The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-06
GOLD DIGGERs.


who have inquired conditions throughout the strike
regions and of responsible citizens in industrial ceners is
practically unanimous to the effect that the great majority
of the engaged in the steel strike foreigners
They principally of Slavic origin and include repre-
senatives Of the people who formerly made up the poly
got Austro Hungarian empire Many thousands of these
have to the United States during the past quarter
of century, and though they engaged in agricul
ura pursuits in their native land by strange chance
probably due the attraction of high wages they ocked
to the big industrial communities in this country and
found employment in the iron and steel mills.
These constitute what is genervally termed "com
labor in the mills That is the work which requires
Drawn and brans the labor needed for the handling
of pgron steel biets rails and structural shapes,
necessary adjunct the intelligence required the pro-
of manufacture In jobs of this sort the foreigner
finds excellent market for the muscular strength which
his former life has developed at home finds too that his
inability to speak the English language is handicap
and that there oremen and superintendent to do
his thinking for him.
Common labor 20 years ago paid 50 day in the
steel mills This spelled affuance the Bohemans Poles,
Croats Magyars and others who had been able to earn
but pittance at home At that rate they able
rule to 81 day. and after three years in the
United States each of Them after having lived better
than he had lived bofor, and without enduring any
sacrifice whatever found himself possessed of $1,000 and
enough to pay his seerage passage home Back upon his
native heath, with $1,000 in his pocket, he looked
upon rich in his class for with that he could
set up in small business or buy tiny patch of land or
purchase annual income for the remainder of his life
As after three years of labor in America, he able
to take his savings home and ivee happily after.
That 20 years ago. and during the intervening
wages have increased until these imported COM
mon labores receive not less than 81 day for the ex
ercise of their muscles But during all this time the
stream of returning aborers with wellned pockets has
been flowing continuously to Europe and the same ships
which took them back brought over new recruits with
Imagination and cupdity fired by the wonderful tales of
those who had come to the land of gold.
But vast change has about. Twenty years ago.
these foreigners, after garnering their little fortunes
went back to home that governed by an autocrac
monarch, government in which they had no voice and
title freedom Now they may back to land free from
utocracy rid of the blight of oppression This priceless
boon of freedom purchased for them while they toll
ed in the steel mills immune from the seectve draft law
and earning what to them were fabulous wages 1t was
paid for with the lives of thousands of American youths
and the blood of other thousands to say nothing of the
unlimited treasure expended in the cause
1t of the mockeries of the war that with each
successive call to the color which American workngmen
FASTENED to obey the labor demand grew louder and
ltr,c
obs and enjoy higher wages the Americans marched
make the supreme sacrifice for the men who remained
in the mills. And the toers from abroad remaining
subjects to their emperors and failing to avail themselves
Of the initial step toward American citizenship toers
with their eyes constantly upon the little fortune which
would give them comfort and luxury book home
held to their jobs while Americans yielded up their lives
to buy for them and their progeny the heritage of liberty
Of such these is the steel strike The evidence is
practically unanimous to that effect And why do they
rush mady in response strike order? The reason is
clear They hear the call Of their native mountains and
plains free from the blight of oppression and though
their earnings munfcent yet if these be ncreas
I'd it will hasten the day when their savings will permit
them hundreds of thousands of counymen have
done before them, to withdraw their savings from the
banks and take passage the fatherand there to enjoy
the fruits of their labors in America.
The picture is no overdrawn Ask the superintendent
or the welfare workers of the great steel corporations
Inquire of the rector of any parish in a mill town
The United States always has been the haven of the
weak and oppressed of all lands, and forever may it be-
But its privileges and opportunities held too cheap
Those who would enjoy its blessings should give some 10y
atty and not merely here for the purpose of scrap
ing together what few golden nuggets are available and
running home with them The foreign mill workers owe
America nd a HIGHER Gratitude