Indiana State Sentinel, Volume 35, Number 18, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 June 1889 — Page 2

V

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19. 1889.

headed by Mayor Herr. The relief committee first called the roll of delegates from the various localities, who reported as to the number of dependents, which was found to be 5.231. Then Mr. Robert took the floor and explained to the miners that he had been sent by the governor to get a correct report of the condition f the miner, and that, if they were in as much need as they were reported to be the govwould issue a proclamation in their behalf. Mr. Robert suggested that a committee of citizens, tone of whom were miners, shonld be appointed to receive subscriptions, in order that the general public should nave the fullest confidence in the sincerity of the petition. This was done, and the following committee was appointed: Mayor Herr, ex-Mayor Ilolliday, the Hon. George A. Knight, Samuel Holden and Thomas J. "Russell. They retired and drew np a letter to the governor, setting forth the condition of air airs, and it is expected that the governor will shortly issue a proclamation in accordance therewith. The letter sent to Gov. Hovey represents the situation as very bad and commends the miners to the charitable consideration of the people of the state. This is the most important action vet taken on behalf of the sufferer, and will be hailed by them with delight Mr. Roberts left for Indianapolis shortly after noon. A citizen here, in commenting on his visit, said: "In Illinois the governor had to eend the militia to the scene of the strike. Here all that is necessary to adjust Affairs is the governor's private secretary Messrs. Morton and Miller, two of the operators sent to eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania to solicit aid, have returned, and report fair success. They visited a number of mines, rot only in the two states named, but also in West Virginia; but in the latter place they encountered a small strike, which, however, they think will be of short duration. They were nniformly treated wtth kindness, and in many cases meetings of miners were held, and it was voted to assess 2" cents per miner every week for the aid of the Clay county strikers. Mr. Morton says that the K. of L. were especially generous and kind to himself and companion, and says he is now more than ever convinced that if every laboring man in the country was a member of that organization, it would be a grand thing for the order. "While they are opposed to strikes as an order," says he, "they are always generous to those who are suffering by them." The news that Gov. ITovey would probably issue a proclamation in behalf of the miners created consternation among the operators, and if carried out will arouse fierce criticism. Several of the operators encountered Secretary Roberts at tne depot as he was leaving for Indianapolis, and took him to ta-k tor not having calledon them. They declared that if the governor should issue such a proclamation it would min him in Clay ccunty. The matter is the subject of a great deal of discussion on the streets to-night. The miners are more hopeful than any time since the strike began. E. S. SHERIDAN'.

WHY DON'T GOV. HOVEY ACT? The Miners Much Disappointed that Be Has Not Ioet a Proclamation. Brazil, Jane 12. Special. When the Indianapolis papers arrived here this morning and it was seen they did not contain the governor's proclamation for aid for the miners, there was great disappointment among the strikers and corresponding elation on the part of the operators, and, it must be admitted, the merchant?, for the latter are naturally extremely anxious that the strike should end. They believe that if the governor had issued fach a proclamation it Mould have prolonged the strike all summer. In other words they think the operators will hold oat, no difference what the opposition, and they know that the miners can not hold oat unless they receive assistance from the general public. As long as the etrike lasts trade will be materially affected and the desire of the merchants to see it ended ig quite human. It is on this account, probably, that the news of the presence of Private Secretary Roberts at yesterday's meeting of miners, and his statement that the governor would probably issue a proclamation created eo much commotion. Yesterday afternoon and evening the subject was talked about on all sides, and the governor was subjected to severe denunciation in view of what it was thought he would do. One promient citizen, who last summer left the flemocratic ranks and joined those of the republicans, declared that if Gov. Hovey took sides" in this matter by issuing euch a proclamation, it would be an outrageous usurpation of official authority, and would inaugurate a policy which, if rarried out, would lead to anarchy. "It would," said he, "be the incentive to incendiarism and destruction of property, for the strikers, sanctioned by such high authority, would tolerate nothing that interfered with their plans. It would, moreover, set the most dangerous precedent erer established by a governor, and whenever a strike occurred in this state in the future the strikers would go to the governor ot the state, whosoever ho might be, and demand such a proclamation as the one talked about now. The extent, too, to which such an act would encourage strikes in general cannot be estimated." The uentiments of this gentleman were a little more vehemently expressed than those of the storekeepers. The latter do not particularly sympathize with the operators, but they think the only way the strike will be adjusted is by the miners surrendering, and consequently every movement to help the strikers is a disadvantage to tbem. One of thetn, who is a perfectly fair-minded man, told me that if " outside newspapers" had not interfered in this matter the miners would have been back Ot work by this time. He said this without any feeling, and in a way that showed he was merely looking at the business side of the question. The fact cannot be questioned that the merchants and citizen generally of Brazil are of the opinion that the miners will have to go back to work at the operators' offer. That is why newspaper correspondents who drop off here gain the impression in a short time that the strike is weakening. Until I visited the mining towna I was disposed to think t-ie strike was near an end ; but talks with the miners themselves conveyed a different impression. The persons, however, who were the Tnoft thoroughly aroused by Secy. Roberts' visit were the operators. He did not call on them presumably because ha did not suppose they were suffering but they called on him, although they did not find him until he was about to board the train for Indianarolis. Mr. Zimmerman acted as chief spokesman, and demanded of the secretary why he had not called on them. The latter said he was sent to Prazil to examine into the condition of the striking miners and their families not to look into the merits of the strike and the questions at issue between employes and employers. Mr. Zimmerman clung to the genial secretary until the latter stepped on to the train, and it is not known whether he succeeded in convincing him of the error of his war or not. Certain it is that when the proclamation failed to appear this morning there was much disappointment on one side and satisfaction on the other. The action of the operators in the matter has created home comment, for this Teason, that it haw been represented that they are indifferent as to what the miners will do in the matter, and if that is the cae, the question naturally arises, what objection have they to the governor issuing a proclamation in the latter's behalf? The operators are holding a meeting here to-day, which is probably in relation to the strike. Millionaires Lawrence and Johnson of Chicago are present The

meeting is held with closed doors, and it is probable that nothing of its trans-actions will be learned for the present. There are various surmises as to a possible compromise of the 6trike. In my correspondence thus far I have made no attempt to go into a discussion of the questions at issue between the operators and strikers, for it is virtually impossible to get a fair statement of the case by Questioning the partisans, first one side and then the other. With the main question at issue the public is informed, and has been since tne strike was inaugurated. The operators announced that they would have to reduce the sca'e of pi ices paid the miners from 'JO to 25 cents per ton, alleging what they claim to be good and sufficient reasons, but what the miners refuse to accept. Let the decision of this question be what it may in the minds of the public, the fact remains that the strike has entailed much poverty, and there would have been suffering but for the nrgent methods taken to relieve the needy. A number of exaggerated reports about thousands of starving people were sent out from here by unreliable correspondents a few days ago, and prominent state newspapers whose sympathy is wholly with the operators have taken these reports as a basis for condemning all statements of suffering in Clay county. The simple fact remains that there are hundreds of people who have absolutely nothing except the pittance of meal, and occasionally of bacon, that is meted out to them by" the relief committee. And a long as the strike continues and the miners remain inactive, the list ot" dependents must increase. If the contributions should cease, or should decline, the strikers would be driven back to work in order to prevent their families from starving. The operators adjourned at noon and a committee of them took a I o'clock train for Indianapolis. The object of their visit is undoubtedly to se Gov. Hovey and persuade him, if possible, not to issue any proclamation in the miners' behalf. The distribution by the relief committee occurred to-day in the various localities where there is sufferincr. I was at the distribution in Knightsville and saw and heard the committee quarreling with men and women who applied for provisions. Out of 'JV families whom the secretary had on his roll only eighty-nine were rulied with corn meal and bacon, the remainder being compelled to do with a few beans. In consequence there was great grumbling and complaint. Over 100 men stood outside the locked door while the distribution was going on, and as their names were called they went in and got their allotment of provisions, whicti was at the rate of 12 cents for each meniDer of the family. Ten cents' worth of meal would be" given and two cents' worth either of bacon or coffee, as the applicant should choose. One woman eluded the doorkeeper'at the back of the room and obtained admission. She began to berata the committee because, as she slleged, it was allowing herself and her two boys to go without rations. After a great deal of trouble she was led out of the room. A colored miner on the outside said: "I was promised rations last Saturday, but didn't get any, and now I am waiting to hear my name called. If it ain't called this time I'll call it to-morrow myself." He meant he would return to work, and his name was not called. There are others of the same notion, for a notice was posted on the istoince window calling a meeting of miners on the ball grounds to-morrow at '. a. m. An effort will probably be made by some of the more desperate ones to return to work, but it will hardly be successful, as it will be determinedly resisted. K. iS. ijHEKlDAN. THE OPERATORS COME.

Laboring With the Governor to 1'rerent a Proclamntion. The 2:. SO train from Brazil Wednesday afternoon brought about a dozen prominent operators headed by Col. Zimmerman. They looked neither to the rijrht nor left, but made a bee line for Gov. Hovey'p otiiee, where they remained until the 5 o'clock train, which bore them back to the scene cf trouble. Neither Gov. Hovey nor the members of the delegation would talk alout the conference, though the former stated that he should take no action until he had seen the committee of the miners, which he expects to-day. It is pretty well known what the "object of the operators was in visiting the governor. They believe that if left alone, starvation will soon force the miners to return to work, but that if the governor officially calls attention to the destitute condition of the miners the operators themselves will be forced to yield because sufficient aid will be given the miners to enable them to hold out. Therefore they brought all their forces to bear to influence the governor not to take any official action. To the governor the operators made no pretense that there was not suffering in Clay. They knew that Secy. Roberts had visited that section and they knew what report, as an honest man, he must make to the governor. Their sole effort therefore was to convince the governor that his action in issuing a proclamation would le but to "encourage anarchy and discourage capital." They said this was merely a local right between the miners and themselves, and that they ought to be allowed to settle it alone without interference. In fact, they urged that the alliance of capital and " privation be allowed to continue the work of enslaving labor. MORE MINERS JOIN THE OTHERS. A Thaniand Mor Months to t Fittfol Instances of SnfTennj. Rrazit., Ind., Jnne 13. Special. Nothing came of the meeting of miners called for Knightsville this forenoon, at which it was supposed they would discuss the subject of returning to work. This afternoon, however, a large meeting of miners was held in that place, at which resolutions were passed denouncing the Indianapolis Journal for its action in recard to the strike and pronouncing the.7orwj account of the affair as inaccurate and unfair. The gravity of the situation hsä been increased to-day by the action of the men at work iu the two large bituminous mines at Coxville. All of them, 270 in number, walked out of the mines today and announced that they would not return to work until the differences between the operators and d-y men aud drivers had been adjusted. This means a thousand more dependent people within a short time unless th5 new trouble is readily adjusted. It will be remembered that the bituminous miners entered the big strike May 1, but by means of a conference held at Terre Haute two weeks later, they returned to work. It appears that the understanding arrived at at Terre Haute was that drivers and day hands would get $1.05 per day. Tw o mines at Coxville are operated by the Brazil block coal company, but near by are several other mines, including thoie at Coal Bluft and Clinton locks, and that owned by Joe Martin. At all latter places day hands are paid ?2 and the day hands at Coxville accordingly demanded the same pay of the Clock coal company. The demand was made Saturday and was refused and to-day the men quit work. This left the miners with no means of getting their coal hauled out, and accordingly they also quit and refused to work if scab driven were introduced. The day hands and drivers number only about twenty, and the miners proper about one hundred and fifty. In addition to these the men employed about the mining machines ned there struck on account of a question of salary. There has been considerable talk of compromise of the big strike among the block coal men. To-day at Knightsville Superintendent Children Cry for .

Porter of the Watson mines held a conference with Lindsey Morton and Barney Martin, two of the leading strikers, and discussed the probability of the miners returning to work. Morton and Martin said the men would go back for 80 cents for the summer, but it was not accepted by the operators' representative. The latter, presumably as a joke, offered the men 65 cents. The little city of Brazil is just now getting plenty of advertising, but its citizens do not appear to appreciate "the fact. There are a number of out of-town newspaper men here at the present time, and the variety of correspondence that is emanating from the scene of the biar strike is quite astonishing. "I can't quite understand it," exclaims one old resident. We have had plenty of strikes like this only some of them were worse and the papers heretofore have never printed columns about it. As a matter of fact, we have been lots worse off than at the present time." The ill-humor over the situation of affairs is quite general, and has become a little unreasonable, to say the least. When The Sentinel sent me here, leading the way, as nsual, for other papers to follow, the Brazil merchants were eomplaing of the exaggerated reports sent to certain papers about a stagnation of business, and thousands of starving people. This was natural, and the reports especially that concerning a stagnation of business were corrected. This, however, did not satisfy some of the merchants, who want the correspondents to stop talking about suffering people in Clay county. "It's an outrage on a civilized community to say it permits such a thing in its midst, and I'm in favor of holding on indignation meeting to protest," was the remark intended for a correspondent's ear in a barber shop this morning by a hardware merchant, who was fairiy perspiring with indignation. This gentleman, and several others whom I have heard speaking, have pompously declared that Brazil was fully able to "care for her own," and one correspondent went so far as to eay, in voicing the same opinion, that the citizens of Brazil had not themselves been called upon as yet to aid the strikers. This is preposterous. The merchants here have been contributing to the destitute strikers for weeks. They have not been called upon merely one time, or two times, but with regularity; and as a rule they have responded very generously. These men who are now complaining of the correspondents do not do so because they are stingy, but because the newspaper talk is, in their opinion, prolonging the strike. In other words some of the very men who object to the talk about starvation realize that but for the agitation the miners would be compelled to return to work by the threat of starvation. It cannot be denied that some of the long reports sent out from here have been heavily cuated with fresh paint of a color to suit the intentions of the author in representing the situation. The account of the correspondent who went out into the mining towns and found '"well dressed children" reveling in plenty of nice bread and delicious "yellow butter," was further from the real situation than that of the one who ran in upon men and w omen actually crying for bread; and both pictures were overdrawn. There is no question that unless the contributions pour in more liberally in the very near future many of the strikers will have to decide between work and starvation. The semi-weekly distribution made yesterday by the relief committee was better than that on (Saturday last, but it was still far insufficient. As each day passes the number of dependents increases, and the niggardly store even of some of those who are being supported is slowly exhausted. Hence it is that there are malcontents with the present condition of affairs even among the strikers and their rauks are swelling. In addition to the colored man whose threat to return to work was mentioned in yesterday's letter, I heard a number of men standing about the distributing point say they had waited as long as they intended to for their shares of the rations. The notice, which evidently purported calling together such dissenters, read as follows: "oticc Knightaville tninprs Your Rekwested to met Jnne 13 t 9 o'clock on the Ball grount Ordered by the Miners. The notice was allow ed to remain undisturbed on the postoffice door, but many a striker read it with a scowl. "It weren't none of us that put it there," said one of tbem, with a threatening shake of the head, arid another declared, "We've spotted the fellow that we think did it; we'll all be at the meeting in the morning, and we'll find out who put it there." On old miner at Cardonia, who lived through the war, declared that the "grub" given out now was worse than war times. "The soldiers had enough most of the time," said he, "if they didn't have very choice." The scene yesterday inaide the distributing point or commissary, as it was called was very striking. The place was a deserted barroom. Behind the counter were the provisions, done up in packages of various sizes, according to the number in a family. At a table in front of the bar sat the secretary of the local relief committee a one-legged man, but a miner with a book containing the names of the dependents. It was made out in systematic fashion, alter this manner: 1J7 .Tnine C. O'NelU 7 US Thomas Campbell 5 And so on. The figures before the name indicated the number ot the family, and the figure after it the number of persons in the family the -distribution being at the rate of 12 cents per head. Upon the outside were gathered the people, waiting patiently until they could get their rations. The secretary called out "William Clay," and the man at the door opened it and shouted, "William Clay." William came in and received .0 cents' worth of meat sud fi cents worth of bacon. Then the name of Charles Charles w as called, and then that of J. J. Cliff, Samuel Butcher, and so on. Pretty soon a man came in who claimed that his family was represented as one too small, and that he was 12 cents' worth of provisions short. It developed that the omitted member of the household was but five years old, and then a long wrangle ensued as to whether the child was old enough to be entitled to full rations. It was finally decided in the affirmative. Numerous disputes of this kind arose. When one miner's name was called his little girl presented herself and said her father had gone away to get work, and then a long dispute occurred as to whether rations should be given the family. It was decided that in auch' cases there would have to be proof that such man had not succeeded in getting work. One of the laws of the relief committee was that women should not be admitted to the commissary, because they were so "talkative and bothersome." The name of Mrs. Bennett was called and the doorkeeper announced she was outside, with the statement that her two boys had gone to the base ball game. One of the miners gallantly took Mrs. Bennett's provisions out and earned them home for her. An unusually acrimonious dispute occurred pretty soon over the giving of provisions to a certain applicant, one ot the committeemen in particular protesting vigorously, ia an almost impenetrable brogue. "Some's agettin' raore'n othern, and you'se gettin' more'n I'se gettin," was tho style of his argument. "Now, let's all go in one family," said another member of the committee, who wanted to preserve peace, and another, who wanted them to hurry up, exclaimed, "Come, men, I want something to eat." There was in the "commissary" when I first went into the room a young mau whose clothes were far better than those of the rest ot the miners, who had not had a mouthful of auythiug since the previous evening, and it was then after .1 p. m. "When I first got out," said he, in explaining his case, "I borrowed, and then when I got something from the commissary I had to pay back. That is why I didn't have anything last night." One old fellow wa?so disgusted with the rations apportioned Litn that he gave thetn away, with the remark that this was "worse 'n the ould coumhry." lie went away with a threat that he would return to work. The scenes witnessed at this commissary yesterday were, doubtless, to be observed in every locality in the afflicted district where distributions were made, fome of the members ot the local relief committee of Knightsville had personal experiences of privation to relate. "It's been two weeks since I got anything," said one. "I've got a woman and two children, and all the help I've had since the strike began was -H cents." Another said: "land my woman have got 12 cents, and hit's now going on seven weeks." Another had gotten 3 cents. One of the men who received provisions at the Knightsville commisEary was prominently mentioned as a candidate for the legislature last summer. Another dependent, . whom I observed was a colored man who had gone through that frequent experience in coal mines an explosion. One of his ear was dreadfully misshapen, and on the other side of his bead, instead of an ear were several protuberances which looked more like black toy balloons than parts of a human anatomy. When lie got bis provisions he went out growling at the magnitude of their smallcess. The most pitiable spectacle daring the distribution, however, was that of a trembling old man with snow-white hair, who responded to the call of Joseph Devlin. "That man does Pitcher's CastorfQt

rot work in the mines?" I exclaimed to one of the committeeman. "Yes he does," was the reply; "and he supports a family of three. He is now getting 12 cents' worth of provisions each for them." I asked the old man his age, repeating the ?nestion when I found be was a little deaf, lis reply was: "Seventy-t'onr." He did not look as if he had ever been intemperate, but somehow he had failed in the vigor of youth to lay up a store against old age. The instances of privation which I encountered yesterday were frequent, and confirmed the impressions I received on Monday that there was a great deal of actual suffering. Here is one related by Dr. F. G. Thornton, secretary of the Clay county board of health, who lives at Knightsville. "Last Saturday night, abont midnight, a colored man living in he south part of town, and having a family ol seven or eight children, came to my house and wanted to kuow if he could get any cold bread for his baby, which he said he could not get to sleep because it was so hungry. He said he had been to a farmer's near town and had offered for himself and son to work all day for two bushels of corn. The farmer had refused, and had referred him to Operator Zeller. "There was suffering,' continued the doctor, "even before the strike began. O'.ring to the lack work all winter, people were in needy circumstances. Even taking the operators' own estimate, the miners have averaged but $2.25 for a day's work under the old prices. That, under the new rate, would be reduced to $1.70. Now, the men haven't had here for six months above three days' work a week, and the operators say that if they return to work under the new wages they can't guarantee them above three days. Three days' work at $1.70 would be $5.10 per week, and out of that roust come $1.20 for house rent, and a certain amount each week for oil, car fare and pick sharpening. After these actual expenses are taken out you can see what the miner has left to support his family. This conditiou of aOairs has been observable for a year. During the past year my practice has been twice as large, but my collections have not amounted to half as much as the previous year." The doctor said further: "The Journal U making a strenuous ettort to get politics into this thing; but there are no polities in it. The Sentinel is winning favor with the miners by the stand it is taking in this matter, and is doing the sensible thing in not bringing politics into it at all." It is next to impossible to find any of the strikers who are willing to say they have personally suffered from nuneer. It is evident that those who arc really snliering keep quiet about it, and the discover)' is generally made by neighbors. There are plenty of instances where the heads of the family do without meals, but when the children finally begin to complain the parents are likely to take some action. AVilliam Roberts, a citizen of Knightsville, says that one of the miners came to his house the other night and begged some flour to make bread for his children. Mr. Roberts would not give the man's name, and all of those who are really suffering will be found reluctant to do it. I talked with a colored miner, who said he had gone all day without anything to eat, and that he knew another colored man who had gone almost two whole days. Bill Parker is a miner living in the Jackson block. When the strike began he sent his child away to his mother's; his wife is now working out, and Bill is seeking for what he may devonr. A lady tells the following story: "Next door to me lives a miner and his family, who I thought were in a bad fix. Tuesday night I noticed they were sitting up unusually late, and I went over to their house. Tears were in the eyes of the old folks, and they confessed to me that they had had neither dinner nor supper; that their children had not had any supper, and that there was nothing iu the house for breakfast." One of the storekeepers at Knightsville and a "r.luck-rae" at that was going home the other night, when he found a miner sitting out on his door-step crying. "My children have had no supper," was his story, and the storekeeper went back and got him sometliiug. Miners' homes are scattered along the road, all the way between Knightsville and Brazil, and there is one town called Donaldsville. Here there are many utterly dependent, although there are a few with a little laid by "for a rainy day." In a little hut by the roadside I found a man eating his supperand it was about as miserable-looking a repast-as I ever iaid eyes on. But when asked about the condition of the strikers for he was one of them he leaned back in his chtir, and talked as if he were fairly a king among the unfortunates. "I've no one here depending on me," he said, "and can get along all right for 60ine time yet. I've got a ham, and plenty of chickens and eggs; but, where there's one fixed like me, there's fifty that isn't," and he resumed his task of disposing of a piece of fat meat, w hile at the side of his plate lay a broad expanse of corn cake that was about as hard and uninviting-looking as the bottom of a stove lid. His eight-by-ten room was black and dingy, and was occupied by a bed, stove and table and I don't know what else. Strapped to the ceiling were more articles of furniture than stood on the door. And this, "lords and ladies" as Mr. Dickens would say was one of the well-to-do miners! Further up the road was a row of yellow houses occupied by miners. The men had all gone away to seek work and their families are depending wholly upou the neighboring farmers. The farmers, too, are helping many of those who live at Donaldson, and who, as one of them expressed it, "never know what they will have for supper when breakfast is over." A methodist minister named Weaver is also helping many of the dependents at this town. These statements give an idea of the general condition of affairs throughout the striking district. In and abont Knit btsville and Cardonia there is probably as much general privation as there is anywhere, although I did hear a story last night to the effect that there is a district in the south part of the county where they are dealing out bran and water to the people. The information did not come to me from a miner, but from the wife of a man who draws $öo a day of royalty on mining lands. The story is hardly to be credited. It is certain, however, that there will be a still more deplorable state of affairs in a short time, unless the contributions from over the state are more liberal. The strikers are very blue over the inaction of Gov. Hovey, whom they expected confidently to issue a proclamation in their behalf. They claim they were as good as promised by Private Secretary Roberts that euch a document would be forthcoming and spread the word of good cheer all over the country, w hich if unfulfilled will lead to double disappointment. E. S. SHERIDAN. NO POLITICS IN MISERY.

The Foaling of,the Hmztl Miner Living; on fcnort Ration. Bf.azil, June 14. Special. The semiweekly meeting of the miners' relief committee took place to-day. The number of dependents has increased to 5,263, and from the amount of funds on hand the distribution to-morrow will be at the rate of 4 cents per head if provisions are given to all. M:ners are leaving the county all the time, but their families remain here, and not one out of fifty who go away sends anything home for several days, and sometimes weeks, it being a ro?re chance if he finds work. A message was received from Private iecy. Roberts this forenoon stating that the governor desired a conference with a committee which was acquainted with the condition of the miners. Such a committee was immedily appointed and left at 1 :15 for Indianapolis. It consists of Mayor Herr and ex-Mayor Holiday of Brazil, and Joshua Harsfield and Joseph Dalley, miners. This information from the governor has again inspired the miners to hope for a proclamation in their behalf. The efforts of the Indianapolis Journal to divert public attention from the real itate of affairs in this county are meeting with severe condemnation here. Its accounts have been a manifestly malicious and unfair presentation of the condition of affair. The striking miners are incensed at them, but are fearful of stirring up party feeling and injuring their own cause; hence they have requested every correspondent who has appeared among them to refrain from mentioning the subject of politics in treating the strike. The Journal, however, has shown itself so determined in its course of forcing this subject that a word of explanation may appropriately be offered. A prominent citizen, in speaking of the matter here to-day, said ; "It requires no great powers of discrimination to see what the Journal is np to. Its sole object is to spoil the effect which the present strike must necessarily have upon the laboring classes. Occurring as it did, almost immediately after the return of the republican party to power, and revealing a redaction of more than 15 per

cent, in the wages of a large body of men in one of the most important industrial sections of the state, its ettects upon the men who had accepted the republican view of the tariff with some doubt, but had voted in ac cordance therewith, must be very great, for it would immediately recall all the bright promises of good wages and plenty of work, which were heard so often from the republican platform last summer, and read from day to day in the columns of the Journal. How to counteract such an influence was a problem that bothered the editor, but the possibility of righting its damaging influence naturally suggested itself, and it is upon this line that the battle is being waged by the Journal. Without attempting any investigation to speak of into the condition of the strikers, it continues to dwell upon the Questions at issue between operators and miners, which became public six weeks ago, and then seeks to divert public attention by a few chapters on politics, which is associated by a very imaginative thread with the question of the strike." This gentleman has undoubtedly estimatcJ matters as they really are. So far as concrning its accounts of the condition of the strikers, they have been imperfect and unfair. Instead of calling attention to the hundreds of cases of privation some of them distressing in the extreme they have depicted the condition of the minority, who, by thrift and economy had become self-sustaining and were breasting the present trouble without serious inconvenience. Iu its representations ot the questions at issue between miners and operators it has, without serious inconvenience to its main purpose, piven both sides of the story, although the coloring is wholly in favor of the employers. The latter are all saying that the Journal has given a fair and impartial view of the situation which of course means that it is the operators' view, Indeed, the allegation is made that the correspondent's articles were submitted to the inspection of one or two of the operators here before they were sent to Indianapolis, but I d; not vouch for that. The suspicion seems more reasonable, however, that the article in yesterday's paper was more or less inspired by the gentlemen who visited Gov. Hovey or the previous day, inasmuch as the paper's correspondent left here Tuesday afternoon. But as o the political side of the story: Just how the Journal connects it with the strike does not eeom clear. It drags in the names of Senator Voorhees, ex-Gov. Gray, tate Senator Byrd and State Mine Inspector McQuaid, aud in some inexplicable way attempts to hold them responsible for the strike. Whether it means these gentlemen visited the mines and instigated it, or by personal subscriptions or otherwise have helped maintain it, does not seem clear. If the latter, it amounts to a condemnation of the miners for not going back to work, for if those who subscribed to support them are to be condemned, surely they themselves come under a severer criticism. The abuse of these prominent democrats is not surprising, but in so far as it attempts to hold them responsible for the strike it is amusing. It at one time attributes Senator Byrd's interest in the strikers to a desire to run for congress, and the next day raises it to governor. It also gets mixed concerning Mr. McQuaid, and says he wants to be both sheriff and auditor, although he now has a good office, in which he is likely to be retained. The only true statement made about either of these gentlemen is that they have personally exerted themselves in behalf of the strikers. Senator Byrd has always been a pronounced advocate of the workingmen'a cause, and his speeches in their behalf in the legislature are w ell remembered. Yet, when he says a good word for them during a strike brought on by an aggravating and heavy reduction of wages, he is accused of demagogy. Two weeks ago, when the soliciting committee of miners was in Indianapolis, it wrote to Mr. McQuaid, asking him to send some one to Indianapolis on the following Friday to attend a meeting of citizens and explain the situation in Clay. Mr. McQuttid, who is represented as at daggers' points with Senator Byrd, went to the latter and asked him to make the trip. He replied that he would see if he could do so, and would let the inspector know. The latter so informed the eora?nittee at Indianapolis, which proceeded to advertise Senator Byrd as a speaker at such meeting. The senator, in the meanwhile, found his legal business would prevent, and he informed Mr. McQuaid he could not go to Indianapolis, but a day or so later, when the Indianapolis papers came out announcing him as a speaker, he thought he had better go, even to the detriment of his business, and he did go for which he is so roundly abused by the republican organ at the state capita!. As for Mr. McQuaid, a man who has worked in the mines the greater part of his life, it in natural that he should sympathize with the strikers, and to attribute bp.se motives to him fordoing so is the extremity of political resource. He has brothers and other relatives working in the mines in this community, and it is hardly likely he would sacrifice their interests to a political ambition. In order to give the semblance of fairness to what he says, the correspondent drags in a couple of republican miners whom he charges with dishonest motives in reference to the strike. Mr. Horsfield, a democrat, and Messrs. Kennedy and Krauss, republicans, all prominent in the present strike, are accused of wanting ofSce, and their labor in behalf of the strikers attributed thereto. Tins statement was undoubtedly suggested by the committee of operators who visited Indianapolis Wednesday afternoon. There is little doubt that this political agitation will injure the miners somewhat just at present. But it was certain to ensi'.e sooner or fater. as a result of the strike. A time will

I come when the republican press will be heartily glaa to drop the subject, and it is in anticipation of the heavy broadsides which the democratic papers are certain to be pouring into it that the Journal is now seeking to distort the facts. E. S. Sheridan". NO SATISFACTION. Gov. Hovey Merely Offers the Miners the Operators' Proposition. Friday afternoon a committee, representing the miners and citizens of Clay county, called upon Gov. Hovey, and after a long conference went home, having received but very little satisfaction. The committee was composed of Mayor Herr and ex-Mayor Holladay of Brazil, representing the citizens, and Messrs. A. Harsfield and John Dalley of the miners. In point of numbers the committee was in remarkable contrast to that of the operators, the latter being composed of ten men. The eentlemen arrived at 3 o'clock, and were immediately ushered into the presence of the governor, with whom they w ere in consultation for over an hour. The whole situation was thoroughly discussed, and the governor was made acquainted with all the facts in the case. The following proposition was presented the miuers, which was the result of the meeting Tuesday of the operators with the governor: The Hon. A. P. Hovey, Governor: Dr.AR Sir We have no heitation in saying that all the miners of Clav county, jnIiaoa, now livjna; there can support themselves and lAtnilies on the prices offered for digiint Mock coal, which ht" greater than the prices paid in our competing coal t:cH, namely, TO cents per ton of 2,0i pounrt carh to Nov. 1 next, and from "ov. 1 to May 1, 1S?0, 73 cents rT ton. Thec prices are to be paid for ail coal where the v-in are thrae feet and one iuch thick and over. l or all deficient coal iu thicknefs shall be paid mining prices, !aed upon t!i above rates for dicrgintr. and upon the cale lor thickness, atrreed upon in the year I va. We hereby guaranU-A that'imfiirient work wiil bo furnished to all of said miners whereby they will he able to suptMirt theniM'lve and their families. Very respectfully yours, Hfuzil Block Coal Company, iiy F. Lawrence, Tres. Jjcksox Coal and Minis' Company, Hy M. A. Johnson. NicxelTlaie, Fy M. A. Johnsou. W ATsny, Little A- Co. Zkllf.r fc Sioler Coal axt Mitix Company, By F. M. t-icier, tec. (iOATSHF.RKTF. Co AI. ASk'MIMNG COMPAXY. Crawfokd Coai. Compavy, lty J. P. Crawford, .See. E. L. VTlSKLF-PECK. The only real concession embraced in the above document is that it is proposed to pay for low coal under the scale adopted for 1?. Mr. Jlorsficld says that the above concession will not be accepted by the men, aud that they will hold out until the operators submit better terms or agree to arbitrate the question. In reply to a question from the ßrovernor as to wliut methods bad been taken to alleviate the Bartering in Brazil, Mayor Herr said that in Brazil there were but few miners, and that any destitution in that city can be taken care of. "However, it is true that in the adjacent towns there is an immense amount of suffering, and I do not feel it within my power to go outside our corporate limits to give aid. Itesides, we are notable to take care of the immense population in need." The governor has taken no direct action in regard to issuing a proclamation for help to relieve the destitution, and said he would not until the county commissioners of Clay county officially petition him so to do. The miners' committee will doubtless go immediately before the commissioners, who are now in session, and request that some action be taken for the reliet of their fellows. Mr. Horsfield of the committee is the gentleman whom the Journal correspondent alluded

criESiriiiJrf Soar to as beinj a candidate for sheriff. This he emphatically denies, and he also denies that Messrs. McQuaid and Kennedy have any political aspirations. THE MINISTER'S TESTIMONY. The Rev. O. C. McCuIlocb Says that the Miners' Coudition Grown Worse. Plymouth church was well filled Sunday morninj to hear the address of the Rev. Oscar C. McCulloch on "The Distress Among the Clay County Miners." Preceding the discourse, the minister read from James i and ii, dwelling upon the last paragraph of chap. i. "Pure religion and undeSIed before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep thyself nnspotted from the world." He said: "On June 1, two men, a committee from the striking district of Clay county, came to my house to present the case of the miners. They were on a strike against a great reduction in their wages, and as they had been out of work since May 1, and had received scant wages during the year, 18s8, they were in need. "After talking with them, Isugsestedapublic meeting at which the facts of the case could be presented. Even as we were talking the vast water-break at Johnstown was sweeping away thousands of human beings. The next morning gave us an account of the loss, and onr minds were filled with pity, and quickened to respond to need. It was not strange that the condition of the Clay county miners should be overlooked and their call be unheard. A meetin? whs held at the court-house June 7, and the case was presented that over nine thousand people were aHected by the strike, and that over five thousand were riependenL A committee was appointed to call a public meeting when the imperative call of Johnstown should have been met. "In the meantime, the charge that all this was an exaggerated account made for political purposes was made. Reporters of various newspapers were sent to the field. On the one hand reports of great need were made; on the other it was denied that any suffering existed. When I tried to interest one or another, it would be said: 'I hear that this is a political question. There is no such need there. Men are receiving high wages. The strike was unnecessary. The average wages for '3 were far higher than ?5 per week. Men get low wages because they won't work. The industrious man can get all the work he wants and can earn from twelve to thirty dollars per week.' It seemed best to me to go to the coal region myself and find out the facts. Is there want in Clay county? Is there sufiering there? Were the wages insufficient for life last year? Was there justification for the strike? Does the reduction mean Buffering? I spent a day there visiting the mining villages in company with a friend, once a miner, now a minister, a fair, just and intelligent man. I shall tell just what I saw and w hat I heard : "'Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.' " There it real tvft-rinj in Clay county. "I met a wan yesterday who h:id just returned from Brazil. The total amount available for the 5,26V? persons was 204. This committee had $11.30 lor distribution among 283 souls, which would be about ö cents for each being. I rode through a number of villages, talked with a number of men. Some of them were members of committees on relief, others were among the strikers. In one case my friend was in a house where the family consisted of a man, his wife and one child. They were at dinner. For this meal they had bread and two eggs; nothing else. The eegs were divided so as to give each tome. The man was downhearteddid not know what to do. He had said nothing about his condition. "This I found to be true everywhere. There ie an odium attached to the idea of receiving aid, and -elf-respcct keeps them silent, as one of the miners said. Another said: 'They won't tell.' A mau said his boy was on the list for relief. He went to the committee and had their names taken off. He said they would gt along without begging. How was he so 'to get along?1 He had built a small log cabin, Elastered with clay, to which he had brought is newly married wife. "In Perth are eighty-six families numbering S-10 souls. The total amount received for them hns been My informant said : 'People are in a desperate condition; I have creditor I could not get along. I give my shpre to the others.' "I was told that one w oman weut to the store and snid: 'I must have n sack of Hour to keep my children from starving.' She w as told she could not have it. .She then said: 'I will take it' An officer w as eont to the house, but when he came back he sr.l: T will pay for this rlour myself rather than bring it hack or do anything to the woman. They need it.' "In Cardonia are 171 families, numbering 730 souls. From the book of one of the committees, 1 took the following items: 'Total amount received, 5W.13.' One says: 'If I had no credit I should be desperate. George H has none and is now sufiering. I gave him from my store.' People are sufiering everywhere. The relief is what keeps them going. " 'What did you distribute on Wednesday?' was asked. " Twelve pounds of flour and one to two pounds of meat per family;' was the reply. "In Carbon are sixty-nine families, and 2S3 f.ouls. The committee had just received ?11.W for distribution. The cases do not come out and disclof their misery. The men are industrious. "It will be seen then from these statements, which are taken from the committee reports, there is great distres. Suffering from hunger and thirst must needs be there, for there has not been work but three days each week for a whole year. The average wages here have not been $5.00 per week, some say and con sequently no margin for most of the laborers. There has beeu no work since May 1, and 5,2(13 persons in the above described condition! "fchould we heariof euch conditions elsewhere, we would say at once 'There must be suffering there; they need our help.' "But it may be said the men were not justified in etriking; that the operators were paying all they could afiord. 'Iietter to take half a loaf than no bread at alL' 'Why do they not go to work at 70 and 73 cents per ton? 'Is it true that the average wages are bnt $5 per week? Instances are reported of miners receivlng 1 15, $20 and $.") per week, so it is said.' "The Clay county mines are divided bitum'

For mW by PEARSOX A WKTZEL, Indianapolis. Ind.

ITV r

raySIS

m - r i inous and block mines. The bituminous coal is easily mined, beiDg usually in large seams. The block coal is more dillicult to mine, being in smaller stains, sometimes running as low as two feet. In the coal mines ths measure of a man ia the breadth of his shoulders. That is, he must be able to re6t on his left arm and pick with his right, lying at full length. The wages for mining are decided at a meeting of theoper ators aud miners. Lat year the scale was co and 10 cents for block coal out of three foot seams, and 70 cents for bituminous coal. For coal under three feet, one inch in thickness, higher prices were paid; from 15 to 40 cents extra for coal going as low as two feet. This coal was hard to get out, and less of it was mined per day. 'This year the operators offer 70to75censs for block and 6-5 cents for bituminous, the fall being 5 cents on bituminous and 15 cents per ton on block. In addition to this, there was a refusal to pay extra for low coal, all to be treated alike. Because of this the men struck, claiming that it was nn just. The operators were divided among themselves as to the scale. They claimed that the demand had fallen off that natural ess and oil fuel and Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania competition had ruined the market, and 'here was no demand for block coal, which had heretofore commanded the highest price. On all these questions 1 express no opinion. It may be so. But let ns see about the way the men huve hpen earninf their livinor "Certainly $ per week would be considered low w ages for miners, out of which to support their families. It is denied that this has be?n the rate of wages. I offer the following evidence: Here are the pay checks f several men. Biiun.ni; iiiilk uiej inritr'i fJ.ui, i.'J''. $3.r3. -4.2.1 per week. One man told me that in 18 he received 302; in '57, $.307; in 'v S2?7; in four months of 'ct, ilv He said we average about $1 or - per week. Another eaid he did not averase fl per day clear of expenses. Another said: 'One time rar boy and I rot out fifty tons in two weeks.' This is ?40 for two men in two weeks. 'Out of this,' he said, 'I paid ?4 for powder and H for smithing, or sharpening tools. Two or three days a week is all the work w e have had. The men earn f 5 per week, less their expenses; sometimes but 3.00 or jl. If I had not had my boy I should have been in debt. I have averaged about H per week the year round.' " 'What about the large wages I hear about it . a-. - J t iif ij .iTme ana per wee: i askea. s have not htard about it,' be said. My friend said: lf a man would go in debt at the ttore he would be given a special job or an opportnnity to earn more, or his coal would be rushed out, and his two w eeks wages would show np Hotter "The method is this: A miner gets his coal ready and works on a few days, when it is v : -. i it- . t i... i . - i u"isiru. jic Lf u yay vuiy lur w uni uois.ej, which amount may mean the result of days or weeks' of labor, but it shows in the pay-roll a in some of the mines which has never been, hoisted, and the miner never received a cent for his labor of picking it out. Then the miners are charged $1.75 per ton for coal which is worth on the track for shipment but ?1.37 in the general market; and the houses are S9 thin-walled that the amount consumed is necessarily very great. "The miners are not a noisy, drnnken. improvident class. They are quiet, good citirens; honest, 6ober, industrious. They have given their lives to this work. Tbey cannot follow anything ele. They would not know what to do. A little relief is reaching them, how tittle you can see. THE MINERS' SPEAK. The Falsehoods of V. A. W. Set Forth and Kasily Kefuted. To tttk F.niTOR Fir: I winh rorreet pome misstatements made in the Journal of Wednesday in an article signed by TV. A. W. in regard to the ati'airs of the Clay county miners. He starts by saying that the strike is mixed up with politics; that it is agitated by Thomas McQaade, ex-mine inspector; Georgs A. Byrd, state senator; ex-Gov. tiray and Senator Voorhees. As for the two last named I have no comments to make. As for Mr. McQuade, he has been mine inspector for four years and has given universal satisfaction among the miners of this county. He is a gentleman in every respect and is not aspiring to be sheriff that I know of, but if he' is, there w iil be no doubt of his nomination end election, as the laboring men know a friead when they have one. As for Cieoree A. Byrd, he was a candidate.', last fall, for the office' of state senator for this and Owen county. During the campaign, Byrd promis-ed, in case of election, to work for the passage of certain laws for the benefit of the miners of the state. The election passed o aud Mr. Byrd was successful. He wert to the legislature with the intention of fulfilling bis promises and did fcucceed, with the aid of the friends of labor, in getticg two bills through, but the friends of monopoly, on whntij side Mr. W. A, W. seems to be, stile one of the hüls, and so we were defeated. If we, ns laboring men, see fit, we have it in our power to plae Mr. Byrd in any other office we choose, and will not ak Mr. W. A. W., or the monopoly-paid Journal of Indianapolis. TV. A. V boasts of the prosperous condition of the miners. He say that they live in comfortable houses and their children are well fed. If the miners of Clay county live in comfortable houses (which is far from truth in many casesl, they are not owned by the miners themselves but about P0 per cent, are owned by the oprtors or others who have tnojcy to invest, and a great many owned by the coal companies w ould not" make decent shelter for sheep ia cold weather, yet the miners are compelled to pay for these shanties at from J3.50 to S.50 per month rent, and some of them have to carry water over one-quarter of a mile. W. A. W. says while in Ben wood that he sawcows about every cottage. That, he knows, is a lie, for there are comparatively but few miners who own cows, fcr they arc not able to buy cows or keep them if tbey had them. And farther Mr. W. A. W. says that a prominent coal operator of this county showed hire by the books that the miners under bis eraploj averaged $2.3$ per day (or last year. That ii another falsehood. The average miner did not make to exceed ?1 per dav. I am a miner and know what an average miner has earned. And further, I would say for the benefit of the Jovmal, the next time it sends a reporter ta visit Clav connty, to send a man with principle enough to tell the truth. From a snVcotomi tee, R. W. M. Brazil, June 13. s

1