Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-10-25
A CHAMPION OF LABOR.

How MIR. Thurman Settled the Hooking
Valley Labor Troubles.
The course of Judge Thurman in the
settlement of the Hooking Valley
strike, which commenced in June, 1884,
is in striking contrast to that pursued
by Harrison in the labor troubles OF
1877.
During the Hooking Valley diff.
culties, when the war between the coal
operators and miners had become al.
most a war of determination, it was
proposed that the dispute be submitted
to arbitration, and, after much con-
sultation, Judge Thurman was finally
agreed upon by both sides as sole
Judge in the case. After much reluc-
lance he was induced to accept the
difficult charge on condition that his
services should be absolutely without
compensation, and that all the evidence
bearing on the matter should be laid
before him. The papers were placed
in his hands, and ten days and nights
of unremitting toll were devoted by
him to the examination of the case.
His opinion was model OF clear
reasoning, and his decision was ex-
pressed in the following concluding
paragraph. verdict in favor of the
meE on the entire matter In dispute:
My decision, therefore, is that the operators
of the two distr. cts can pay the advance asked
(sixty cents per tom and compete with other
d stricts
The men were right and the en-
ployers were wrong and Judge Thur
man stood by the men. The reasoning
upon which his conclusion was based
was so clear that the operators could
not resist it, and the miners immedi.
ately resumed work upon the terms
they had demanded. The Judge was
the recipient of many resolutions and
letters of thanks from labor organiza-
tons throughout the United States.
On January 26, 1886, Immediately
after Judge Thurman's adjudication.
the following preamble and resolution
were adopted unanimously by the
State Trades and Labor Assembly oil
Ohio, then in session at Columbus:
Whereas, The success OF the recent arb.ora
ton proceeding between the miners and oper
ators of the Hooking Valley and Ohio Centra
uiStIlCtS IL very SrdstAyiuS buu cuCOuE0kluk "
all lovers of justice and fair play; and
Whereas, While We congratulate the mtnerl
for their will ngness to arbitratc the business
of their claims, too much credit can not be
given to that sterling man of the people. Allen
G. Thurman, for conserving TO act as umpire,
and his impartial consideration Of the evidence
presented-no light task for man Of his years
and which was evidently assumed 70, in 9
measure, amelorate tho condition OF tabor and
capital employed in the Hooking Valley and
Ohio Central districts and the city OF Colum
bus; therefore,
Resoioed. That the secretary OF this assembly
be instructed to forward Hon. Allen g. Thur
man the above preamble. which properly CON
State Trades and Labor Assembly upon this
matter
The happy settlement of greas dis
pute resulted in the further increase
of miners wages in the Hooking
Valley districts, and the compensation
as now fixed is Is cents for winter
mining and 20 cents for summer min
ing.
In similar crisis, In 1877, Ben
iamin Harrison drew $1,000 per week
from the railroad companies. while
receiving $5 per day as the pay q .
captain Of troops organized TO CON
| tend against the unemployed lsborer4
IN Y Star.