The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-04-12
Anderson College Group
Inspects Conditions of
Kentucky Strikers.
By Times Special

By iimeS Special
ANDERSON, Ind, April 12.-The
first student group permitted to re-
main in Harlan, KY, strife-torn
mining town, was from Anderson
college, it was said here today.
The group, headed by Forest c..
Weir, instructor in sociology, in
Guided four students Frederick
Schminke and Miss Helen Percy,
both of Anderson; Miss Elsie Man
THE, Kansas City, Mo, and James
Matthews, Ravenna, o.
Weir stated the trip to Kentucky
was not college venture, but a
personal one, and the students vol
unteered to go.
He was impressed, he said, by a
situation in the mining country as
a result Of which every stranger is
deemed a Communist until proved
otherwise.
Travelling by automobile, the An
derson delegation was eyed SuS-
piciously everywhere and when the
car stopped, crowds would gather
dUOuO ~, WCA DOdVCAs
Not Propagandizing
On entering the trouble zone,
Weir said he made it plain to every
one with whom he came in. con-
tact, that the group was not bent
on propagandizing but merely
wished to obtained information
from mine owners, workers and law
enforcement officials.
Mine owners were disposed to
place some of the blame for the sit
uation on the business depression
which caused them to lose contracts,
according to Weir. They also as
serted, as did officials, that
organization of the miners was by
the National Miners union, which
is declared to be communiStic, Weir
said.
Typical of the clashing viewpoints,
according to Weir, was the Staying
nearly year ago of deputy sheriff
at EvartS. KY. Officials assert that
three miners detached themselves
from group and slipped behind a
coal car. The deputy was slain,
they charge, when he walked around
the car to investigate.
Charge Brutal Treatment
The workers, however, declare,
Weir said, the shooting followed
brutal treatment of an aged Negro,
and that Jess Burnett, later acquit-
ted of the murder, left the group
rather than become involved in
trouble. He was pursued by Of
fcers. one of whom fired upon him,
and he returned the fire, resulting
in the killing, it was said.
Burnet asserts he was taking a
gun to a store in an effort to trade
it for bread. He had been idle for
long period He asserts. his fellow
workers say. that after receiving
compensation for an injury to a
foot suffered while working, he was
discharged and declares that this is
the practice in the Harlan region.
Much bitterness exists against
company operated stores, where it
has been charged repeatedly that
prices higher than those elsewhere
are exacted from miners, Weir
stated.
Brought Pay Envelope
The Anderson group brought back
an exhibit in the form of pay en-
velope showing the miner who pre-
sented it earned $175.59 in a month,
but there were deduction Of $154.23,
so that he received only $21.36 in
money.
Deductions include fees of 81 a
month for school purposes; 81 for a
doctor, regardless of whether medi-
cal service is obtained: so cents
burial fee; $3.50 month rent for
house owned by the mine operator,
and 50 a month for coal the year
around.
The Anderson delegation spent
the week lend in the mining region,
arriving home at noon Monday.