Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-11
BY ROGER BATCHELDER.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, July IL oN.A.
NAD.-The country's attention was
called this week TO the distress in the
PENNSYLVANIA soft coal district when
Gov. Pinchot appealed to the Red Cross
to provide food for hungry children
there and TO aid generally in relieving
what he termed national calamity.
The Red Cross replied that this was
impossible. that the use Of its funds IS
restricted to natural disasters and that
they could not be applied to strike areas.
A visit to the district discloses a
traeical situation. Here is typical in
cident:
"Mommie. I've got supper"
A e-year old boy. closely followed by
three children under 7, came into the
kitchen of one of the Shacks OF the
Buffalo mine, in the nearby Washington
County district.
Boy Is Breadwinner.
There was the wisp Of a smile on
his white, drawn face, something APP
preaching triumph in his dull eyes,
His father. long out Of work, sat mo-
rosely on the porch, watching some
become the breadWinner
In tin pail, he had plantain leaves,
dandelionS, wild mustard SprlgS. II
was to be his supper, and that OF the
rest OF the family. He had cuiled
them from particularly MXurlant
spot Of ground near the dump wnere
refuse was constantly being inciner-
ated.
Thanks. Harry" said q woman OF
80. who looked so. I'm afraid tnat
it's all well have, because I couldn't
get any bread from Aunt Maggie. But
She said she might get some tomor-
row"
Tall handsome men in gray shirts
with revolvers in holsters attached to
filled cartridge belts, stalk here and
there in the valleys that almost per-
petually are in smoke haze. They
do not look at the women who pass
in their bare feet, or at the emaciateo
children These men are the law, and
the law is supreme in Washington
County.
The kitchen began filling with the
smoke from the dump that was just
behind the prominent row OF out
houses. and the hostess apologized. II
was hot, too, for the coal stove was
in operation. The vegetables" had to
DC COOhC0 IOI OupPCIy VIZ SSSOhN AAHNe@'
of the day.
There had been brave attempt tC
make the place attractive. No paint wa:
on the outside of the drab wooden struc.
lures that had been put together IL
years ago. but in 1922 the family had
been able to get enough wall paper tc
cover the walls OF the living room. Nc
running water, no electricity, only kero-
sene lamps.
The American born family, whose
husband and father had been wal
veteran. was about to be evicted, ano
in the two rooms upstairs, which housed
six people at night. pitiful ragged gar
ments were piled up, waiting for the
dread knock at the door.
Not cent in the house and wild
growth instead of food.
Il didn't mind so much" said the
young woman, when had enough fol
the children to eat but they are get
ting sick all the time-and I'm little
afraid. Then the men next door. who
came in as strike breakers, make sc
much noise that the children are fret.
full at night
What will we do? We never know.
Picture Of Despair.
The husband looked eagerly at 9
burning cigarette. 1t had been WeeE
since he had smoke and his hand,
shook as he took a proffered package
He said Thanks" and lapsed into hi.
hopeless reverie. The children Just sal
on the floor and never moved. Chill.
dren don't play in the soft coal region.
nowadays. They think, unless they are
too sick
How long since you have been to the
movies?" Harry was asked.
Il went once, long time ago." hi
said.
Would you like an ice cream cone?
L never have them"
What will you do when you grow
up?'
Work in the mines, guess"
Washington County geographically
is beautiful, with rolling hills and lovely
landscapes that are broken only every
miles or so by the mines. Then, or
wooded hillsides. one sees row after
row Of the weather. beaten cottages, al
utterly alike, and men with bowed heads
sitting on the frcnt steps. The ma.
jortty are natives, though many are