The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-01

coal reauired By the company Tor It's business,
cannot be produced by the number OF men now
employed By said company, the latter shall have
the right 10 increase its working force sufficient
to produce the required amount of coal; and IL
in the judgment OF the company, its business
requires diminution OF the amount Of coal 70
be produced. the company shall have the right
TO reduce the number of men employed to such
q number as, in the judgment of said company,
Is strictly and absolutely necessary to do the
work at the mines and produce the required
amount of coal.
Fourth--The said company hereby reserves
the right 10 hire and discharge any OF its men at
any time, and hereby requires that all work be
done under the direction and TO the satisfaction
OF its Superintendent.
Fifth-That in the Unemployment of said
miners there shall be no Discrimination or ex-
ciusion, choice, or improper distinction what
ever made by said company.
sixth-This agreement shall not Be 30 con-
hereinbefore provided, with the sole right of
said company to carry on its business and work
its mines under the sole direction and TO the sat
is.action OF its superintendent, and without
interference from any quarter.
Seventh--This agreement Is made and entered
into in good faith by each of the parties hereto,
itself liable In any damages that may accrue to
the other.
until the same is approved by I: B. Cornwall,
president OF said company, and until his APP
prevail 10 endorsed hereon-
In witness whereof the parties hereto have
hereunto set their hands this - day of June,
1891. Executed in presence of
n. Fl. Martin, Seattle, agent of the Black
Diamond Company, said yesterday;
This proposition was rejected by the Knight.
of Labor because they objected TO the fourth
stipulation. They wanted the question OF q
mans discharge left TO COMMITTEES. consisting
OF the superintendent and the four men in the
mine working nearest the man against whom
complaint might be laid. You can see that the
four workmen could easily outvote the superin-
ha INN ossik
TO discharge man whose work was unsatis-
factory.
The men acknowledged that Mr.. Morgans In
all his years a mining superintendent has
never discharged without cause, but he, on the
other hand, was unwilling TO give up the right
TO discharge men who might prove insubordin-
ate OF incompetent. He would not run the mine
unless he reserved the right OF discharge.
Our offer was liberal We would give the
miners good wages, which would be increased
when coal rose 20 a certain price In San Fran
cisco. On the other hand, II the price OF coal
fell we would bear the loss and the men would
have no rfsk.
Rumors were current on the streets that back
of the question OF the superintendent reserv-
ing power TO discharge, was the employment at
Black Diamond of the men who had been forced
out at Franklin and Newcastle. When the strike
was ordered at Black Diamond some of the
quieter men and conservatives left to seek work
elsewhere, and a number OF places remained to
be filed. The miners committee, il Is said,
wished to get the Black Diamond company to
fill these vacancies with those who had caused
trouble for the Oregon Improvement Company
Whether such q proposition was made openly
cannot be ascertained, but the plan is said to
have been back of the desire to take from the
SUPERINTENDENT the right of discharge.
When P. B. Cornwall was here week or two
ago he drew an address .'to the miners mechan-
les and laborers at Black Diamond and else
where" Though this is dated June 20, 1t has
been held back, evidently because the company
wished TO have the old men return, and the cut
ting free from the union seems to be a,last re-
sort. OF this call Morgan Morgans says:
This is the proposition OF Mr. p B. Cornwall,
the president and the only one he authorized
me to sign without bis approval. 1t gives the
prices referred TO in the other opposition.
The document in question ows:
To the Miners, Mechanics and Laaborers at
Back Diamond and Elselchere: The Black
Diamond mines have been open ana worked
about seven years, and are now in good, safe
condition and easy to work. There has been no
difficulty between the management and the
miners; no complaint now or heretofore unad.
justed; but apparently because another COM
pany, with which we have no interest, but
which Is on the contrary our most active rival
in business, has without our previous knowi-
edge or connivance imported a class OF labor
which we do not want to use, our men, who
should be our friends and supporters, have dis
continued work and are, in effect running our
business.
Therefore, immediate work will be given to
several hundred white laborers and miners who
will agree TO work one year for the Black Dia-
mond Coal Mining Company, at the following
wages and prices, the company reserving the
right to hire and discharge men, and require
that all work be done under the direction and to
the satisfaction of the superintendent.
This il open to all good, honest working white
miners and laborers