The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-09-11
SOCIALISM, GREED
AND ENVY, BLAMED
FOR MINE STRIKE

Washington, d. c.. Sept. 9.-Greed Of
coal operators as we'll as the miners,
Bishop J. p. Donahue, of the Catholic
church, told the Senate investigating
committee today, was the fundamental
cause of the mine strike in West Vir-
ginia. Exorbitant prices in company
stores rom Is to rs per cent above the
markety be gave as an instance Of the
attitude OF the operators. y
h bishop was on a commission
which investigated conditions on Paint
and Cabin creeks. He was agreeably
surprised by the living conditions of
the miners, s. ,-
"Of3 course we found no Turkish rugs
but we did find fairly comfortable
workingmen's homes" said the pre-
late. -.
'"'Were the men contented? ?" asked
Senator Kenyon.
They'll Never Be contented.
ST can best answer in the words OF
witness Griffith, who said the men
would not be satisfied until they owned
the Mines
Coming to the cause of the strike
psalms, The rich man flaunts his
wealth and sets the poo man on fire."
and declared it applied to the situa-
ton in West Virginia. He added that
infdelity had been taught to the min
ers; hat they a been taught that
the saying t'the poor we have with us
always was a farce, and that the min
ers had just as much right to automo-
biles and to live in Kanawha street as
the coal operators. .
Senator Borah commended that IL lab
oring men were not ambitious they
would become Industrial slaves.
"Ah, but not so II property owners
49, 80 aIIAI rrysAI@ ar.aA1 nE-nN~NAl A.
bishop. IT believe men should hold
property, not as their own, but as
trustees for others and that trustee
ship should be shown by acts"
Senator MARITIME asked Bishop IONA
hue il labor unions were not organized.
in his opinion. for the good of the
members. Xiii ~
His View Of Unions.
The bishop hesitated until the cues
ton was repeated, then said:
"That may be one reason, another
Is to furnish fat salaries to officials"
Did you ever heal of an official that
was worth $20,000?" demanded Attor-
ney Stedman. for the United Mine
Workers.
Il did not speak Of accumulation. I
referred to salaries" returned the
bishop calmly.
Attorney Monnett, also for the miners,
asked If the bishop thought gatling
guns, armored cars I'M bloodhounds
were some Of the things that set the
soul Of the miners on fire,
The bishop responded that he con-
sidered the use of those weapons best
governed by the common Law which
allowed the use Of guns when the
user was backed to the wall" The
bishop denied having come to Wash
ington at the request Of the coal mine
operators to protest against former
immigration Commissioner O'Keefe
stopping immigrants going to West
| Virginia mines, because the mines
were not unionized. The bishop" de-
clared he came on his own volition.
He said the immigrants were possibly
Catholics, but they were not work
ing at 1t hard" &
well, they pay up, and that is what
| you want" suggested the attorney.
ooh, no. paying money does not
make a man religious. He must go to
church and live his religion. Take
away a mans religion n you make
him little more than an animal. Get
some of these horrible ideas Of infidel-
ity and doubt and socialism worked
out Of the miners minds, much as you
work out beer at Carlsbad and nurture
a wholesome religious view of life,
and conditions will be better"
Bibles. for Machine Guns.
The bishop denied that either indi-
vidually or officially he was interested
in West Virginia Goa land or mines.
Senator MARITIME asked the bishop
what he would do TO remedy condi-
tons If he had the power.
First Of all, I would require hotn
operators and miners to go to church
twice every Sunday" said the bishop.
Il would give each a bible as a steer
ing chart and then give tfem about
| eight beatitudes and make chem hang
two or three in their bedrooms, such
as 1&essed Are the Poor in Spirit
and Blessed Are the Meek These
would cause them to forget to use the
machine guns"