The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1892-06-07
A COWBOY STRIKE.



When j was in New Mexico eight or
nine years ago." said Dan Quin, who
has shed undying glory on the sold Cat
tleman, 81 saw a singular labor strike.
Cowboys are composed of two general
classes; those born to the business and
those who are exported west by rela-
tives who have wearied of them and of
their gay and tumultuous practices OF
doing nothing but spending money and
accommodating bad habits. The native
western men as a rule can neither read
nor write, are grave of mien, and hard
men when trouble comes on. The
transplanted cowboy is drunk whenever
possible, but is otherwise pleasing to
the eye and harmless enough. The edu-
Gated ones read the newspapers to their
brethren and lead in the discussions on
subjects of national interest. At the
time of the roundup, on the Triangle
Dot ranch, l was working for Dorsey,
and went over with two or three others
to see if any of our cattle had mixed
themselves up with the others. One of
the boys of the Triangle outfit was dis
putatious, contentious, and much given
/ to argument. He had been reading re-
ports of labor troubles in the east to the
men, and in the discussion thatfollowed
had pointed out to them the fact that
they were getting largely the worst of
it. 1t was decided to strike.
THAT night it happened that Jack
son, the agitator, was out riding herd
with some others, and after their sup
per the other boys fell to discussing
their wrongs. They decided that there
was no time like the present, and
naming one, Kelley, popularity known
as Texas Kelley, from the common
wealth in which he had his birth, as
chairman, they decided to strike. They
went in body to Col Smalrs tent.
Small was boolxkeeprer and acting
manager of the Triangle-Dot ranch and
was feeling 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 round
up, but had driven out on his blackboard
from the home ranch just to see the
fun.
"Anything can do for you, gentle
mem? he asked pleasantly enough.
.''They is plenty to be done, all right
enough replied Kelley, with the sol
emnity of atrue plainsman You see,
Col Small, he continued, the boys on
this yere range has about concluded
they has made enough fortunes for the
naughty cattle barons of the east'-he
had insensibly assimilated Jackson's
anarchistic speeches-'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 Chicago
plutocrats, an 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 paclxin' house prince has got
title to us
"'But what is it9 What can do?
What do you wish?' inquired the un-
happy boolzkeeper, firing the questions
all in breath.
"'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'
s'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 caught his wind he
asked: "What do youSwant to strike
for? We're 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 l5iclxin' -we'n notify
you an pull our freight easy enough
when our pay is cut. We're just goin'
on strike, that's all
sBut what's your grievance? What is
your reason for striking? You must
have grievance, insisted the book
keeper.
Giles shorely right the coloners
/ 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.
g We has, after due an deliberate
considerin' of the question, reported
Kelley, decided on this, Col Small:
We is gittin' too much fresh beef, an
too little salt boss, an we strikes for
thatreason.'
''As salt pork was worth only $3.50
per hundred and beef even on the range
dressed scaled up to eighteen cents
pound it didn't require much figuring
for Small to settle it.
g I ought to have thought about that
before, gentlemen he said, and III
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 admiringly;
They is nothin' limited nor confined
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 adjustment We're
reported to him he expressed the utmost
satisfaction with the affair and his APP
proval of the entire proceedings. Yet
he was a Yale graduate, and before
reaching the age of twenty-six knew
not the taste of picked swine. Chi
cago Tribune.