The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-07-27
MINERS, PLEA.

Colcradoans Write to Master Workman
Powderly--Th Urge Him to Do some
thing for Silver.
ASPEN, Colo, July 22.-The Aspen
miners have addressed the following
letter to Master Workmen Powderly:
DEAR BRoTHER-In this time Of our great
misfortune aud distress we look hopefully and
trustingly toward you and ask that you raise
your voice In our behalf We have heard the
same wish expressed by leading men Of our
state, knowing as they do the explicit conf
dence In your integrity aud ability Of the la
boring men Of the country, and appreciating,
as we all do, the power and influence you can
exert for the relief and benefit OF those who are
bound to you by the closest ties Of brotherhood
In the great cause OF humanity In which we, as
knights Of Labor, are solemnly pledged and
fervently devoted
We were q happy community q few short
months ago Over 1000 men worked in our
mines. This, without doubt, Is the largest and
most important eght-hour working district in
the country The rights of laboring men are
respected, To-day the mines are closed down.
Idle men fill our streets who are almost hope
less with despair They have been brought
face TO face with the problem of how to pro.
vide their dependent ones with the common
necessaries Of life The immediate cause of all
this misery il attributable principally to the
dominating influences Of a merciless plutocracy
center II the world.
You know these causes, you have wisely In
structed us upon the labor problems OF the day
and safely guided us by your excellent coun-
sells. You live in different surroundings than
your knightly followers Of the mining camps
data to refute the false representations OF the
soldhug agents, and. therefore. may find ac-
ceptable the following statement, wdich VIC sol
emnly aver to be absolutely true.
l. Silver can not be produced at thirty cents
an ounce. We may only ,ite rs proof Of the
fact that when the price dropped below eighty
cents the mines and smelters we're compelled to
close down. l"
2 1t is possible for such bonanza mines as
the Mollte Gibson Aspen and Smuggler. in this
camp. to take out ore found in limited qr,anti-
ties at a remarkably low cost per ounce Of sill
yer, but the great ore body of their mineral can
not be produced with the price of silver in the
eighties or nineties
3. These mines are extremel2 rare exceptions.
The great mrjority Of ore.producing mines
have been prom table or unprof table as skill
and economy may have been practiced in their
management.
Many proper ties with promising indica tions
OF good bodies Of ore have been untouched since
the price Of silver declined below 81 per ounce,
because the risk was too hazardous to under.
take their Development which might lead to
deposits Of great value
Tne amount OF money and labor expended
In prospecting for mineral and wasted upon
mineral claims that utterly failed to yield any
considerable quantity Of valuable ore or that
is expended for machinery and labor in the de.
velopment of mining property. is largely in eK.
cess OF the value Of silver at 81. % per ounce.
We do not believe IL is an exaggerated state
ment TO say that e. or even ~ so is expended in
search for the metal and in getting 1t to market
for every ounce that Is produced
Invest silver with the rights of which It was
secretly and unjustly deprived by the infamous
demonstration act Of 1879 and the mountains
OF Colorado and the gold and silver producing
states and territories will TEEN with life and
activity. Here would be an inviting field for
thousands OF idle mon Of this country at fair
wages. We can then offer employment and
good homes 10 thousands OF honest laborinR
men who know not what to do. or where TO
turn.
We implore you. therefore. to speak out in
this critical hour and unite he laboring men of
the country with US In this great struggle AL.
ways believing in your greal wisdom and firmly
relying upon your love for The workingman,
and your great prudence, sagacity and judg-
Vent. we close with . fervent appeal that you
come TO the rescue In this time OF need and
counsel the toiling masses OF the country to
join In one solid phalanx, determined to secure
the rights Of silver and the blessings that must
follow to every man who gains his sustenance
by the sweat of his brow