davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

district" into the markets of Indian
apodlS and Chicago. The reason lay
IN the cheaper labor secured in the
nohunlon mines and the longer hours
which enabled coal mine operators to
secure a greater production per day.
IL also lay in the growing carelessness
OF the union miners in the mining of
coal; while the grave of West Virginia
coal was improving, the complaints to
the district unions of Illinois, Indiana
and ohio regarding tue increasing
carelessness Of the miners were each
month growing more frequent. In
those fields, moreover, under the gen.
eral agreement with the miners ma
t1onai organization, known as the lin.
terstate agreement" the conditions i'm
posed in the "differentials" between
machine and hand mining reached a
point where it amounted to practically
70 cents a ton.
Tension Constantly Growing.
The stores told by miners of the
numerous small strikes which have
occurred in the Illinois and Indiana
fields in the last two years illustrate
the tension between the miners and
operators, growing constantly greater.
The two interests were not working
in harmony.
At mine in southern Illinois where
over 400 men were employed, the man
in charge of the pit mules ordered hay
for them, but because of lack of the
hay in the local market he woke I'D
one morning with less than a bale of
hay to feed the hungry mules. He
filled them up on oats and sent them
into the mine, but the miners learned
Of the lack of hay and in a few min
utes they walked out and refused to
work for several days, notwithstand-
ing the mules were fed.
At another mine a strike resulted
from the hardness of 20 minutes of
the paymaster upon pay day at The
mine.
These facts the miners boast about
laughingly, but the operators each
month grow more restless, till the op-
portunity was offered to stand on what
they believed to be their rights. Then
they promptly refused to grant the in
crease Of wages of 1212 per cent.
which was demanded by the United
Mine Workers.
Press dispatches have told the tale
of contention, pickering and delay in
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20
PROVED HIS RIGHT TO DRINK
Unknown Lawyer Went to Some
Trouble to Get Even with
the Judge.

A western lawyer says that he was
| once in court in Missouri when a
| young man most tastidiOusly dressed
| sauntered into the temple of justice.
None of the officials of the court had
ever seen him before, and as the pro-
ceedings were unimpOrtant and some
what tedious, it CHANGED that the
stranger attracted some attention, re-
lates LipplnCOtt's Magazine. On his
part he eyed the judge narrowly, sized
up" all the attorneys, drummed loudly
on the bench in front OF him, and
finally rose and Sauntered up to the
bar, where he poured out for himself
glass of iced water.
The judge presiding, a nervous and
testy old fellow, had himself observed
the young man, and by his frowns had
given evidence of his disapproval.
When the stranger had boldly marched
up to the bar and had taken the water,
it looked as if the judge would boil
over with Indignation at this exhibit
ton of temerity. amounting almost to
contempt. That water, sir" rOared
the Judge, lis for attorneys and other
officials Of this court"
Whereupon the strange young man
turned red and left the courtroom But
the court was to see more of him; for
in about half an hour he returned, bear
ing in his hand roll of parchment.
The Judge now giared at him in the
most savage manner, but the young
man tiinched not. Finally, during a lull
in the proceedings, the eccentric young
person addressed the court:
Your honor"
What IS it, str?"
Il wish, your honor, to submit to
this honorable court, my certificate Of
admission to practice in the supreme
court and all other courts Of this
state"
well, what of that?" growled his
honor.
Simply this, your honor Now that
| have presented the proofs of my ad-
mission to the bar, | would now move
the court that be permitted to drink
from the official pitcher"
The young attorney got his water.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

was important to his ambition. Conse-
quently, after standing out at the first
Joint conference and declaring the ad-
vance demanded was impossible, he
made sudden change which obvious
ly Will aid his political interests, a
change which has been interpreted by
the press and public as due to orders
from the steel trust" that the ad-
vance must De granted the miners ii
That be the price of peace
This change on the part of Robbins
aroused bitterness of feeling among
the smaller operators of Illinois, In
diana and Ohio which never could be
assuaged. In joint conference Com
missioner Philip Penna, of the Indiana
Bltuminous Coal Operators associa-
ton, challenged the miners to grant
the coal companies of those three
states the same conditions as those
which prevail under the miners agree
ment in the Pittsburg field, and de-
clared that if they would do so the
operators not only Immediately would
grant the 1212 per cent. advance in
wages, but would furnish the miners
their powder free.
This challenge was directly aimed
at the stand of Francis l.. Robbins,
who was proclaimed traitor to the
cause of the soft coal operators. It's
apparent fairness was a bombshell in
the campaign of Robbins and the min
ers as we'll. 1t brought no further re-
suit than hot discussion. The mys-
terry of it is uncovered in one under
lying reason for the strike.
The Great Industrial War.
So after three days in the nnal strug-
gle in joint conference all e..orts to
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

tons and vehemently proclaiming that
an investigation should be made of the
relations between the coal companies
OF the soft coal fields and the railroads
The operators retorted there was
nothing in it and that Mitchell was
simply pandering to public prejudice
against the railroads.
Mitchell jockeyed for the position
of asking restoration" of wage scale
that was in force one year, the year
or 1903, trying D make the operators
appear in the position of refusing a
wage scale which previously had been
in force, Notwithstanding Che claimed)
the steel trade and railroads now were
prospecting wonderfully.
Average Wage of Diggers.
Reports of labor commissioners OF
the various states give the average
number of days which coal miners in
eacn field work anu give the average
daily wage at S2.42. Many of the min
ers earn, when they work, from 81
to So and even $40 a day, but there
has been an overproduction of soft
coal and an influx of coal from non
union mines which has restricted the
operation of the mines in Illinois and
its sister states. The miners then
earn through the year an average of
$2.42 per day. The statistics of the
state of Indiana permit comparison
with the wages paid to the butcher,
the baker and the furniture maker;
the butchers being paid an average of
$219 per day, bakers $204 per day,
and the furniture makers s1.S7 per
day. Quarrymen, whose work is sim
liar, but not underground, are paid an
average of s140 a day. The average
wages of engineers and fremen of sta
tionary plants is 81 per day, that Of
brick makers .s1.S5 per day, and brew
ers are paid $2.35 per day.
There are occupations for which
higher wages are paid than coal min
ms, b9t tHCy are Htt HutftftH5.
The changes in the coal fields in the
conditions of the miners and their
families during the last ten years are
so striking that they furnish one of
the best examples of the progress and
prosperity which is becoming each
year more general throughout the
United States. The traditional habits
Of the miners have not altogether been
changed, but there are many more
miners who now own their homes, and
there Is smaller percentage OF the
men who generally spend their liberal
wages at the saloons and in dissipa-
ton. The typical home Of the miner
is no longer shanty, and the condi-
tons within no longer are those of
squalOr. The miners child Is now in
the schools, when in former years they
ran the streets, dirty and ragged.
These changes have been wrought by
their unions, and the operators have
found great advantage in dealing with
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20
MR0UlQ Ne51RlKklH5

the Joint conference Of the miners and
the operators, first in February and
again March 10. During the second
convention another influence was
brought to bear which added certainty
to the expectations that the miners
and operators could not agree.
Why Robbins Turned.
Francis l.. Robbins, president of the
Pittsburg Coal company, the biggest
corporation operating in the bitumi-
nous fields, will be a candidate for the
United States senate at the next ses-
sion of the Pennsylvania legislature
His announcement has not been made
public, but in Pennsylvania II is a
well-known fact. The miners vote
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

men will undoubtedly 60 to the non
union coal fields in Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Alabama and West Virginia. Aft
er a prOtracted strike the union has
been driven out of Alabama and the
mines are run on the plan of the
open shop"
For weeks both sides Of this giant
struggle between labor and capital
have been maneuvering for position,
like great armies. One cause OF delay
before the final breach between the
operators and miners was in making
these maneuvers in tactical moves of
one side and then the other.
When disagreement seemed prob
able President John Mitchell, of the
United Mine Workers, secured letter
from President Roosevelt, urging that
second effort be made to prevent a
strike, and tried to put the RESPONSE
bility for the strike upon the Oper-
atorS.
In return the operators promptly
agreed to second joint conference, to
be held at indianapolis, beginning
March 10, and which was prolonged
for ten days.
The third move en- the battle field
was MitChell's announcement that the
Pittsburg Coal company with an out
put of 20,0O0,0O0 tons per annum)
would compromise by granting an ad-
vance of 5.55 per cent.
The operators made a counter-move
by proclaiming Robbins a traitor to
their cause and not representative of
their will.
Mitchell made a flank movement by
declaring the railroads were respon-
sible for the failure of peace negotia-
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

The facts underlying the great strike
in the bituminous coal fields are the
most remarkable that have been in
volyed in any labor question in the
history of the United States, as the
strike will be the greatest strike in the
country's history.
Few of the moving facts became ap-
parent during the joint conferences at
indianapolis. They had their origin in
the previous strike in the bituminous
fields and the remarkable recruiting to
the ranks of the United Mine Workers
of America which followed upon the
heels of the strike in 1902. The oppors
tunities in organization shown then
appealed to the element of the miners
which previously had secuted the idea
of organization, and this element has
proved to be, as it got more and more
into the harness, a radical even social
istic element-muCh more radical than
the leaders of the United Mine Work
ers or the older membership in that
body.
Miners Well Prepared.
Through the check off system, the
collection by the cooperators of union
dues and fines, system which existed
through the foolish indulgence of the
operators, an enormous strike fund
has been piled up, the total being to-
day at least 100000 in all the district
and national treasury. There is fund
of $950,000 in the Illinois treasury
alone. This is sum which would go
but a little way in paying strike
wages, but was a sum SO large that
the new element in the United Mine
Workers had fixed their eyes upon it
greedily with jealous misgvings of
what might be done with it. In the
ranks of the miners, therefore, the
majority sentiment was in favor of
radical demand, which their leaders
knew were wholly unlikely to be
granted under the existing conditions.
John Mitchell and his lieutenants were
put in a position of choosing between
continuing to lead their men and sub
scribing to the demands of the rad
ical majority, or being thrown from
their high position and trampled upon
by thousands of union members. Such
q situation among the miners was
known to exist and that a strike was
likely has been known for months to
many Of the big operators, the rail-
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

aps and the priests of the foreign
euurches in the mining districts.
., on the side of the operators, condi-
Ons existed which also foretold an
~s'dpt clash which would be likely to
'ul1 IN strike. At the threshold of
MI, central competitive district" COM
eas the states of Illinois, Indiana,
M NY ana western Pennsylvania, lie the
wsu'unonized bituminous fields Of
i, ~ virginia, Kentucky and Tennes-
Inc West Virginia field particu-
49, mas been an aggressive compel
a.. IN the soft coal market of the
so states. In the last year West
siaia coal has gone into the very
'nSnold of the central competitive
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20
Conversational Comparison.

"Mr. Blink isn't very original" said
the woman with kindly disposition;
but he never says anything that isn't
true, and he is always the same"
Yes" answered Miss Cayenne. "Ho
has precisely the conversational merits
of a cuckoo clock. "-Washington Sta,
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

the miners through their organized
JOdies. The hard work OF the con-
seryative leaders in the national or
ganization has accomplished very
much. but the most desperate situa-
ton has been brought about by the
increasing numbers of the radical and
socialistic element, which regards a
strike too lightly.
Would Incorporate Union.
During the final joint conference at
indianapolis the Illinois coal operators
began advocating the incorporation of
the United Mine Workers of America
us assets to consist Of the amount of
strike fund accumulated at this time
Ut on hand at any time. This is the
ffSt case known where employers have
dehhlteiy urged the plan which theor-
lstS IN discussing labor troubles have
urged as a remedy. Economists of
distinction have urged that the incor
poratlon of unions would diminish the
number of strikes, practically do away
Win violation Of contracts between
employers and their men, and give
both capital and labor an equal stand
ing before the people. No less a per-
son than the general manager of the
illinois Central railroads coal COM
pany, A. J. MOorshead, was sponsor
Tor this movement, which may grow
to historic Importance.
Mr.. Moorshead is of English birth
and IN England the miners unions are
incorporated. Employers never have
Deeh willing to urge the unions with
"nlch they do business to take adyan-
cage or the corporation laws" said Mr.
Moorshead. In England violations or
aggregation Of contract is very rare
Tor the unions are financially resnon-
SIDE when incorporated. If a contract
Is violated by the employer, he or the
corporation is now responsible TO the
unions or their members; the reverse
should be true, and if the miners are
earnestly seeking equality and fairness
IN their relations with employers they
ought to be willing to assume this
financial responsibility"
The Illinois Coal Operators associa-
tlon took no action, but favored the
plan and it is likely later to be given
formal recognition by the association
What such action might lead to in the
relations of labor to capital cannot be
predicted, but it is an important de-
Velopment of the question which each
year grows more important of solu.
ton.
Following are the statements of the
leaders OF miners, John Mitchell. and
OF the bituminouS coal operators, John
ii. Winder, of Ohio.
John Mitchell: The American peo.
pie will place the responsibility TO,
the miners strike at the door of the
railroads owning the big coal fields,
They will also urge this great indus
trial conflict to the men who have
large stocks of coal stored away out OF
which they purpose to make vast for
tunes"
John H. Winder: 81 look upon the
situation as business disagreement
between the miners and the operators.
ana not as strike. A suspension of
work will follow our adjournment
without agreement upon a new work
Ing contract. | do not predict the
shutdown will be attended with viola
tions. No attempt will be made, I
think, to operate the mines with nom
union men,"
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

and 1t also stops the clank of many
tipples in Iowa, West Virginia, Mich
| igan and Kentucky.
Probably all the miners in western
Pennsylvania will be ordered out, to
the number of 100000
What will be the result of this ire
mendous industrial war? How long
can it endure? The daily bread and
very existence of 100000 people de-
pend upon the wages which will be
sacrificed. Will the struggle be COM
paratively peaceful or will the turbu-
lence which has marked most strikes
be used by the less self-controlIed
miners to enforce the demand which
has been refused?
Much depends on the results of the
negotiations between anthracite oper-
ators and their miners, for if peace
overtures fail in the anthracite field
as we'll as the bituminous, the strug-
gle will be titanic one, reaching
from the Delaware to the Missouri
river and south throughout the soft
coal fields of Kansas, Indian territory
and Oklahoma to Texas. 1t Is not at
all improbable that not less than $780,
900 coal miners will be loafing before
the end of April. No time of the year
could be better for a protracted siege
by the workmen, and that is one of the
elements OF strength which determined
the strike long before the conferences
were begun. The suspension will be
at the beginning of the growing sea-
son, when little garden patches dot
ting the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Michigan, IndIana, Illinois, Iowa, Mis-
souri,, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indian ter
ritory and Texas will be looked to for
the main support Of the hundreds Of
thousands of families and their mil
lions of individuals whose income has
been cut off. Thousands Of these idle
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20

avert the strike failed. The coal oper-
ators Of the central competitive field"
framed an appeal to President Roose-
welt to investigate the facts of the
situation and determine the justice Of
the case by arbitration. This was
done by the operators after all hopes
of peace had failed, but it did not
avert the strike, although it was hoped
that it might shorten its length.
The present strike involves more
men than any other the coal industry
has known in this or any other coun-
try. Practically all the miners in ILL
nois, Indiana and Ohio are members of
the United Mine Workers, and all went
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-04-20
GREATEST in HISTORY OF COUNTRY
War Cloud Has Been Gathering for Some
Time-Dissers Have Laid Aside Fornoid-
able Fund to Push Fight-Proposi.
ton to Incorporate Union.
BY CLYDE ALISON MANN.

underlying the great strike the markets Of Indian
bumnous coal heldS are the apo Chicago The reason Law
remarkable that have cheaper labor secured IN tho
The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-01-11
DONORS LETTER.
Ny Dear Mr.. Frost:

my Oedf mr. fTOSC
Iregret exceedingly not being able to be
with you at the services of dedication but shall
follow you with prayer, that Gods blessing
may rest on the Chapel
Recalling my visit to Berea, I am better
able to put myself in touch with all there.
The position of the Chapel is excellent and
the beautiful grove of oaks make it a fit place
of prayer.
sincerely trust that all students Of Berea.
remembering the strong, brave, good men and
women who were ready, if it need be, to sacri-
hce life for Berea, will be equally strong and
brave, developing, with Gods help character
and work, noble and true, fitted for the times
they live in.
l hope words will be constantly spoken in
the Chapel that will bring our Heavenly Father
before the students, that they may know Him
to be kind Father, ready at any hour OF the
day or night to give help in keeping his com
mandments and strength to resist temptations
that Gods commandments will be taught and
explained, and in prayer and praise help OBJ
tanned TO keep Them and to know Christ as a
personal Friend, nearer than anything else in
the world. And that very many in the quiet
of the building may give their hearts to
Christ, putting soul and body into His keeping,
obeying His commandments, through this life
and have His welcome into the other Home,
Well done, good and faithful servant: enter in
to the Joy ofyour Lord"
May Gods blessings rest on all at the SER
vice. and the Chapel be center and power for
good in the College now and always.
Faithfully yours,
December 81 1905.
The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-01-11
The Opening Term

There is still pretty steady pro-
cession OF new students pouring into
the various Offices, and there are new
arrivals by every train.
The new two year English Acad-
envy course is fully started Among
the new teachers are Miss Eyler from
Ohio, Miss Hendricks, who returns
from Illinois after six mouths alb
sence, Mr. John Dean who graduated
from our Normal course in 1902, Mr..
Felmy, one of Berea's own students.
Mr.. Luther Shadoin, Normal stu
dent last year, Mrs. Cartmell, whom
many former students will remember
as Miss Baringer, and Miss Tribble
also returning after absence.
BY Monday night the enrolment
was above 740, fully l25 more than
at the same time last year.
The new Boarding halls, with their
steam cooking, and comfortable
furnishings, are greatly appreciated,
and the carpenters are at work max
ing them still more convenient and
commodious.
The moving of the Students store
to the Treasurer's office proves a
great convenience and the young
people are saved much time aud
much money by this arrangement
The store is conducted without pro-
fit simply for the convenience and
benefit of the students.
Special efforts are made to help
those who were prevented from com
ing the first day, and they are being
assigned to classes and assisted to
"catch up"
The Dedication takes our space
this week, but we propose to give
full account of the young people who
are here this winter.
The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-01-11

the earliest meetings Of those who
designed heschool. Father Rogers
has told Of the great seasons
of prayer in which they inquired
whether a school were here needed
aud whether they who we're met TO-
getber were the men Of Gods ap.
pointment FOR such "A work.
Here chance upon the record Of
a meeting ia Berea on September
9Th. 1858. when a Constitution was
submitted by Father Rogers. begin
ming with those now famous words:
In order 90 promote the cause Of
Christ
Art. III "Iis object shall be 10
furnish the advantages for a thorough
education 10 an persons Of good NOR
al character desiring the same. at the
least possible expense To secure
this end all possible facilities aud in
ducemenis for manual labor shall be
offered lis students"
"All persons Of good moral char
acies:" this impartial love for
humanity without regard TO race or
condition, which seemed to them as
il seems to the Christian world
today, so clearly a part Of the bless
ed Gospel, was then 10 some az it is
still, great offence, ground for
ridicule and persecution
AZ III. 1T shall be under an
influence strictly Christian, and as
such, opposed 10 sectarianism, slave
holding, caste, aud every other wrong
institution or practice
BY seciarian teaching we mean