Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-11-01
RESULTS OF
THE STRIKE

Editor AMERICAN.
Sir:-Eyery reader of the Ameri-
can has read with great interest the
articles written by various contribut-
ors, concerning the local strike
The writers were, no doubt, correct
in their statements regarding figures,
etc. but in writing this article | shall
not dwell upon figures at all, but con
fine myself TO facts
We are about rounding out the
fourth month of this unfortunate state
of affairs, and l beg my readers to re
view the past two years and compare
them with the present time. About
two years ago DanviIIe was celebrat-
ing the various Improvements that
prosperity had given her, a well de-
served pride in town that had been
improved and made to stand upon an
equality with sister towns. To what
class of citizens can we credit this ad-
yancement? The answer must be-
largely to the labors Of the iron work
er, the very bone and sinue of Dan
Vile.
Two years ago prosperity hoyerd ov-
er our entire community. Our curb
stone market fairly groaned with good
things and farmers went home with
fat purses. On Saturday evenings the
streets We're thronged with crowds of
well dressed men ana women and store
keepers and other business men had
all they could do to wait upon the
crowds standing at their counters. All
were satisfied everyone was happy.
Grim want was absent and every
where JOY and merriment found free
expression.
Six months ago a note of discOTd
was sounded. Men aHi women with
grave faces hoped there would lee no
strike, for they knew we'll that the
old happy, prosperous days would end,
and for a time, at least, much self
denial. not to say sutfering would
have to be endured And it has come.
All friends of the wage Garner hoped
to see his desire speedily granted, but,
alas time is speeding on and no hope
is in sight In the meanwhile think OF
the suffering that must surely come in
a few short weeks should this strike
continue. The leader ofsthc union beg
ged the citizens to help the irol work
ers in their struggle. | believe the
citizens of Danville want the men to
get the advance, but what can the
merchants and business men give be-
side their sympathy? And sympathy.
l am sure, won't feed the hungry,
clothe the naked ard warm the frceZ-
ing women and children. The brunt
of the strike is most keenly felt by the
helpless women and children and just
notice how noblv the women are work
ing aud enduring to help the cause.
Iron workers. do you recollect the
hard times we all experienced when
the mill burned down a few years ago:
Do YOU not remember how you fought
the greedy flames that were sweeping
away your means of support? How
men who had grown gray in the en-
pIoy of the Reading company wept as
they saw the blackened timbers, and
how we sent committee of men to
Reading TO ask that the mill be rebuilt
and Danville be maintained among the
foremost of the iron towns of Pennsyl-
vauia, And, Oh what a sigh of relief
and many a "Thauk God" went up,
when we heard that the Reading com
pany would rebuild the mill. And
wasn't it glad day when the first
fires We're relit and the whistles blew
and the men trooped forth as of old?
Think of the long cold winter that
viii soon be upon us. Thanksgiving
and Christmas, glad seasons Of the
year, viii be but mockery if the
Big Mill" is idle The untold suffer
ing and misery and want that are be-
ing felt even now, will surely be our
lot
With the Big Mill" idle our iron
workers must seek employment else
where, and their hard earned wages
will 90 to make another town prosper
Gus, while their homes here are sad
dened by the absence Of the husband
and father
ask, must we sit idly by and see
prosperity pass us while we endure
privation and want? Can there be no
arbitration in this case: Other differ
ences have been settled satisfactorily
why not ours, when the happiness, the
welfare, yes, the very life of the town
demands settlement.
WELL WISHER.