The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-20
Desire for Return to Work
Basis of Riots in SuIIi-
van Area.
WAGE SCALE IS S4.57
Need of Food Terminated
Uprising, LaborerS
Tell Reporter.
This is the last of three articles
on the factors underlying the mine
unrest in southwestern Indiana.)
BY ARCH STEINEL


Desire for bankers weekend"
and the jobs they once held has
jelled hate into Sullivan county I'M
til it's spread to rioting, bombings
and, finally, martial law.
The hot spot of the mine-trouble
area is the Starburn company union
mine, owned by Henry Smith of
Terre Haute.
Two hundred seventy-five men
are employed on the mines day and
night shifts.
Two years ago the union employees
of the mine went on strike. The
mine was closed. Later it was re-
opened with new force of men
former union miners.
The present crew is being paid
minimum wage of S4.57 day. This
scale is according to the NRA min
ing code and is level with the union
wage scale.
Union miners, former employees of
the Starburn, say that the present
nonunion crew of the Starburn
union if they be permitted toHkeep
their jobs.
Saturday Work Draws Fire
Union men say, however, that the
Starburn men would be compelled
to go on the waiting list for en-
ployment and that their jobs neces-
sarily should go to the former en-
ployes of the mine who remained
Mine Workers of America.
In turn, the nonunion employees
at the Starburn assert that they do
not seek to go into the union and
did not approach union officials.
They say they're we'll contented with
their company union and the wage
scale as paid under NRA.
Union miners charge the wage
scale minimum may be adhered to
by the Starburn operators. but
charge that work has been stag
gered in other divisions of the mine
and that some skilled artisans are
not receiving union wages.
STEPPED with the past picketing
of the Starburn and the strikes of
unionized mines in the Sullivan
area is the district-wide complaint
against working on Saturday.
Why shouldn't we have bankers
week-ends? Why should we be
compelled to get our forty hours
week at any time, including Satur-
day. and why can't those forty
hours be counted on the first five
days of the week." question the
union miners.
Pleas Are Successful
I'VE haven't got more than five
to six days work a month anyway"
the unon miners assert.
When troops took over Sullivan
county flare of sympathy strikes
seethed near Linton and Clinton.
The strikes were unsuccessful. Off
Gals of District II of the United
Mine Workers of America rushed
from meeting after meeting arguing
themselves hoarse against a gen.
eral walkout
Pleas for patriotic stand behind
President Roosevelt and the coal
code proved successful against the
agitation of other leaders.
The mere mention of the Presi-
dent in an address proved to be the
sponge that sopped up much of their
troubles.
But one mine boOkkeeper, and he's
not alone. holds that the need for
bread and butter for their families
was the biggest factor in preventing
a general coal strike in Indiana.
Fifty per cent of the men that
go down in the cages for one days
work at our mine will draw their
days pay when they come to the top.
Winters coming on and they need
the money. They've been on the
poor relief rolls and they know what
it's like he said.
Coal Orders Increase
A third impetus to continuation
OF mine operation in the state is
the need for coal due to the coming
of winter and the increase in orders
for the commodity.
Every Tuesday and Friday in the
town of Sullivan a long line of
seekers for poor relief file into
second floor room of the court
house.
Investigators for the federal-State
poor aid relief hear their plants.
My husband has been out of
work five years. Five years he's not
gone down to the mines" mutters a
woman with a baby at breast.
Age and youth lineup for their
grocery orders with respect to time
of arrival and not according to
years.
Each township in the county is
over-burdened with poor relief.
With the federal government pay
ing but so per cent of the grocery
orders. chaos has reigned in poverty
stricken townships.
Every sentry's bayonet is seen
tossing an unSold loaf of bread back
in the bakers basket.
They declare the militia drives
tourists away.
Future Is Feared
A few optimiSts, however. hold
that curiosity to see a county under
martial law will help some stores
such as lunchrooms. drug stores and
filling stations.
Sober heads believe that the
quickest way to GUST the national
guard is good behavioriSm. and.
working on that line, are sending
out word-of mouth messages to put
a damper on trouble with a CAPT.
tai T.
But when the guard is recalled
those same sober heads will prom
Use nothing except
They'll get here too late to do
anything. Things always get quiet
after the militia come"