The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-22
THE MINERS STRIKE.
Increased Force Of Negroes
Working at Franklin.
RAJ ROAD HANDS THROWN IDLE.
Report OF the Coiorcd Mems Commit
tee-CoIIection OF Subscriptions
Begins-Bogus Petitions.

The state of affairs at the Franklin
mine underwent no decided change yes
terday. A further increase was made in
the number of men at work, but other
wise, SO far as the com pany's side of the
case is concerned, everything remained
practically as 1t was. In order to avoid
reckless shooting, an order was issued
that the negroes be not allowed to carry
their guns outside the dead line, and that
the guards do not carry rifles while off
duty. These precautions are expected to
prevent further cause of complaint on this
score.
The committee from the Knights OF
Labor of Seattle had a conference with
the local executive committee late at
night, and afterwards held a meeting of
negroes in the brush on the river bank,
where number are said to have COM
planned of their treatment and expressed
desire TO leave If they had aid.
The colored committee which had ad-
dressed the negroes on Wednesday night
spent the morning in advising them as TO
their conduct, and giving them informa-
ton as to the opportunities TO take up
government land and the law on that sub
ject.
IL was rumored late last night that a
riot had occurred at Black Diamond, but
no confirmation could be obtained. moth
ing being known at the Columbia e. Puget
Sound depot about any such occurrence.
The Oregon Improvement Company yes
terday ordered suspension of works at
the machine and car shops in this city,
thus throwing about fifty men out of
work. The 200 men employed in construc-
ton work on the Seattle & Northern rail-
road between Anacortes and Sedro were
also laid off, Until shipments of coal are
resumed the thirty section hands on the
Columbia & Puget Sound railroad were
also laid of.
The officials of the company say that
this reduction in its working force has
been made because as long as it is not
making money il cannot afford TO have
large pay-rolls. As long as the present
trouble continues the expenses of the COM
pany will thus be held down.
The following subscription paper was
being passed around among the employees
of the Columbia & Puget Sound railroad
yesterday, when il came into the possess
sion of the officials of the company:
To the members OF the b. OF l.. E., b. OF L. +.
and b, of K. T., between Seattle and St Louis
and the Car Reporters.
These colored men were induced by tho mis-
representation OF the Oregon Improvement
Company to leave their homes In 81. Louis and
Chicago anu come to work In the company's
mines In Franklin, Wash. thereby throwing out
of employment the employees, white men, be-
longing 10 organized labor. These men desire
TO go back TO their homes and by assisting them
you win confer a favor on the W. c. l. L. and
organized la6or in Washington. Yours in
Union
The paper is signed by James l.. Barrie,
secretary and corresponding representa-
tive l. NJ. q. l5s. Seattle, and J. W. Garry,
secretary of the Trainmen's Union.
, The following statement, prepared by
the committee of colored citizens who
visited Franklin was brought by the COM
mittee to the PosT-IsTELLIGENCER Office
last night:
To the People Of Seattle: The committee of COL
cred citizens, composed of /. W. Evans, Rev. L.
S. Biakeney and T. C. Blocker, having visited
the mines at Franklin last evening, remaining
over night and until today noon, wish to state
10 the public that the report OF misconduct on
the part of the colored miners is false in every
particular That they are as orderly and intel
ligent class of miners you win find in the
average mining camp, and instead of being
boisterous or DESTROYS OF creating trouble, on
the other hand. they are very DESTROYS of max
ing friends with their surrounding eircum-
stances, and during the time we were there we
did not hear any firing, or see any boisterous
conduct, or hear profane language used by any
one J. w EVANS
L. :. BLAKEsEY,
J. c. BLOCKER
The committees OF the labor organza-
tions which have in charge the cause of
the locked-out Franklin miners continued
their preparations yesterday. The CON-
mittee of colored men. ]. l.. Murray.
George Williams and Thomas Collins,
which went ont the day before 10 make an
investigation regarding the feelings of the
colored miners and the conditions on
which they are to work, returned yester-
day morning and reported TO the general
committee at its meeting last evening.
The report was not made public, but
Mr.. Williams, in conversation with a
Posr-lNrELLIGENcER reporter, stated that
the wages the company is paying the col
ored men are from Is to - per cent. lower
those paid the white miners since the Ii
per cent. reduction went into effect, He
said that when any objection was made by
The negroes Mr. Cory would tell them Ia
30 10 work and he would make it all right;
but some of them did not think this salts
factory and would not STAY. He felt sure.
however. that large number of them
would remain and that the best thing the
whites could do would be to go in and
work with them.
At the meeting of the general committee
last night the action of President Cushing.
of the Western Central Labor Union in an.
pointing committee of citizens TO solicit
subscriptions for the miners was indorsed.
Douglas Young's name added TO it, and q
certificate authorizing the committee Ia
proceed in the name of the general com.
mittee was given TO each of the members
of it. The committee reported that SCI
had been received from two individuals
yesterday as voluntary subscriptions, and
anumber of the unions are voting money
from their treasures, the Plumbers Union
donating SIS last night.
The following notice was issued vester
dsy by the joint committee of the Western
Central Labor Union and Knights OF
Labor.
To az tsAona q radg coacsrr: This is i0 certify
that T.. J. Mcconnell, ". J. Nagie. for Pierce
county; J. y. Myers, J. Hayes, John prylie
George McQuarrie are hereby authorized 20 SO.
hcit funds in Pierce county aud King county in
behalf 81 the locked ont miners of King cou nty
TIE public will please take notice that unies,
committees soliciting funds for said miners O
thIs county have certificates with the under
signed signatures and seals of ths
Western Central Labor Union, Build
tng Trades Council and j. L. T. r.
X. 81 l., the same has not been authorised y,
said bodies Hoping that the public will ne
spond - as in this event is the earnest wish Of
organised labor OF this county, believing as ws
dc, that it is unnecessary to state the particula ar.
In this appeal IS the public press has fully pre-