The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-17
ORGANIZER
zELINSKA
In JAIL
JAMES zELINsKA sQUANDERED
MINERS MONEY AT POKER AND
is ARRESTED ON SERIOUS
CHARGE.
FORMERLY WORKED IN THIS FIELD
AND IS WELL KNOWN HERE
TELLS HIS TALE OF WOE.
In Charged With Beating Hotel Keep.
ers Out of Board and Passing Worth
less checks-Dropped Money Quickly
in Poker Game.


in Poker Game.
James zelinska. an organizer in the
service of the United Mine Workers un-
til recently, and wno was in this field
tnree years ago, has been arrested at
Boswell, Pa, on charg. of defrauling
clearinghouse keepers and passing
worthless enecks. He had the following
to say of ais troubles after his arrest:
Zelinska went to connallsvilla, Pa,
last May as an organizer of tne United
Mine Workers of America, and claims
tnat during his stay in Conncllsville aa
succeeded in converting large number
OF the non-union miners and established
several local unions. About four
months ago, Zslinska says, he got a
tonen of American sporting fever and
was induced to taks Iland in the fasi
cinating game Of poker. A well known
connellsville poker shark presented him
vita scheme to make money faster
tnan it is turned out of the United
States mints. He had sucker with
800 and told Zelinska that with his as
sistanee it would BE- an easy matter TO
secure the, roll Zelinska says he took
to the scheme and game was arranged
for the same day in his room in
Water street aotel. Zelinska proved
the sucker and dropped $50 in a few
minutes. He raised $50 more by max
ing loan from friend This went the
same way as another $50 zelinska rails
ed on his diamond stni. For fou,
months after that day, Zelinska says.
he played the sucker act and nearly
every cent of mis- salary of sl65 per
month went over tae green cloth.
The annual statement published by
the United Mine Workers of America
for the year ending January ], 1905,
SHOWS that Zelinska mas received
S1072.2O. Zslinsla says h. spent mora
tnan this sum in Connellsville and ac-
cording to the hooks of tnrec hotel pro
prietors, he mas paid but small amount
IF his board bill
The Homecoming Star comment. edi.
torinlly on his arrest as follows;
An instance of now considerabl,
amount of the miners bard earned
money is spent by the national treasury
of the United Mine Workers win h.
found in our new. columns. An organ
iz,r. whose duty it was to give instrnc-
tion and advice TO the striking miners in
the Meyersdale field. and whose position
required that by mis- conduct ne should
at least set a good example to his fol
lowers-this apostle Of tae rights e
tne workiugmen spant nis fine salary AZ
poker and is now in jail for passing
worthless caeelSs.
This fellows name is Z,linsla. The
Star picked nim out as a bad egg year
ago. and because Of that was subjected
70 dose of hot air from the same in
Iiiviiual over the telephone. Zrlinska.
in that interview, pratad about ,ais aon.
esty. his solicitation for the miners and
exhibited the red spots made from his
bleeding heart for III, downtrodden It
is safe to say in the light of recent ic-
velopmants. that Zclinska dropped the
telephone receiver and MED himself to
the green-eloth table, wnere he whiled
away the hours. tnat saonld have been
devoted 10 mis- cause. in frvid dalliancc
with the fascinating kitty.
Zelinska received nearly $1,000 last
year fro mthe national treasury. all Of
which, and more, too. went into the
poker pot.
How much suffering a portion Of tnis
money woulJ nave alleviatel-hs gave
no Thought. How much suffering ze
linska and mis- doctrine have caused the
miners Of the Mayersdale region may
never be made known.
All organizers of the United Mine
Workers are not bad: all are not poker
players; all are neither grafters ol
skates. But those who are not. nave
never been able TO attain enough in
luencc in the organization TO demand
a nsaring in opposition to the great ma
,jority who are
Tne miners throughout tne country
win better understand an t0ess Things
some day-probably when il Is too late