The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-07-20
SEVERAL STRANGE THINGS

The recent trouble in the Lead Belt
of St. Francois county, between the
American and foreign miners, have
brought out several rather peculiar
things, which are apparently contra
dictory, and impossible for the aver
age mind to harmonic. 1t seems to
us, at this time, Of all times, to be
timely and pertinent that such domes-
tic relations should be made to "track",
or "dove-tail," if the best interests of
all-especially Americans-are to be
safeguarded in critical times such as
this country is apparently approach
ing.
If this country is to prosecute the
war, as it should and must be prose-
cuted in order to get full benefit for
the innumersble lives and billions of
wealth that will perhaps be required
to bring the conflict to a successful
termination, insofar as this country is
concerned, soldiers will be required
many of them. 1t is for the purpose
of supplying needed soldiers that the
recent draft was put into effect.
Now, in this Lead Belt are many
young men who will doubtless be
called to the colors. Possibly, and
quite probable, many others will again
be called to the trenches at some later
date. Is it right that Americans,
while fighting for their country, should
be supplanted in the jobs they were
forced to relinquish to give their ser
vices-perhaps their lives-to their
country, by foreigners, who are not
even subject to such draft? If such
a policy is to be pursued, then, in this
instance, at least, it would seem to be
preferable to be "a man without a
country"
Again, is it right or proper to in
stall foreigners-many from the same
countries with which America will be
at WARM these mines, which doubt
less already have contracts to supply
this Government with munitions of
war. 1t would be possible for said
foreigners to work irreparable dam
age to those mining properties, in the
hope and belief that they were rem
dering their own countries a service.
But they would not think of doing
such thing, you say? Are you pre-
pared to say what they might think,
or might do? On what is your idea
founded that they would not do such
a thing? Surely not on what you
must know of the base, inhuman
methods that are being practiced in
the present war by the Teutons.
1t is up to the Government at Wash
ington to thrash out this matter
thoroughly, since some of the author
tiles have already tried, or talked of,
interfering to restrain the foreigners
from being driven out of the Lead
Belt, and see just where they are.
The did" has been clamped down
against employment of foreigners in
many other industries, where it might
be possible for them to work damage
or at least delay war prepared
ness. Why not help the Ameri-
can miners in the Lead Belt in clear
ing that district of such updesirables :?
But the American boys need no as
sistance here in the work of driving
out the foreign usurpers of positions
they are entitled to, if this country is
really and truly to be for Americans
first. But they would like to have the
Governments sanction of what they
have done, instead of it's criticism.
Will they receive it?
If the newspaper man should ask
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