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Page 8
Mr. Chamberlain has been instructed to enforce Great Britain's sovereign
rights in the Transvaal, and notwithstanding the fact that several of
the London newspapers are calling attention to the treaty of 1884, he is
determined to insist on these rights.
It was rumored some time ago that as soon as the Greek troubles were out
of the way, Germany, France, and Russia would take up the Transvaal
question.
This may perhaps be the reason why the Boer President so bravely defies
the British Government, and if Mr. Chamberlain tries to force the
Transvaal to submit, he may find that he has to reckon with these three
powerful countries as well as the handful of Dutchmen in the South
African Republic.
* * * * *
A terrible tragedy has occurred in Pennsylvania at a place called
Hazleton, about twenty-five miles from Wilkesbarre.
Some miners were shot and killed by order of the sheriff of the county.
These miners were out on strike, their strike, however, not being in any
way connected with the great coal strike of which we have told you in
previous numbers.
These men were dissatisfied because an extra two-hours' work was forced
upon them every day without extra pay.
Some mules which had formerly been stationed in another colliery were
changed over to the one at which these men were employed, and the care
of these animals occupied the drivers an extra hour morning and night,
which the miners resented. They therefore struck work.
Two of the drivers did not wish to join in the strike, and the
superintendent, seeing this, did his best to persuade all the men to go
to work. Upon this the strikers became angry, and bitter words and hard
feeling resulted.
Thinking themselves badly used, the men resolved to try and make the
strike general in the neighborhood, and began marching from colliery to
colliery, urging the men at work to lay down their picks and join them.
The strikers have been very orderly, and have made no disturbance of any
kind, but as they were principally foreigners who are ignorant of our
laws and customs, it was thought best to have men on hand ready to check
them if they attempted any lawless act. The sheriff of Luzerne County,
in which Hazleton is situated, was therefore notified to be on the
alert, and in his turn sent word to his deputies to be ready for action.
The sheriff of a county is a very important officer. It is his duty to
see that law and order are preserved within the limits of his county,
that the penalties ordered by the judges are carried out, and to
suppress all riots and uprisings in his district.
To assist him in this work he has the right to call on as many citizens
as he needs for the business in hand. These men he binds by an oath to
aid him in the discharge of his duty and to help him to preserve the
peace. They compose what is known as the sheriff's posse, and are a body
of men who accompany him and help him to do his duty.
Sheriff Martin, of Luzerne County, called out about ninety deputies for
his posse, and had them in the vicinity of Hazleton for over a week
before the shooting occurred.
On the day of the tragedy a body of the strikers had determined to march
to Lattimer, a village not very far away from Hazleton. They desired to
persuade the miners there to join their ranks, and started out about two
hundred and fifty strong, marching in a peaceable and orderly manner
along the road. None of them were armed, and none showed the slightest
desire for violence or riot.
They had arrived within a few hundred yards of their destination when
their road was blocked by the sheriff and his posse.
Advancing toward them, the sheriff ordered them to go back to their
homes, telling them that they were creating a disturbance and were
acting in defiance of the law.
Most of the strikers were foreigners, and, failing to understand what
the sheriff said, the foremost men crowded round him, trying to prove to
him that they were only parading, and had a perfect right to march
through the streets if they only remained peaceful and orderly.
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