The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-10-19
MINER RISES TO
KAISER ESTATE
FROM PIT JOB
Former Union Worker Now
Rules Former Pals With
Iron Hand.
BY DANIEL w. KIDNEY
Times stan Writer

Times stan Writer
TAYLORvILLE, Ill, Oct. 10. -
That industrial 4Kaiserism" is the
underlying cause of this Christian
county warfare constantly is charged
here by members of the Progressive
Miners of America.
Oddly enough, they point out the
Kaiser as being Wardie c. August.
superintendent of the Peabody Coal
corporations mines in this district
and a former miner.
TO any listener they unfold the
tale OF Argusts rise to power,
where they claim he has forgotten
entirely the plight Of former fellow
miners.
August was a miner in one of the
deep pits at Nokomis, a neighbor-
ing community, they explain. Con-
ditions we're bad and the three
man pit committee of the mine
often was called upon to take COM
plants to the superintendent. The
pit committee is in common usage
for carrying Of grievances under
union rules.
Boss S Hard Boiled
The Nokomis mine was operated
under the union agreement with
the United Mine Workers of
America.
When the men complained, pit
committee members took the mat
ter up, but always we're defeated by
nard-boiled boss the miners de-
clare.
So one day August got tired Of the
way things were going, the miners
cause always being lost
Let me be a one-man pit com
mittee. I'll show them" he is said
to have challenged his fellow work
men,
After some talk about three men
being necessary under the rules,
they finally agreed and August be-
came the pit committee. 1t was
his first taste of power.
HE got us everything we asked"
one of the Nokomis miners admit
ted
Starts Toward Top
That was the start of career
that has reached its peak with the
Peabody superintendency He lives
in a fine brick house at Taylorville
and two sons who are mine bosses
at Peabody shafts.
But the miners contend that he
now is as hard boiled" with them
as he formerly was with the bosses.
The Peabody mines, they declare,
are filled with informers and a
word against the conduct of their
oyerlordS results in immediate dis
miSSal.
Miners constantly are fined for
dirty. COAL. they charge, and at the
So daily scale two miners paid SIG
in two weeks through such fines.
Peabody has signed the SIS wage
contract with the United Mine
Workers Of America.
Troops Called In
Fight of the Progressives to pre-
vent the old union miners from
working for. Peabody has brought
the state troops here to prevent
picketing. While thus engaged,
they have prevented any assembly
of citizens on the streets or at meet
ings and jailed hundreds without
trial.
Many contend that August got
Sheriff C. H. Weinike to call for the
soldiers, following small street
fight. There are $50 of them here
and virtual martial law prevails, al
though the sheriff and Colonel
Robert w. Davis, in command, re-
fuse to call it that.
Weeks have elapsed since the
troops came. Instead of quoting
down, conditions are getting worse.
A miner has been killed, soldiers
insulted and beaten, and so one will
hazard a guess as to the outcome.
Aroused by Tax
Citizens circulated petitions to
have the soldiers removed. When
it was reported that the Christian
NOuAlOy bdApdJ6lo WOuIu nave W
bear the cost of billeting them, the
wealthiest were aroused greatly.
Later 1t was learned that the
state of Illinois pays the bill and
some of the larger taxpayers have
signed petitions to keep the troops
to protect property rights.
The question has arisen as to
how long the troops will be neces-
sary and what will happen if they
are removed.
The answer seems to be that
eventually the troops must go and
then the community will be right
back where it started, and once
again civil authority will have to
solve the local problem.