The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-07-16
THE COEUR D. ALENE STRIKE,

The strike at the Ceur d. Alene mines
has assumed a phase which invests it
with more than ordinary interest. There
the unusual sight is presented of a ON
paratively small body of men defying
county, state and national authority and
carrying everything before it with a high
hand. Blood has been shed, lives lost
and valuable property destroyed in the
contentious between mine owners and
employees. The gravity of the situation
is intensified by the hostile attitude still
maintained by the striking miners and
by the uncertainty of the outcome.
The cause Of the trouble dates back
six months. About the middle Of Janu-
airy the mines were shut down, the own
ers assigning exorbitant railroad rates as
the cause. The shut downs were fol-
lowed by a conference with the railroad
people with satisfactory results. Mine
owners announced their determination
to reopen their properties on the first
day of April and that they would pay
$3.50 per day to miners and So per day
to car men and shovelers. The old
schedule was $3.50 per day all around.
The union men wouldn't accept the re-
duction. They hold that all under
ground men should be paid alike as each
were subject to like dangers.
Trouble with the miners then COM
menced. The owners held a meeting
and resolved to allow their mines to
remain idle until June LIST, after which
they would take mean to resume bust
ness. In the meantime several fruitless
efforts we're made to adjust the differ
ences between owners and miners.
About the LIST of May an attempt was
made to run the Union mine near Burke
with non-union men. But neither at
that time nor since has a complete sue
cess been made. The non-union men
were either persuaded to join the union
or leave the camp. On the 9Th of May
the mine owners procured an injunction
from the United States district court at
Boise restraining the union or its mem
bers from interfering with the men, the
owners having previously engaged many
from Michigan. Copies of the injunction
were served on the miners.
Seventy-three imported men made
their appearance about the middle Of
May in charge of sixty deputy United
States marshals in charge of Joseph
Warren. Warren was arrested for
violating the state constitution in bring
ing armed men in the camp and placed
under bail. The non-union men were
taken to the Union mine and began work
under the protection of armed guards.
Several of the men soon quit work and
joined the union.
About the last Of May Governor Will
ley went to the Cuur d'Alenes to make a
personal examination of the situation
which was now becoming alarming. Up
on his return to Boise he called upon all
unlawful assemblages of people in and
around the Cuur d'Alenes to dispense,
experimenting his proclamation with the
threat that il lawlessness and intimida-
tons continued he would declare the
country in a state Of insurrection and
would call out the militia to enforce the
law and preserve the peace. The COVER
nor might as well proclaimed to the
winds. No attention was paid to his
proclamation or his threats.
The mine-owners continued to call
upon the governor for help and the gov
ernor called upon President Harrison for
aid on the ground that the Idaho militia
was not in condition to cope with the
miners. The subsequent chapters in the
story are fresh in the minds of every
newspaper reader. The owners intro
duced non union men in their mines.
The attempt OF union men to Gust them
led to bloodshed and death upon both
sides and the blowing up of the Frisco
mine. Quite recently the colored United
States troops from Missoula that were
ordered there were promptly ordered
back by the miners as they were APP
preaching, and bridges and railroad
tracks were destroyed to prevent their
reaching the scene of action.
The contest has now narrowed down
to one between the miners and the
United States authorities. There can be
no question as to how it will terminate
, the only question being as to the mum
, Der of lives that must be sacrificed be-
!, fore a settlement can be reached. The
miners declare their intention to fight
anything and everything to the death
!, before they will permit non-union mer
|, to work in the mines. Thus matters
stand. 1t is hoped that a compromise
may be effected and all differences speed.
lily adjusted.
1t is estimated that from Sl2,OOO,OOO tc
S~l5,O0O,OOO are tied up in the CGul
d'Alene mines and that about 1000 mer