Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1891-04-30
a Strike ON ritz RANc Il.


Wnen was In New mexico eight OF
nine years ago, said Dan Quinn, who
has shed undying glory on the Old
Cattleman," IL saw a singular labor
strike. Cowboys are composed of two
general classes; those born to the busi-
ness and those who are exported West
by relatives who have wearied of them
and their gay and tumultuous practices
of doing nothing but spending money
and accumulating bad habits. The ma
tive Western men as rule can neither
read nor write. are grave of mien, and
hard men when trouble comes on. TIE
transplanted coyboy is drunk whenever
possible, but is otherwise pleasing to the
eye and harmless enough. Tie edu-
Gated ones read the newspapers to their
brethren ard lead in the discussions on
subjects of National interest. AT the
time of the roundup, on the Triangle
Dot ranch, was working for Dorsey.
and went over to see if any of our cattle
had mixed themselves up with the
others. One of the boys of the Triangle
outfit was disputatious, contentious, and
much given to argument. He had been
reading reports of the labor troubles in
the East to the men, and in the discussion
that followed had pointed out to them
the fact that they were getting largely
the worst Of it. 1t was decided to
strike.
"That nightit happened that jackson,
the agitator, was out riding herd with
some others, and after their supper the
other boys fell to discussing their
wrong. They decided that there was
no time like the present, and naming one
Kelley, popularity known as Texas Kel-
ley, from the Commonwealth in which
he had his birth, as Chairman, they de-
cided to strike. They went in body
to Col. SmaiPs tent. Small was book
keeper and acting manager of the Tri-
angieDot ranch and was fee ing plenty
proud, because the regular manager
had gone to Chicago and left him in
charge. He was from Chicago himself
and rather fresh. He had no particular
business at the roundup, but had
driven out on his blackboard from the
home ranch just to see the fun.
Anything / can do for you, gentle
men 2 he asked pleasantly enough.
They is plenty to be done, all right
enough replied Kelley with the SOL
emnity ola true plainsman. You see.
Col. Small, he continued, the boys on
this yere rarge has about concluded
they has made enough fortunes for the
naughty cattle barons of the East'-he
had insensibly assimilated Jackson's an
archistic speeche s. and we has con-
cluded that the thing has proceeded on
this trail long enough. We has become
dead tired of film the Golfers of Chi
cago plutocrats, and they amt no man
nor no syndicate can put its brand onto
us an say they own us from morell to
crupper. We are free-born Americans,
an no Chicago packin'- house prince has
got title to u.s.
"'But what is it? What can I do
What do you wish?' inquired the I'M
happy book-keeper, firing the questions
all in breath.
1--WE has decided to STRIKE replied
the man from Texas. The crushed
workin'men of the East is about to arise
an so be we.'
"Then Small was scared. He had
mental visions Of his company's steers
cavorting unrestrained over the vastly
pampas. prey to the cattle thief and
Mexican. When he had caught his
wind he asked: But what do you want
to strike for? We are paying you more
now than men on other ranches get
""This amt no question of finances,
replied Kelley, with some hauteur.
When we don't get what we're worth
you won't hear no kickin'-we'll notify
you an pull our freight easy enough
when our pay is cut. We're just goin'
on strike, that's ALL
"tBut what's you grievance? What
is your reason for striking? You must
have a grievance insisted the book
keeper.
"He's shorely right; the Colonels
got his nut with him every minute of
the time and kindred compliments
came from the crowd. The men with
drew to formulate their statement of
hardships, and presently returned.
owe has, after due and deliberate
considerin' of the question, reported
Kelly, decided on this, Col. Small ::
We is gettin' too much fresh beef, an
too little salt boss, an we strikes for
that reason
"As salt pork was worth only Sc. so
per hundred, and beef even on the
range dressed scaled up to IS cents q
pound, it didn't require mu,h figuring
for Small to settle it.
"'I ought to have thought about that
before, gentlemen he said, and Til
start the wagons for the ranch tonight
for two barrels of pork and 500 pounds
of bacon. You men shall have what
you want as long as I'm running things.
Then he brought out several bottles,
and Kelley, as he drank, said admir-
ingly: They is nothin' limited nor con-
fined about you, Col. Small, even if you
come here recent which sentiment the
others, as they drank, echoed. When
Jackson came in from riding herd at
midnight and the strike and its adjust
ment were reported to him he expressed
the utmost satisfaction with the affair
and his approval of the entire proceed
ings. Yet he was Yale graduate, and
before reaching the age of 26 knew not
the taste of picked swine. Chicago
Tribune.
How He ReckonedDis
II was near the Arkansas limo in