Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-11-08
APPEALING TO GOV. PECK.
Families of GOgebC Range Miners Actually
In Want Of Bread.

III W dlU W VI
ASHLAND, Wis, Nov. 3.-The situation
of the poor on the Gogebic range is
growing more alarming every day.
Actual suffering from lack of food is re-
ported, and threats Of looting the stores
there are heard on every side. The
idle men were formerly miners, but
have not had q days work in the mines
they claim since last April. They have
been employed at odd jobs by township
authorities but the orders then received
in payment for their services have
been discounted to such an ex-
tent, they claim, that they have
been almost worthless. Even these
town orders have now been cut off, and
the town authorities have refused to
issue any more. In their desperation
the men met and chose one of their
number to appeal to Gov. Peck for adj
vice and assistance, if possible. w. G..
Rodda penned the following, which was
sent to the Governor:
HURLEY, Wis, Oct. 27.-T0 the Governor of
tie tStdte-SIR We, the undersigned, are
poor workingmen, the ajority of us
miners, depending upon the mines for
living for our wives and families.
Sir we have been out of work since the
last of April, the majority of us, except a
little work. We have been working for the
township of Vaughn, and that has been half
time, when it was fit weather for us to work,
and our town orders we have had to cash,
or rather gave to the stOrekeepers for food.
They have taken out of the orders,
f HS5GF0 o n1S % S0" to % per c ey
and charge us from so to 80 per cent. more
for the provisions, than when we were
working IN the mines, with cash instead of
these orders. And now we cannot even get
orders for what we have worked, neither
food for our families, and our families are
in want of bread. We have seen the board,
and some Of our wives have been to the
chairman of the board Mr.. McGechan and
he told us he would not give us our orders
to get food, neither will he help us, and
Mr.. Mcclellan being pOOrmaster, told our
wives that we men would have to get out Of
this place and leave our families for them to
care for.
Sir we want to know from you by return
of post if you can assist us or do anything
for us. If not, we shall be obliged to make
a rush on the stores for provisions. We
thought we would ask your advice before
making a riot as we being American citi-
Zens would not like to disgrace ourselves;
but hunger is sharp, and TO see our chill
dren crying for food and not having any
thing to give them. is more thar we, as a
body Of honest wOrkingmen, can stand,
nor neither will We Sir, we shall,
all and every one of lis, feel
greatly obliged if you will answer by
return of post, as we cannot stand out any
longer, from hunger. Some of Us have
worked for three days without any dinner
and very little supper, as we have not had
anything to eat nor will the stOrekeepers
give us any without town orders or cash.
Hoping to hear from you sir, by return OF
post, we remain yours truly,
AMERICAN CITIZENS.
P SIR Having been picked out by the
men to write you, will you please answer to
this address: William Charles Rodda, Hur-
ley, Wis.
Gov. Peck sent out two letters from
his executive chamber in Madison, as a
result of the receipt Of the above letter.
One he addressed to Mr.. Rodda, telling
him the matter would be fully investi-
gated, and also advising him that the
men should do nothing unlawful. His
letter to j. J. Defer. chairman Of the
Iron County board, is as follows:
CHAIRMAN BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IRON
COUNTY, HURLEY WIs.-Dear Sir: | am in
receipt Of a letter from man named Rodda,
of Hurley, laying before me the situation OF
affairs as far as he and his companions are
concerned which | enclose to YOU with a
request that you investigate the matter and
ises. [ note in this letter sort
of threat that if something is not
done at once these men will make
a rush on the stores. That | have advised
them to leave out of their programme and
presume they will do so. Men who are
hungry are liable to do things that they
would regret at another time. / trust that
you Will look into the matter as soon
as possible, and let me know of the
situation. " * OF course | know
we'll prepared for such an emergency as
some OF the older counties, but /
should feel badly to have serious trouble
occur in this new county that it has been
my duty to create, as it were and to officer.
l believe that the officers of your county
are as good as those of any county in the
state, and | am satisfied that they will dc
everything that is possible to assist deserv-
ing people who may be temporarily en-
barrassed and poor, and keep the peace I'M
very truly. GEORGE w. PECK.
To-day Chairman Defer answered
Gov. Peck's letter. He said:
To His ExCELLENCY, Gov. PECK: Your
letter of the 29th ult., concerning poor per-
sons in Iron County, reached me in due sea-
son, and l availed myself Of the first
opportunity to take legal advice on the sub
Gleason, Shea and Wright, of Ashland, and
they told me that the county of
Iron cannot legally relieve any poor
persons residing and of settlement in the
town of Vaughn. think nearly all the poor
people referred to me, do reside and are
oflegal settlement in that town. If any of
them are properly chargeable to the county,
| will endeavor to make provision for them
with all practicable despatch.
J. DEFER,
Chairman of Iron County Board
The cold weather of to-day and the
thought of what the next few weeks
will bring forth, has added new horror
to the situation of the idle men, whose
lot has been hard one even during
the mild summer months. How to