New-York tribune., 1905-01-26
SLATS IN COAL FIELDS.
Peter Roberts Tells Hozc Thea Are
Stunned and NegZected.

How FAR America is inher1t1ng the responsible
ces' economic and social. which are weightins
down the russian Empire to-day, and how far
America IS measuring up to sorne OF these re-
sponsibIites which crop out with the sIav tunrni-
grafton to the coal fields discussed yesterday
IN New-York by the Rev. Peter Roberts Of Ma
hanoy City, Penn. Mr.. Roberts is the author OF
books on the anthracite coal communities and the
coal industry, and one Of the chief witnesses
Tor the miners before President Roosevelt's coro
mission His address before the School of
philanthropy which John S. Kennedy recently en-
dowed with $4,000 ~
Mr.. Roberts discussed the amazing inAur =,
FoIes' Ldthuanians. Ruthenians Hungarians SIo
Nitks and other nationalities into the coaI 7.1d
comparing them industrialIy very favorabIv with
- ll-sI-SH speaking miners who had preceded
eIi-' OUT pointed out the vital problems involved
- t4IeIi social adjustment 10 American standard.
OF lie He showed the courage of the s1a,, ~
lHe oay after his arrival. goes unhesitatinely -
80 On 'ile ueacherous slant Of the most danPer-
% &c Coa- chambers. and the ambition of the SIav
witch Drlhss him at the end Of few months ba
Iore the mine foreman with the reoueg+ .rNFo -
Der Doss (meaning that he wants TO y,orl, Co.
i-1nlseN). be showed his physical strength spd a.
ut0loe' MS Kindness and Righteousness but ar tb.
Same uTne his less gracious elernents-+be -
80 H - lloKiness' 10 thievery, to QuarreIsornenasa
the brute elements which show thenseIvas ,r a..
- "4i4ch noses and ears are sometimes bit+ar ~,
II IS these traits which must be held in rastroI.
,s1- .uineo 70 good account by counterbaIancinr
0NI "A-ASn llo attitude Of
English speaking residents of tba cool a,.,4 .L.e
eno OF the managing powers OF the coal oor,DorIs.
els 70 meet squarely Mr.. Roberts uada a nIao
- sAoulaerlng these responsibilities in Amert
oallzng the immigrant communities
me English speaking miner has tv,o ~, +t
ohiIdren'" said Mr. Roberts: the SIav. who ,s co.
1eo with his family. has five six seven Gtror-
robust. rugged children they are prornjsfne, &C 90
aS u cillIdren IN the country. But the influences
bearing on them decidedly detrIr7en+sI w
Of he wiz,
girl This cannot be done when English snasl-t
agencies 90 not reach down among them This can
i-o' pe oohe when English speaking people avoid
Iii7 oiaNS IN a section OF one Of the mining towns
'i4e AeLlgh valley Railroad offered a piece OF rron
erty for sale John Smith offered tl,e c.o,,,,,a
1880 John Smith the rough and ready Argu
clzed form Of Slav name But Vhe, aItoinI,
properly holders. well known citizens and the like
heard that Slav wanted TO live there thew said
they would sell out. That is the great hindraDce
Too many afraid touch sleeve or br,tsb sl,,-.
with the slav and he is left his own foreign COM
munity-to its saloons. its churches its parochiaI
school
Each OF these churches-Polish Catbouo czre.L
Orthodox. etc.wsnts the children of its members
to attend its parochial school. But some OF these
schools have English teachers: no FngIi.b
branches are taught: the sessions are irregular
We DO not want to take any steps which can be
called religious persecution but we do want 10 p11s
70 the Slav child the school opportunities for
which America has stood. When the sav child at
to the public school he is two or three
years behind the children OF his own age. Two
years and he is set ar work at the breakers
and we have lost the opportunity OF the most i'm
pressionabIe years OF his life TO instl American
ideas and schooling.
zone OF the most effective agencies which could
be brought upon this situation would be the
kindergarten. Into the Sav colonies the kinder
garten should come. Slav mothers. who have four
or FIVE children under six years OF age. would wei
come any trustworthy agency that would relieve
them. Suppose these children were taken out Of
an overcrowded home and from overworked
mother for three hours day. and were taught the
value OF soap and water OF clean garments and
neatness, OF the virtues OF honor and patriotism
would not that home feel reflex action both
wholesome and eleVating2 Good work In these lines
being done Ia some commurines We need II Ia
all
More. t-C kinderEartHer becomes Tue friend and
adviser OF the mother The statistics or infant
mortality are tragic enlightened philanthropy
which would iInpart TO The mothers Information re-