The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-03

bookseller TO keep store near your mines, if they
choose; or the present condition-ths county
in arms, and enormous expense to both county
and company?
hope you viii pardon this diagression, but
truly feel upon the subject so strongly that
cannot control my PEN
At last we find the poor miner discharged,
with prospect of an increase in his family,
and not enough money to leave camp and seek
employment somewhere else
But there are other points of difference be-
tween the miner and city workman. The fore
man OF gang of men in the city knows them
only during working hours. The whistle blows
and he goes his way and they theirs. No social
relations, and consequently no dislikes on
purely social grounds, no discrimination by the
foreman because Pat can crack better joke
than Charley, Jim can play seven-up better
than John, or because Mike treats ofteuer than
Jack. 1t is entirely the contrary in the mining
camp. The days work done the men congre-
gate in front of that everlasting company store
or in that ever accursed company saloon. Here
we find number OF men who, from the ma
ture or their WORK, are superstltlous and
always ready to magnify upon the slightest
rumor. ! am sorry that space does not permit
me to explain more fully that part of camp life.
When the superintendent, pit boss. and every
other boss-who by the way are not always saints,
as the company claims them to be-are talking,
drinking, joshing and playing cards together,
it is quite natural under the circumstances for
the foremen to form a social liking TO some and
q dislike to Others, and right here is another
bone OF contention that often wrecks many
happy home or mars the life of an honest, hard
working man, for which the company can't be
blamed al all. But the foreman never misses an
opportunity to punish those against whom he
has some grudge. The piece-work system that
exists in the mines must be understood in order
TO fully apprehend the abuses that the miner is
subjected TO at the hands of the petty tyrsnt,
the pit boss.
When one considers the conditions as here
presented, and venture to say that the eompsny
will not deny that the material points stated are
true; is II a wonder that the miner says ''You
may discharge me for incompetency for not
keeping my breast clean, for not safely timber
ing your mine, Tor showing up in an iutemper-
ate condition to my work, but in the name of
justice protest, nay, | beg or you, don't dis
charge me because l want 10 save up few
dollars to pay doctor and nurse bill when my
wife gets IN confinement. Don't discharge me
because Jack is better musician than am
because Pat can play seyen-up or baseball better
than can; don't for heavens sake discharge me
because mine and your foremans boys have
been fighting after school and my boy got the
best OF it." Permit me-" cries the miner ass
long as I do my work TO your satisfaction To
have fair play. Let me take my regular turn at
objection. 1t won't cost you any more when
work gets dull and we conclude to share work
80 that all in camp may make a scautv living
until rev shafts are opened. For humanity's
sake don't object TO this true bro,herly love"
Legal rightsl Talk about legalityI Humanity
and morality first, and legal teehniealities after
theml
not deny that she had virtually been promis-
ing the men at Franklin to give them work "a
soon as the new shafts were opened The men
were confding in their employers, snd there
fore did not obtain written contract, and con-
sequently have no legal claim. but can any
reasonable minded men say that the eompany's
action in deeeiying these men, in keeping them
for eight long months in Franklin. ON q bara
subsistence, with the continuous promise that
they would give them work as soon ss
the shafts we're open, and then, instead OF
work under the usual conditions, present
them with an ironelsd contract that the com
pany knew the men would not sign, a contract
that no body of miners in the United state.
ever signed, and then to cap the climax play a
ruse Matched by the famous trio OF Haines. sal
hvgn and Corey-tell the men that the contract
is Withdrawn and Corey discharged, and get the
men to spend the last penny they have got in
the company store, with the hope that all will
be well as soon as the shafts open; and to their
utter dismRy find themssly on a fus Sunday
ssyenty-fve hirelings Of the meanest caliher
aud coo negross2 Is such action Just, honorable
or legal?
have heard two theories advanced explain.
INK this unbusinesslike and brutal action of ~.
Oregon Improvement Company. One ia tina,
this Is conspiracy between Haines, sullivan
and Corey TO expend large sums OF Oregon
Improvent Company and county money and en-.
rich themselves by It. Another theory ia ad
vanced that IL is an effort by one faction ~
stockholders 20 depreeiate the value OF the stnck
and then buy up all the stock Al a minimum
figure and thus possess themselves of a yerx
valuable property. / VIII confess that don.
attach much weight TO either theory. bnt n srv-
thing, am inclined 70 the first theory. hs-
lieye the trio above mentioned eapabls ~ -
rAscallty.
IL is almost impossible TO dwell in a nsu.,.
per article upon all details sppertaining IN TIL,
deploraoe affair, nor do I claim 10 have ,,o,,s
the subject justice. Ny time and education a.
indeed very limited TO fully discuss so in,T,r-,,
ant suD!se@ ABE SPRING
2,0l9 Front street