The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17
WHAT THE MINERS SAY.
1hey Denounce Corey as the Author of
All Their Troubles,

FRANKLIN, May f6--(Speeial 1.-The frat init
NATION that the company was about 10 man the
mines with negroes reached the miners at noon
on Thursday, when q letter was received by one
o. them from Seattle stating the fact The news
rapidly spread through the camp and caused a
general feeling of apprehension among the
miners. John Bailey. one OF their leaders, was
sent down to Seattle on Friday morning to seek
more definite information. The miners spent
the whole day in anxiously awaiting his return
and specializing on what was about to happen
A the news spread IL assumed more exagger-
atcd forms. One OF these was that Mr. Corey,
With his army of negroes, was up in the mount
aims ready 10 descend upon the town at any
time.
The miners consider that they are being IN
justly treated Ia this matter, and they denounce
Mr.. Corey rs the author of all their troubles
They say that he has frequently boosted that he
would break up all labor organization In the
mines aud that he is trying To make good his
boast. They recall 70 mind the terms of the
contract which he submitted at Newcastle, and
which was withdrawn simultaneously with his
apparent resignation and journey East--a coin
eidence which caused comment at the time
and they take 1t all as evidence that he is de.
termtned to tear up unionism root and branch
81 the oregoG Improvement Company mines
Het To them the personifcaton OF the evil
enc.
Several representative miners stated the sltua-
zion nom their standpoint 10 a posT-IsTELrI-
akSCsR reporter tonight, aud all of these inter
views can be well consolidated as follows:
"There Is no trouble here so far as Wa are con-
eerned, and the company has no cause for bring.
tng in new men. The mine has been doing very
little for seven or eight months past, since the
old slope was closed and work was confined TO
the opening OF the new one. There are between
1D and 20 men here, aud those OF them who
had work shared il with those who had mona
and had failed 60 get il elsewhere Mr. VIII
Jams objected 10 our dividing up about two
months ago, but when our committee went 10
him about ii he agreed TO the system, and we
have had no trouble since. He ignored the rule
once when man went away for a short time
and new man was put to work In his turn.
When be came back we claimed that he ought
20 have his turn, and he was given It
"Wc have never denied the right of the com.
pany 20 hire aud discharge whom il pleased.
We concede that right 10 it But We claim that
when man IL discharged he ought to be given
. reason for il A man who has done good
work for any length of time ought not TO
oe discha rsed merely to make room for another
man. That is not fair treatment The sgperin.
endent might discharge men one sitter another,
giving no reason, and thus pick ont the leaders
among the men. We do not dispute. and never
have disputed, The right Of the company 70 dis
charge men for valid reasons. If man is a bad
man and does not 90 his work properly, we want
him discharged; We want him out OF the camp
Just rs much as the company does The men
here are conservative body of men ami have
always tried 10 give the company ttS due, and
We think we have claim to consideration.
slf the company wants 70 arrange a sliding
scale based on the price OF coal in the san
Francisco market, we are willing, al least am.
In work on that basis. We have always bsen
willing 90 arhitaie any dispute We have With the
Company, and so have workingmea everywhere
hut when corporations see that arbitration is
going against them they withdraw from IL. /
suppose we shall try 10 persuade the negroes 20
quit work and Join rs but have little hope that
" shal tuccsed. ] have lad experience with