Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1892 — ADLAI STEVENSON. [ARTICLE]

ADLAI STEVENSON.

His “Low for Laborers," and His Treatment of Alining Employes. To the Editor of the Streator Daily Free Press: Some time ago I read an article a miner, commenting; on Mr. “abeyensou Democratic nominee for Vice*president. It brought to mind an even*. of nearly twenty years ago, and it. agents the honorable gentleman has not changed nor has ho repented for the cruel wrongs he inflicted upon his miners and workingmen at that time. I worked for his company from the time the bottom vein wa3 reached in 1870 until Adlia pulled the union out root and branch in 1873. 1 can truly say 1 never-met a greater tyrant, nor a man with less humanity during all mv life as-a coal miner, In 1873 a contract was agreed to between Adlai and the miners. He prepared it and in one clause provided that it should remain in force onp year, and no one should be discharged without

good cause. Not many weeks after the contract was agreed to one of the ropes broke in the shaft, leaving but one to hoist and lower the men, and raise the coal. At that time the shaft was also in a very dangerous condition. The timbers were bulging and breaking, and the free passage of the cage was frequently obstructed. One afternoon the remaining cage, loaded with men, stuck in the the shaft. From 4 o’clock until 10 at night it was suspended in the most perilous position between top and bottom, while the men below having no other means of escape, became aiarmed for their own safety. There was ho escapement shaft' no means of egress, and coming from the bowels of the earth 650 feet below could be heard the execrations of the meu aud pleadings for prompt relief.. .44any moment the unusual strain upon the rope might have precipitated the cage of human occupants at the bottom of the shaft,several hundred feet below. Women and children gathered around the top, screaming and praying for the safety of their husbands and fathers. Next morning yielded to the prayers of their families, the men refused to work until shatt was put in a safe condition. Adlai gave orders that every man be discharged who did not report for duty. Realizing their extreme danger not a man reported, and all were discharged in the face of a contract draftn up for one year, Adlia would listen to no reason, but said he had done with the union, and would get new men. In a short time the company’s agentbroughtin ninety scabs, only one of whom could speak a word of English. The union minerscalleda meeting, and a committee was appointed to wait upon the scabs, acquaint them with the situation, and induce them to return whence they came. I was chairman of that committee, and was talking with the leading scab, when Adlai and another member of the company approached. Listening a moment he ordered ns to leave the premises double-quick, threatening if we did not he would have us all in jail in less than an hour. This ended the interview,as the scabs could not be seen afterward. Union miners were defeated in that inhuman lock-out in 1873 for simply demanding that their lives be not .jeopardized. Such is the character of Adiai Stevenson, the scab employer and boss political headsman. Patrick M. McCall. Streator, 111., Aug, 5, 1892.

Indianapolis Typographical Union, No. 1, numbering over three hundred members, passed resolutions denouncing the action of Matthews and Henderson in appointing a “rat” Clerk of the Printing Board. Stamp anywhere in tho square 1 around tho eagle and nowhere else, and you vote a straight ticket. v Stevsnson gave orders to “fire the union, root and, branch, and employ only non-union, men, in his coal mines. Cleveland, Stevenson, Matthews and Henderson have no love for organized labor, as their acts clearly ; prove. *r—. S I " Stamp anywhere In the square around the eagle and nowhere else, and you vote a straight ticket. —— I