Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-08-30
r,r,: MINERS UNION.


The action Of tho Miners Union in
appointing a special committee to con-
fer with the mining superintsndsnts Of
the Comstock day before yesterday.
simply proves what We have claimed
that the Union is composed Of men oil
reason AMI sound common sense. They
desired no collision In the matter.
They knew well that any wild. Aasty
action, or riotous demonstrations re-
sulting from the enforcement OF their
resolution not TO allow any min
ess other than members Of the
Union to work under ground after
the 10Th OF next month. would DO by
irresponsible. reckless outsidsrs. and
not by themselves. consequently they
took this method Of proceeding. The
resolution at first sight and csnsidsra-
ton certainly does seem q little arbitra-
ny. yet the principle has many favora-
BILE points to recommend II. and the in
tsntion is good. Working underground.
down in tho hot depths Of the Com
stock. il NO safe or pleasant occupation.
From the moment q man leaves the sur
face until he comes out again. his life
Ia in constant danger. and accidents to
beth life and limb have been too IRE
qusn,. especially during the past
month. to Be considered agreeable.
These subterransan ~toilers. these mon
who develop the riches OF the lower lev
Ella. sarn veil thsir wages. aud four dol
lars per day il simply good pay for the
service rendered.
The Miners Union was organized as
u matter Of necessity TO keep up . fair
rate Of wages. and to prevent the intro
Iuetion Of any degraded. servils and
msrcensry species Of cheap labor. as
we'll IS to provide for and assist those
who might be disabled by accident or
sickness. and to bury their dead. IL Is
therefore a ssli.protOetivs q well as be-
nsvolsnt institution. One very oojec-
tionsb,s feature consist, In the fact that
outsiders can reap the benefits. and have
done so. Tho men who have establish
oil and kept up the present good rate Of
a have hal no bottsr chance for
employment than fresh arrivals from
other lands. induced to come here by the
liberal wages paid, and who have no In.
tsrsst in the country beyond what they
ON make on, Of II. The Miners Union
simply asks the preference In the matter
Of employment. There are enough good
able men belonging to tho organization
to do all the work needed in the mines,
and o too. The Uaion Is composed
Of permanent residents and citizens ;
men with wives and families dependent
upon them for support /; men who have
lived here for years. In asking for pref
srsncs in the matter Of employment.
they are simply presenting . Just de-
mand. II is satisfactory to know that
hereafter this matter il TO be properly
considered by the mine managers. and
preference given to members Of the
Miners Union.
IL is easy to SOC how this will result
~bensdsially to the mine managers.
They can demand good men for the pay.
and employ only such. IA long as they
are Union men. Moreover. the Union
takes care OF its own sick and buriss its
own dead. Any peeuniary assistance
obtained from the mine managers in that
line IL faithfully applied. either to the
relief Of the sick and injured, or to the
family OF the deceased. The Union
might be rendered still more effective by
establishing a hospital in some good To-
cation. where, by the monthly payment
Of a small sum. each member would be
entitled to the very best Of surgical or
medical attendance and nursing. in can
Of accident or sickness. This would
not only make IL still more for the in-
terest Of all miners to belong to the
Union. but II would most certainly be
for the interest Of mine managers to EN-
ploy only Union men. There are va
rious other points in this matter which
~s propose to discuss hereafter. but this
will do for the present. II 10 most sat
isfsctory to know that. a. was predicted
by the News from the arst. tho problem
has been peacefully solved, with n
danger Of amy collision.