The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-11-15
COKE REGION
Miners FACE
armed BOSSES
Private Army Tries to
Enforce Wage Cut
BY A. JAKIRA.
Especial 20 The Daily Workerl

MARIANA, Pa, Nov. b. over
500 men are out on strike here re-
fusIng to accept the 1917 scale which
the coal operators are trying to put
into effect in place Of the 1928 scale
which Is in force now.
Mariana, quiet little mining
town in ordinary times, has now vir-
tually been turned into a military
camp by the coal company. The
Pittsburgh Sun, a capitalist sheet, on
Nov. 6, reporting on the situation in
Mariana, writes:
mo disorder has marked the re.
sumption on the old scale. How
ever, Sheriff Otto LueIlen Of WASH
lnston county has his Office ready
to cope with any situation that may
arise"
The mines we're surrounded by an
iron fence so that the scabs may be
protected. Armed guards were sta
toned at strategic points. Four
powerful searchlights we're placed on
the roofs of the company buildings
80 that every move OF the striking
miners can be watched day and
night.
To show that the sheriff is ready to
cope with any situation that may
arise a number Of shots were fred on
Tuesday night, Nov. 10 by the armed
hirelings of the company. Fortu-
nately no one was wounded or killed.
Attempt TO Get seabs Fails.
Several attempts were made by
the Bethlehem Mines corporation,
which owns the mines and the coke
ovens here, to import scabs. Spe-
cial arrangements were made to have
the trains carrying the scabs stop
inside the gates under the protection
Of the iron fences.
But apparently the imported scabs
are leaving the grounds as fast as
they arrive. They apparently do not
like the protection given them by the
armed deputy sheriffs At the time
these lines are written not more than
a dozen scabs, or rats, as they are
usually called here, remain on the
job. There is no resumption on the
old scale.
The mines are completely shut
down. The coke ovens remain
closed. The miners stand united as
one man against the attempts of the
operators to turn the wage scale
eight years back.
Eviets Miners from Company Houses.
Most of the miners live in company
houses. Seven of these miners were
ordered to move" The company did
not dare to order wholesale evictions
but picked out the seven most ac-
tive men, including the five officers of
the local union.
The situation in the coke region is
getting more and more serious. The
strike wave is spreading, the com
pany is preparing armed forces to
cope with "any situation that may
arise" This situation exists not only
in Mariana but in numerous other
places in the coke region.
What is needed now is concerted
action on the part of the miners both
of the soft coal and the anthracite
regions. The time is opportune now
for the United Mine Workers of Dis
trict No. to start an energetic cam
paign to organize the unorgandzed
fields.
Time opportune for Union.
The time is opportune now for the
union to start an energetic campaign
TO arouse public sentiment against
the outrageous attempts of the coal
operators to force a reduction in
wages at time when. the cost of liv-
ing is climbing mountain high.
1t is up to the progressive miners
everywhere to push their union into
action against the u1ited forces of
the coal operators and against the
use OF armed guards against the struk-
ing miners.