Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-09-03

Denver, Colo, Aug, 3r.-That large
smelters operating near Leadville will
be forced to shut down very soon re-
ceived authentic confirmation from sew.
eral authoritative sources this morning.
Manager Eben Smith of the Moffatt
interests, comprising the Maid of Erin,
Penrose, Wolf Tone and Louisville
mines, on Carbonite hill, in an inter
view this morning gave statement ex-
planaory of his action in ordering
the pumps closed down on the Penrose
and Bon Air
"The reason why l stopped the
pumps" said MIR. Smith, "was because
we have been doing the pumping for
our neighbors' ground as we'll as our
own. There was nothing to warrant us
In continuing to do so, as we had
enough work in our own territory. The
added expense was not shared by them,
and after the case was laid before them
they still refused to come forward in
the proper spirit. Before any pumping
Is resumed it will be necessary for them
to come up and contribute to the
amount expended in operating the
plant"
Mr.. Smith was asked regarding the
prospective shutting down of the smell
tiers in the valley near Leadville.
"The smelters are receiving practic-
ally no ore Of consequence from Lead.
vile,n he replied, cor from the adjacent
territory, outside Of the product of the
Weldon. The BimelalIic smeltcr will
have 10 close down. III fact, before a
great while they all will be forced to
shut down. 1t will be case of have
10"
Manager Smith absolutely declines to
discuss the strike situation. The flood
ing of these mines viii throw & 90 men
out Of employment, and If the smeltcrs
are compelled to shut down another
1900 will be added 70 the idle list, while
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth
Of property will be ruined
The News has the following on the
subject; "Nhateycr the motive that i'm
duccd the stoppage Of the pumps in the
Leadville mines, it is not commenda.
Bile one Doubtless those in control
don't care whether it is or not The re.
suit will be to shut down for long time
and to injure, perhaps beyond recovery,
a large number of mines, sufficient TO
afford employment to 200 men, and 10
greatly asgravate the burden of hard
times in the Leadyille camp. To shut
these pumps down without notice, to
infiet this injury upon mine own
ers and business men, is an act of van.
dalism which the strike will neither
justify nor Palliate.
III the striking miners had burnt
single shafthouse the governor would
likely have sent The militia to Leadville;
the wires would have been burned with
denunciatioEs OF the act as the anarchy
Of labor, clothed in fire aud murder, and
the State would have been aroused 10
defend the sacred right of property.
But here come men with wealth, their
dollars are numbered by the millions,
their mines are in many camps, their
power is all that unlimited wealth can
command, and by an act which the law
cannot reach, but which was notEncces.
sary and inllicts actual loss upon those
ordering Tie deed, drown the hopes of
1000 men for employment and infliet
damage upon a score OF neighbor.
ing mines that must be estimated In
hundreds of thousands of dollars. This
is the anarchy of wealth. 1t is the
brutal, destructive impulse of malcvo.
lent bate. II is true the pumps belonged
TO those who stopped them. They are
on their own property, the law cannot
punish them, but the deed Is moral
crime, for it was unnecessary and it In.
flicts serious wrong upon innocent
people numbered by the thousands"