The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-20
Prosecuted and Fined.

Mr.. Letter personally conducted the
prosecution and demanded that the pris-
oner be fined s. and costs. The Justice
Of the peace so decreed, and Sheriff
Stein was called 10 take Mrs. Macmillan
20 jail. she not desiring TO pay the fine
Then Mr.. Letter relented. The pluck of
the woman In finally reaching him an,
pealed - him and he seemed also 10 see
the ludierous side Of the affair, so he or
dered that the fine be RENTED and that
she be taken to the outskirts Of hi.
property by an armed guard, released
and warned never 10 return
Mr.. Letters trouble with the coal
miners reached its frs serious point On
July g. when one hundred and dfr,.
strikers and their families were evfcted
from their homes in Ziegler. The men
had cefied tie owner Of the property.
and ne in turn had declared that he
would recognize no union rules that in
terfered with his own way of conducting
his business.
As the situation now stands the whole
southern Illinois mining industry is
threatened by the critical conditions ~
Ziegler. Prior TO the hosting OF coal ~
Ziegier a scale was entered into extend
ing over two years, IN which miners
scale Mr. Letter tacitly agreed. I-nfii
Two weeks ago be paid the scale and
conducted his mine as q union shaft
VOW tremendous struggle has begun.
On one side are the great Letter inter
ests and on the other more than Ten
thousand determined men.
Joseph Letter has constructed one OF
the most modern coal shafts IN the
United States. His interests represent
more than million dollars. The min
efs cottages nave all home comforts.
electric lights, and water Nine large
stores are conducted BY him There
are hospital. an ice plant and an nm
!o-qate hotel The streets are regularly
laid out and shade trees planted
Letter Cuts Wages.
In all the discussions by the miners
with Mr. Letter there never We're any
words passed but those Of praise for
his evident humane interest IN the vel
fare Of his employees. The rents he
charged were lower than at other min
ing centers. The goods sold at his
stores were not at exorbitant profits.
Just as soon as his mine was ready
10 open, when he thought that 5000 tons
OF coal could be hoisted daily. Mr.
Letter issued an ultimatum 10 the men.
which was a reduction OF IS cents a
ton on mining. The scale was al first
believed 10 be a joke The miners Of
fcials conferred with him and obtained
a partial modification, but stiu with a
Decent reduction.
When IL became apparent that strike
Of large proportions. one that would
stagger the industry. and one IN which
human lie might be lost. was inevitable
an exodus 10 Christopher, a small toWr
SIX miles distant. was begun
The sight along the dismal road from
Ziegler 10 Christopher Il striking Here
and there a stove has been set up under
a tree or IN an old granary or IN an
abandoned house. Every possible bit Oi
shelter has been utilized. and all alonf
the road are scattered the families ol
the moving miners.
In one place a new city has been estab
lishsd. II IS composed Of tents but "
J. Turner has been elected mayor ant
All the minor officials have been swory
ia. Here IL IS that the miners who ar,
fighting Mr.. Letter VIII make their cam
paign headquarters The town is only
a short distance from the stockade, anC
II IS the belief that the struggle will re
suit In an outbreak IA which human III,
and property will greatly suffer.