Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-09-22
THE MINERS LEAGUE.

the Miners League is about adopting,
regarding the relations existing between
that organization and other employees in
mills and mines in Storey county. Our
structures upon the question have been
excepted to by several gentlemen, for
whom we entertain kindly feelings, but in
the view taken by them of our remarks,
We believe they misconstrue our motives.
For instance, they think our article yes
terday tends to encourage the League in
carrying out their resolution, that men
who receive the established prices of labor
in the mines shall be members of their
Society. The League seems to have
adopted still more stringent resolution
by publishing and posting notices to all
employees in the mills and mines of Storey
county, that latter Tuesday, the 9th
instant, all who are not members Of the
League will not be permitted to work in
said mills and mines" In commenting
upon this subject yesterday, our aim was
to bnng this matter right in view of the
parties concerned--because the time set
by the League is very short-so that en-
ployers and their workmen might be pre-
pared to meet the issue. We are some
what pleased to see that the Superintend-
ents are consulting together upon the
question. Some of them feel indignant,
and perhaps justly, that any organization
whatever should presume to dictate to
them who they should and who they
should not employ in their mines and
mills. so long as they paid the established
scale of prices. We admit that it looks
so-and when we first read the proceed
ings of the League, it certainly struck us
as a high-handed measure, if it was the
intention of the League to use force in ex-
pelling men from their situations. We
are not clear on the point as to whether
such is the intention, and persons draw
ing that conclusion may be doing the
League an injustice. We are not in their
confdence--we are not their organ-and
our advertising columns have been simply
made the medium of their notices of meet
ings, etc., and we really do not know that
there is anything We could say concerning
their action as Society that would be like
" to influence them one way or another.
Taking the report of their Special Com
mittee last week, it would seem that their
members have certain grievances under
which they labor-but whether real or
imaginary we do not know. They say
that many of their men are prescribed and
thrown out of employment by Superin-
tendents, because of their connection with
the Miners League; and that their places
have been filed by newcomers and Others,
who, while some were instrumental in
urging the formation of the Society, in
order to establish scale Of prices, now
reap the benefits without aiding in the
maintenance of the League. Where the
remedy lies is certainly mystery to us
unless it is made directly personal mat
ter between the League and the men who
are not members thereof. If, on the other
hand, the League comes out in full force,
and by violence attempts to stop the mills
and mines, the owners of which are paying
the full wages as agreed upon when the
Society was formed, then and in that case
the League would come in serious conflict
with rights which are protected by the
strong arm of the law, and which rights
are paramount to all Leagues and private
associations. We can hardly believe,
however, that such is the intention of the
Miners League, and until we see other
wise, We will continue to believe the
motives of the League to be honest.
Since the foregoing was written, we
have had q conversation with gentleman
who belongs to the League. He informs
US that the resolution regarding non
members was passed without full con-
sideration of the subject, and that some of
the members are greatly dissatisfied. We
are also assured that the League does not
intend any violence whatever upon any
mine or mill-that their objects and mo-
tives are entirely civil, and do not intend
the preparation of anything unlawful.
We trust that this information will allay
any unnecessary alarm or uneasiness
which may have existed in our community
by reason of the act of the League.