The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09
BIOctOn Not Blocked
 By Coal Miners Strike
Heavy Outputs Every DayWe Regulated CampMerchants of Blocton Seek Relief Mills of the Gods Grind
 Slowly But Exceeding Fine.''
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

company are under the superintendency now of Frank H. Gafford, whose conserv- ative judgment, long experience and thor ough knowledge of men and measures have much to do with this perfect preser- vation of order, and the successful run ming of these mines under present condi- tions. In talking with citizens of Bocton today. who are. of course, much con- cerned in the present status of affairs, find that they have perfect confidence in MT Gafford and are rejoicing at his man. agement of matters here
 Town of BIocton.
 Blocton is a great big town, it's com mercial business sustained by the coal mines, by timber. by railroad traffic and especially by rich agricultural section. West Blocton Is the real incorporated town with 40 or 50 stores and other business houses and offices. l have just visited the town and conversed with a number of It's citizens on the all-absorbing subject of this strike. l find a general sentiment of sympathy for the union men, but no displeasure at the management by Super intendent Gafford. These merchants tell me that business is badly reduced by the strike, and that they are suffering as @ result. Appearances indicate that this is true, and certainly there is mutual re- gret The business mems sympathy for the miners is partly due to the fact that many of them were once members of the craft.
 Pay of Men.
 I have just been shown the pay rolls of the Tennessee company here, courte- ously shown me by Frank Rosamond, the timekeeper, and find that the maximum per diem paid individual miners here in the month of February was s5.09, the min mum s314 In May it was, maximum, S642; minimum, $2.25 per day. The scale is 4712 cents.
 Blocton is healtful locality. The Ten- nessee company has built large num- Der of excellent houses for its employees, has a splendid system of water works, affording free water run Into the house of every miner, and a free sanitary sys- tenn. Churches of many denomination are furnished land by the company upon which they have built modest but hand some houses of worship. They have school houses for white and for colored children, who are here given nine full months free tuition.
 These mines are equipped with modern and automatic machinery and every fa- cility Is afforded for effective work.
 Blocton Merchants Acting.
 As l said above Blocton merchants and union miners express a mutual sympathy, and the public need not be surprised to see this fact revolutionize matters pertaining to this strike in healthful and generally beneficial way withi in a few days Something is going to drop that will cause some changes, and Blocton is going to force the change. The story Is thus related to your correspondent:
 Some days ago a committee was ap- pointed by the union men and the mer- chants of Blocton to consider ways and means for the relief of the latter class The proposition Is: To have the United Mine Workers of America issue tickets of credit on the stores of merchants instead of orders for rations in the commissary In other words to let the of the profits of this i'll wind instead of having it all go to one wholesale Bir mingham house and to the man or men who are directing the purchases. This committee consisted of Robert Hayes, nresident of the Blocton local United Mine Workers of America, and J. B. Davie, merchant of Blocton. The merchants of this town raised fund of $50 and sent these gentlemen to h. ! dianapolis before President Lewis of the United Mine Workers of America who assured them that he would send Vice President White to this district to investigate conditions and that the proposition was reasonable and should have due consideration.
 What Result Will Be. Now let us see what the result o' CONTINUED ON PAGE 12.)