they win their
point and secure the wages that are due
them according to the contracts.
Thomas Haggerty, a general ORGANIZER fIr Oh
District H. which includes the part of West
Virginia where about 500 men are striking
against a reduction of wages of 20 per cent,
also arrived yesterday. He said that he
believed that ii is but a question of a few
weeks until the miners win their strike as
the operators are tied up completely on
their work.
The fight centers around the West Vir-
ginia Coal Company, said Mr.. Haggerty.
which is endeavoring to lead the movement
of reducing wages, thinking that they will
be followed by other operators of the cOun-
try. 81 believe" said Mr. Haggerty, that
after the convention is over and it is seen
that the reductions which predicted by
no one knows who are not made, the West
Virginia operators will give in and con-
tinue TO pay the miners the regular wage
scale"
According to William Wardjon, general
organizer of the Southern district of Colo
RADIO, in which the Western strike is now
conferred. everything in those mines is at
standstill. 1.-THE guards are still stationed
about the fields" Mr.. Wardjon said. and
if miner dares msstep he will be shot
heavily armed. and when a miner ventures
from his home in the canyons he is held
by the guards and not allowed to return
home. The strike. however, is very peace
full and little trouble is occurring between
the contending parties.
The operators are attempting to carry on
their work by importing worthless men
from Chicago. Kansas City, etc. but they
know no more about mining than children,
and therefore, practically nothing is &C
complished. we will win the strike and
there is no question about that. OF course,
we are interested in the action of the con-
vention looking to the appropriation of more
money with which to carry on the strike.
If we secure more money we Will win the
strike sooner than otherwise. but in any
event we shall come out victors. About
10000 men are involved in the strike, and
they are standing as one man against the
tyrannical methods of the operators which
brought on the strike