Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-07-17
rHE RECENT STRIKES.

THE RECENT STRIKES.
Shoshone county has been In q
State of constant excitement since
the middle of last winter. A lock-
out was decided upon by the mine
owners upon the pretense that rail-
road freights were excessive. After
these had been adjusted they next
undertook to cut down wages. The
members of the miners union acted
with great deal Of forbearance I'M
til last Monday, when one Of their
number was fired upon while pass
ing the Frisco mill in a peaceable
manner. Having run back to town
and told his story, large number
of union miners accompanied him
upon his return, as they say. TO in
vestigate as to the cause OF the
shooting. They, too, were fired
upon. When men become targets
for bullets they seldom stop to rea-
son. Revenge is the first impulse
with nearly every human being, II
reports be true they committed
many disgraceful acts. This, how
ever, is only what could have been
expected in so large a body OF men
embracing every variety Of charac-
ter. II is almost universally the
case that thieves and thugs will be-
come camp-followers in such move
ment, while honest men must come
in for their share of the attaching
disgrace.
The dispatches that have been
received indicate that both parties
were ut fault: The mine owners for
shutting down their mills and mines
, in the middle of winter and holding
) out inducements for the men to stay
until spring, when they reduced
wages and abjured the union. The
!. men were blamable for being led
Q into the excuses they committed
; II must be remembered, however
that all Of the dispatches came from
. those prejudiced against the miners
Martial law has been declared and
the battle grounds are occupied
. with both State and Federal troops
= Serious blunders have been com
mitted throughout this entire bust
ness. In the first place it does mo-
q appear that any effort was made by
3 the Sheriff to call out a posse III
? required by law, neither had ths
Q entire military force of the Stats
3 been called out. Both Of thes'
. things are required by law. Gov
g ernor Wiley is himself q mine ant
Q mill owner and was easily instiga
. ted by the wiley Attorney Genera
8 to make representations at Wash
g ington sufficient to warrant the fed
s eral authorities in assisting to pu
y down the riot. The fact is Robert
has been the great Sanhedrim a
9 the State Capital since the frs
" news of the troubles were received
Il would seem that he has beel
governor and everything else in a
. official sense.
e It is very likely that for the fu
y y ture non-union men will be EN-
2 ployed in the mines of the Occur q
:. Alene country and at reduced rate
of wages. But the trouble has no
10 ended and will not, we fear, 70
n. years. Assassinations and arse
i. are likely to occur and be perpe
trated in such q manner as TO lea
80 TO but little hope of the discover
L. and punishment of the perpetrator
C. of the crimes.
The troubles at Homestead, Pa
appear to be at an end. The tow
!" and its vicinity 10 occupied by abou
1 eight thousadd troops, who are q
re- the best of terms with the striker
ss They drink together and appear
. be "hale fellow well met" In I'll
Is meantime there is q congression,
= = committee at Pittsburg, eight mils
=. distant, taking evidence in relatio
=, TO the riot and its attending circun
stances which will be required
make a report at an early day.
In the foregoing cases there
found two of the industries of Il
country the most heavily protecte
engaged in conspiracy to cut dow
the wages of its employees. IL woul
seem as IL in time the people of Il
country, and especially the worl
ingmen, might become sufficient
Der educated in reference to tariffs an
YIN their effects upon labor to altogeth
"a repudiate a system 80 averse to u
.et interests of the great masses of q
'a people and only designed TO benet
on, those who will furnish funds for Il
nm. support of q political party.
.a Latest accounts from the Coe'
;. d'Alenes say that the soldiers he
possession and are arresting Q
!" union miners. also that the no
u union men are returning TO work.
n
oils Omccrs Installed