DOWN IN THE MINES.
That Jim Wood and his gang hope to succeed by practicing deception is an evident fact. When they first came to this county they came claiming that only peaceable means would be employed in accomplishing their purpose, but people had but a short time to wait until they became fully convinced that their intention was the use of force, if necessary. Next we hear of the U.M.W. secretly at work trying to fill up the mines as far as possible with union men, under the guise of being non-union, another form of deception. Then they employed colored preachers to go among their race and deceive them by lying. But up to this time the operators have always been aware of their evil intentions and acts and have thus far been able to thwart their evil purposes. And Agitator Wood need not think for a moment that his slick scheme to get union men in large numbers into this county on July 27th, by advertising a free barbecue, is unknown to the operators of our coal mines. His movements and plots are well known and will be met.
The diabolical plot to thus bring in a large crowd of thugs from other States to capture and shut down the mines of this county has been unearthed, and unless steps are taken to prevent any attempt by force on that day to accomplish their purpose, bloodshed will follow, as there are now, at a moment’s notice, thousands of brave men in this county who will risk their lives in defense of the miners and operators of this county who are willing and ready to work and have no grievance to settle.
Naturally, the closing down of many large steel plants will cut the demand for coke and coal and the miners as well as every other industry will suffer during the strike.
The scarcity of U.M.W.’s at mining points the last week or two is quite noticeable. With the exception of Madisonville, where they can be found around the saloons building air castles, very few are seen.
Cols. Dick Salmon and Artemus Ward were over last week. They complained of a scarcity of coal cars at the Crabtree mines for a few days.
A former employe at the Barnsley mine, a young Mr. Harris, was one of the victims of the late railroad wreck near there last Thursday night.
So extremely warm has been the weather that the miners dread the trip to and from work. The mine is the place sought by them at present.
Henry Jones has joined the mechanical force of the St. Bernard Coal Co., and as he has been in the Philippines, where the thermometer often registers 120 in the shade, he is able to stand the weather here first rate.
Some new slack washers to replace old ones are now being put in at the coke ovens during the lull in business.
The severe drouth in this county will have a serious effect on all business outside of coal mining, an industry of vast importance to the county, but, strange to say, one that many people are now in a conspiracy to ruin, if possible.
As is usually the case during the heated season, the stock of coke accumulates, and many car loads can be seen stacked up ready for the big winter demand. On account of the falling off of orders in the summer, the St. Bernard never decreases its production, but has a big winter supply on which to begin.
A big coal miners’ strike has been averted in Missouri by both sides in the controversy conceding some minor points.
Like it is with the mine operators in this county, the steel magnates claim there is nothing to arbitrate. It is simply a question of who shall operate the works, a gang of agitators or men of sense and means who have investments trusted to their care.
The idle U.M.W. boys now employ a portion of their time jumping freight trains and stealing rides. They have ceased to work in the mines and have become violators of the law, another proof that idleness always begets crime.
Secretary Hall, of the Oakhill Coal Co., made a business trip north last week. He is out after business and is determined to show the poverty producers that his mine will continue to run in spite of threats and intimidation.
Agitator Wood certainly underestimates the intelligence of our Hopkins county miners, when he thinks that a sop thrown out to them in the shape of a free barbecue will entice them to join the ranks of the U.M.W., who have nothing but misery and poverty to promise them in return for servile obedience.
An eastern judge has the proper conception of what constitutes abusive and offensive language, as will be shown by his decision here given:
“The scabs have come to town.” He was promptly arrested, although he had not spoken in a loud voice or to any crowd. Davis was fined $50 and costs—$62.50 in all—by Judge Bryant in the city court.
“And I want to add,” continued the judge in imposing the fine, “that if any one else comes before me on the charge, I will not only fine him fifty dollars, but send him to jail for six months.” Davis’ fine was paid by subscription.
One William Blakely, a member of the U.M.W., who is evidently paid to write articles which will place that organization always in the front regardless of the facts in the case, has lately written to a labor journal an account of the trouble between Gabe Stokes and Agitator Rooney, wherein he shows his usual love for prevarication. The statement made that Gabe Stokes and Roy Blanks showed the white feather by quickly leaving is entirely false. The writer was present and can testify so far as he saw that they beat no hasty retreat, but stood their ground like men when they were outnumbered two to one. It seems that the only fact stated by Blakely is that Rooney shot Stokes in the face when Stokes was some distance away from him and not going towards him. If cowardice was shown it was when a party of U.M.W.s implicated in the trouble ran and shut themselves up in a house when they were heavily armed, and begged to be allowed to surrender.
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