United labor bulletin., 1910-09-15
THE COAL BARoNs
ENsLAvE MINERS.
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ever known, all brought on needlessly
through the inhuman actions and avari-
cious spirit of the coal barons of the
Irwin field.
ance the investigating party, including
Secretary Frank Morrison of the Ameri-
can Federation if Labor, President Fran
els Feehan of the United Nine Workers,
M. Emmelinne Pitt of the Iron City
Trades Journal Harvey D. Smith, staff
correspondent of the Pittsburg Press, to-
gether with special correspondent of
the Gazette Times, and local leaders and
organizers, visited the various camps of
the evicted miners of the Irwin district
recently. Greensburg, Latrobe, New
Alexandria, Irwin and a number of other
smaller camps were visited, all showing
the most wretched and deplorable condi-
tions, especially after the storms and
rain beating mercilessly down upon the
frail tents which were the only available
refuge for the hundreds of men, women
and children who sought shelter from
the battling elements and driving rain.
Bedding mattresses, pillows and clothing,
many of them half-covered with mud,
were spread out upon chairs, boxes or
nearby fences to dry. Pausing long
enough to consider the actually helpless
condition of these suffering people the
immeasurable consequences to their
physical condition forces itself upon one
to a marked degree. All, what eye can
look in upon the sad, sad circumstances
of these people without the heart being
stirred to its utmost in their behalf. No
tongue, no pen could adequately describe
the pathos involved in this needless sac
rifice forced upon helpless people, who
are struggling simply for foothold on
earth; a defenseless people crushed into
involuntary servitude by men who have
missed the law of kindness and have no
desire to be just
At New Alexandria, one of the small
mining towns nesting snugly among the
sunny hills, the conditions of the evicted
families are beyond description. Upon
the top of one of the broad slopes just
within the shadow of the little white
church with its cleaning cross high upon
the steeple. Crowded into a small field
we found some 45 OF so tents pitched
and occupied by the miners and their
families.
The early afternoon sun was pouring
down its hottest rays when President
Feehan made one of the most spirited
and encouraging addresses ever given to
body of men under such difficult cir
cumstances.
duced and while with eager, earnest, up
turned faces these suffering, selfsacrific-
ing men and women drank in every word
trrtr 1l. I, <1A Nov
son spoke deeply on the cause of their
present condition. And as his eyes wan
dered out over the crowd and fell upon
group of sweet-faced, barefooted, inno-
cent little children, clinging to their
mothers skirts and looking with eyes of
wonder upon the whole scene, his voice
unconsciously seemed to drop into deep
est tones of sympathy, love and kind
ness. He urged the men to be steadfast,
for such righteous cause as theirs is
sure to win and be crowned with an
ultimate victory.
The general attitude of the men and
their leaders indicate on every hand a
continuation of the splendid, indomit-
able courage, as shown since its begin
ming last March. Forced into their pres
ent deplorable conditions in order to
defend their invaded rights, they have
fought yaliantly for the cause and are to-
day suffering the many indignities be-
ing heaped upon them.
No plumed knight of honor or mailed
warrior could exhibit more fortitude and
strength of purpose in any just cause
than the brave men and women of the
Irwin field. who are living under such
inhuman conditions and daily under the
guns of the state constabulary and COM
pany deputies, who ride up and down
the road in front of the camp, frequently
acting in the most aggravating and in
sinuating manner.
The inhuman act of supposed profess
ing Christian men to calmly sit by and
order helpless women and children to
/ be deliberately driven from even the
pitiable little homes they have, to drive
them into the fields, into the highways
and byways with no shelter for the sick
or defenseless is an outrage no Ameri-
can public should countenance. 1t is not
only disgrace to Pennsylvania but to
the whole civilized world that such con-
ditions as those inflicted upon the brave
men and women of the Irwin field are
permitted to exist today.
Reviewing the conditions as he found
them Secretary Morrison said:
Il would not have missed my trip to-
day in the Irwin field for $4,000. The
sights that have seen in this blighted
section of industrial servitude have not
been exaggerated by any of the mine
workers officials. To say the least, the
condition of serfdom and wage slavery
that exists in Westmoreland county
would require the pen of gifted writer
to perfectly delieneate. One thing is GER
tain and that is the miners on strike
have had more than ample cause for
their cessation of work, and I feel that
it is the duty of every lover of humanity