Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-11-02
RESULTS OF
THE STRIKE

Editor Intelligencer.
. Sir:-Every readsr of the Intelli-
gencer has read with 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 beg nv readers to re-
view the past two years and compare
them with the present time. About
two years ago Danville was celebrat-
ing the various improvements that
prosperity had given her, we'll 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-
vancement? 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 hoverd 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 were thronged with crowds of
well dressed men and 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 note of discord
was sounded. Men and women with
grave faces hoped there would be no
strike, for they knew we'll that the
old, happy, prosperous days would end,
and for time, at least, much self
denial, not to say suffering, 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
few short weeks should this strike
continue. The leader oflthe union beg
ged the citizens to help the iron work
ers in their struggle. 1 believe the
oii af
get the advance, but what can the
| merchants and business men give be-
side their sympathy? And sympathy,
| am sure, won't feed the hungry,
clothe the naked and warm the freez-
ing women aud children. The brunt
of the strike is most keenly felt by the
helpless women and children and just
notice how nobly 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 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-
ploy of the Reading company wept as
they saw the blackened timbers, and
how we sent a 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-
vania? And, Oh what sigh of relief
and many "Thank 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 were relit and the whistles blew
and the men trooped forth as of old?
Think of the long cold winter that
will soon be upon us. Thanksgiving
and Christmas, glad seasons of the
year, will 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 go 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 a settlement.
WELL WISHER. |