The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1895-06-08
NEIHART. MONTANA, JUNE 8, 1895.

red up nest of hornets which will
sting to the death. The men men
toned as particular defendants are
not towards; they are among the
most enterprising and conservative
citizens of Neihart. They have in
vested their all in Neihart. They
have done everything in their power
to further the interests of the camp.
and now they do not intend to sub
miss1vely behold the utter ruin of
the town. They declare that the
people of Neihart shall not be des-
pots on the one side nor slaves on
the other, if justice may prevail.
They will not submit, and no power
in Helena or Meagher county can
crush them"
On Tuesday the same paper en-.
larges further upon the interesting
theme, under the head, "Will fight
to a fnish:'
''ln the contest now being waged
between the people of Neihart and
the store and boarding house which
are owned by two of the principal
stockholders in the Broadwater Min
ing company, the people are battling
for principle, not pelf. AS soon as
the company learned Of the boycott
which had been ordered by the Belt
Mountain Miners union, and per-
ceived that it was being rendered ef-
fective by united people, prices Of
merchandise in the store and the
rates at the boarding house were re.
duced. Goods were placed on sale
at prices below cost, in the hope
that, for a money consideration, the
men and women of Neihart would a.
bandon principle and betray theil
friends. But the people saw the re.
suit which would be inevitable il
they yielded to temptation, and
avoided the pitfall set for them
They knew that the course of the
company would result in driving
| other merchants from the camp, il
unobstructed. and that then prices
would be placed at an exorbitant fig
ure, and the company would enjoy
a monopoly of the business of Nei
hart.
"Thus far the people have been sue
cessful. In writing, the company ha.
pleaded that it's business has greatly
declined, and that it will be ruined
if the people are not restrained. Tha
is just what the people hope viii
happen; they are in the fight to ruiz
the company's side institutions, ant
no injunction or threat of closing
a mine will interfere with them il
their struggle for justice. They art
not fighting the one particular store
or clearinghouse alone, but are con
tending that no company store shal
be established in their town. The,
realize that, if the Broadwater com
pany is successful in the present
struggle, when brighter days for sill
yer arrive and other mines resume
other companies will, perforce, estab
lish company stores and compan,
boarding houses, and the camp vii
be worse than penal colony.
"The miners of Neihart have hat
experience in other camps with com
pany stores and boarding houses, ane
are acquainted with the dark way
pursued by such institutions. Th'
company store cuts prices till all com
petitors are crushed. Then the fore
of miners is doubled. With the in
creased force, the ore accumulates s.
rapidly that accommodations for
are inadequate, and the miners worl
perhaps less than half the time. Blu
even when idle they and their fami
lies must eat and find shelter, an,
when the men are presented wit
their checks on payday, they find tina
the amount of the company's clair
against them has nearly equalled tn
amount due them. Thus, every cen
paid to them in wages returns to tn
company through the store an
boarding house.
"ln some camps, the miners hav
been paid in checks issued by tn
company. BY rule of the compan,
these must be cashed at the compan
store. But conveniently for the stor
it has no cash on hand, and issues I
, the miners due bills on the stor
Then before the checks are agai