The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-03-18
Three Columns OF March 18th Daily.
D. & w. AFFAIRS.

D.. & w. AFFAIRS.
The Italian Latorers Employed by Mr.. Crouch
Visit Town and Return Temporarily
Satisfied.
This morning about nine o'clock, a large
number of men were seen marching down St.
Joe street. A UNION reporter soon was
among them and ascertained that it was the
Italians from c. d. Crouch's camp who had
come down to demand their pay which wa
due February 25th. There were one hundred
and twenty in all. with three who acted as
spokesman. They were peaceably inclined
and only asked for their rights. Apparently
their tramp in was precipitated by the fact
that MIR. Crouch had paid the Yankee portion
Of the help, to the exclusion of the Italians,
an indignity which they proposed to resent.
Sheriff Wilson took the spokesman aside
and preferred valuable advice in the way Of
admonishing them to keep quiet. But this
was really not needed for the men declared that
under no circumstances would they resort tc
violence, all they wanted was a fair square
deal, intimating that from appearances Mr.
Crouch did not intend to give them this be.
cause he had been procrastinating and promis.
ing so much that they had decided to place nc
reliance i'll his word. In company with til.
sheriff and a UNION reporter, the leaders wen,
up to Mr.. Crouch's office, where that gentle
man and Mr.. Wanzer were found. The
leaders stated their grievances quietly and
asked for their pay, which Mr.. Crouch tolt
them they would get next Friday, a weel
from today, and perhaps before that, but post
lively then. The leaders seemed satisfied ane
were doubly so, when the genial C. D
treated them to cigars and in other ways mad,
them feel as though he was their everlastin,
friend. But said George, the spokesman, I"
am afraid they won't return. They are sus
picious of me and the other foremen
They kept three or four mer
sentry all last night at my cabil
for fear | wonld leave and enter into som,
agreement with Crouch"
The leaders then adjourned to the Grove
that was still waiting outside Crouch's ohic,
and explained the result Of the consultation
Sheriff Wilson assisted,b by occasionally putting
in 4 word or so in his own peculiar Italian
dialect. But it was no use, they must have
money. The Yankees were paid and the,
must have theirs also. 1t was never clearl,
proven, however, to the UNION man, that the
Yankees had been paid. A few were but MOI
all OF them by any means, and in justice te
MI. Crouch this statement should be made
Then the Italians wanted to sell the d. & w.
road, something the sheriff dlssuaded them
from doing as legal proceedings might prove
lengthy. After this the leaders entered into
consultation with Mr.. Frank Logan who has
al! along acted as agent for the Italians, and
by the way, Il very intelligent, rational gen.
tlcman. Mr.. Logan said that he wanted his
men paid and not hunbugged any longer
and moderately advised them to persist in
their efforts to get their money. He went UP
to Mr.. Crouch and demanded security that
his men would get their money at the expir.
alton Of the armistice. This Mr.. Crouch re-
fused III the score OF not being business.
Finally Mr.. Logan consented to advise the
men TO return TO work with the understanding
that they would receive their pay next Fri
day and that due March 25th promptly also
lie i'll company with the leaders then spok,
to the crowd to this effect and gradually tn
men returned to their work, seemingly salts
fed to wait as stipulated.
The whole difficulty arose from the fac
that a misunderstanding took place shortl,
before the last pay day, February IS til, between
Mr.. Crouch the contractor and the sourc
from which. the money was expected. 1t tool
time to rcciti(y this and this loss o ftime ha
lncensed the men, who, besides wanting tn
money due Fcbrurry 25th, also desired posi-
tive assurance that the wages due this montl
will be met promptly, to which Mr.. Croucl
pledged his word.
The men seemed very orderly and onl,
asked their rights, which Mr.. Crouch admit
ted. These Italians began work for Mr.
Crouch the forepart of December. The,
were paid promptly in January and it is onl,
the pay roll ofFebruary 2sth that is in arrears
not so very much after all.
In conversation with Mr.. Logan the re.
porter learned that there were a number Of
men around the camp who for some unaccount.
table reason kept melting the Italians
to strike, this, he said had a great deal to dc
with their move today, he also referred tc
the incendiary remarks of a number of citizen.
who mingled among them, as calculated tc
create bad feeling. He stated that of course
he wanted the men paid, but that the conduct
Of these towns people had a bad effect and
should be stopped.
The UNION gives a detailed account Of
what happened today. 1t ~refrains from COM
mentins on the attitude Of Mr.. Crouch until
it sees how he keeps his promise next Friday.
From an intimate knowledge of the situation,
1t has no hesitation in saying that he will do
Just as he has promised. He must know that
these men are entitled to their pay and further
delay will result to his great disadvantage.
They have been very tolerant under the cir
cumstances, when it is considered that they
have been laying idle for almost two weeks,
awaiting their money.
This unpleasantness has no bearing on the
affairs of the d. & w. at all. Mr.. Crouch is
a only contractor and his obligations are his
own personal affairs and not the company's.