The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-11-21

wor,en and Children Living Under
Primitive Conditions in Rough Shell
ters Mine Owners Refuse to Treat
With Any Union Representative.
With the rest of the country's coal
i.ds now at peace 10000 soft coal
miners in central Pennsylvania are
.au battling against powerful anti
,,on employers who refuse to sign
Ne terms agreed to by the majority
4 both sides. In Somerset county is
mated this stronghold of non-union
NINE owners. and of these the Ber-
v-d-White Coal Company stands out
eader. Thus far, however, only the
aie Of the miners has been made pub
+, the Berwind-W White officials retus-
mo 10 treat with or have anything to
IA with any union officials.
The Berwind-Whi officials, who
nntrol the mines in Somerset county
where the strike still is in progress,
announce they are willing to meet
with the men, but are firm IN their de
prninaton not to recognize the union
bv dealing with mine union leaders.
The Rerwind- White company supplies
most Of the fuel used by the transport
3tion companies of New York city,
brt refused to meet with a commission
sent to the district by Mayor Hylan.
In Great Distress.
With winter just around the corner
thousands of women and children IN
Somerset county, Pa, evicted from
cOmpany-owned homes, are living III
dire poverty in tents, without suth-
Gent clothing to cover their bodies,
and existing on meager food ration.
Smoke rises from stoves set up I'M
der shantieS made of oilcloth and
5 chicken wire. A family of nine often
lives in one army tent, supplied tree
by the union, plus kitchen OF the
ame sort Wash tubs and water pals
hang on pegs outside.
Hundreds of barefoot children are
always in sight. A few pigs and chick
ems usually forage around the tents.
COW or a sewing machine or
iivver" with tires carefully covered
With burlap sometimes stand out as
= priced possessions saved from the
wreck The automobiles all belong TO
Unmarried men, who cannot afford to
lake out a 1922 license or buy gaso-
ne
Not until last April, when the entire
hduStry went on strike, could union
Em gain a hold in Somerset county,
ut when it came it came with rush.
Within a month and half 10000 men
trc organized. in many cases before
outside leaders reached them. An IN
iu,rial war was on which bids fair
be the outstanding feature OF the
Fecent coal tieup. Both sides promise
fight it out to the last ditch, but
nany observers believe the MINERS
Nth no substantial backing, will have
give in eventually.
Companies the Aggressors.
The company's policy of aggression
sanSt union SympathizerS was
rengthcned when the strike began.
he strikers say that an elaborate sys-
m Of espionage was developed and
ratcNts found for falling organizers
curt records filled up with homiclde
NeS IN which a majority OF decisions
Aored the company representatives.,
IS said. The strikers were tree III
HEIR charge of perjury in the courts.
The operators, forced to go outside
district to recruit their labor, are
ayng above union wages tor green
eL 1t is estimated that the casual
'ung labor force now being brought
10 the Somerset fields, where much
the coal is difficult to get, can pro-
lce only one-hfth of the daily output
The regular force, or about one ana
oe-lait tons a day per man instead
seven and onc-half
he strikers are being paid 50
elk a family by the union, This re-
e. is contributed by $4,000 United
Tine Workers who have Jobs, They
the members of district No 2, IN
3ich Somerset county is located
Ghen the coal operators and the
nned Mine Workers signed the peace
rms at Cleveland, o., and the o0,O0O
fhcr uon-union miners were lett IN
lurch the district came to their
o. They were given tents and the
la'I weekly strike benefit.
Much Misery Ahead.
It Is undenied that, unless some
cps are taken at once, there Will
much suffering and probably death
'hc tent colonies during the coming
D',er months. Without sufficient
la and clothing the strikers are III
ypared TO meet the rigors of north
winter housed in himsy tents. The
up4ny homes are barred to them,
y have no funds to leave the dis
~ and seek work elsewhere, and
y are simply waiting for "some-
rrs to happen"
Conditions of utter poverty are
una in the tent colonies. Children
Iard and bread, when they can get
ana the miners say that some OF
" number particularly the little
lQTen, will face starvation when the
o| tails. But the miners are deter
nca to fight for the union, and the
Iaiors are equally determined, and
,nngly far better supplied with the
Tvs of war, to keep the union out