The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-28
TELLING FACTS.
George A. st. Clair Talks About
MIR. Hanna's Attitude.

MIR. George A. St. Clair is widely and
favorably known throughout the Lake Su-
periOr mining district. He has been for a
number Of years actively connected with
mining operations in that region. In an in
terview with the Minneapolis Journal, he
says:
about this oft repeated story of the
way Mr. Hanna crushed the Seamen's union
/ know nothing, but from what do know
of the man / am convinced that there can
be no truth in It,. From personal expert
ence, l know that Mr.. Hanna is genu-
Inc friend of the laboring man, and that
he always has the interest Of his men at
heart.
SIN the administration of the mines in
Marquette county, Mich, it often happened
that wages were discussed and adjusted.
In every such conference / had with Mr..
Hanna, he always stood out for top notch
wages for the miners"
How He Helped the Sufferers In 1894.
During the period of desttution and
suffering that prevailed in that region In
1894, when thousands of men who had
worked in the mines were thrown out Of
employment on account of the mines be-
ing shut down,M Hanna, like others, con.
tributed literally to the relief of the suf-
fering. But he did more, and more than
anyone else interested In or resident ON
the range. At Iron Mountain, Mich, he
owned and still owns the Chaplin mine. 1t
was entirely his own property, unlike the
other mines, and he was at liberty to do
with 1t what he pleased. And this Ii what
he did: In face of the fact that there was
no sale for ore, that the docks at Cleve-
land were loaded with unused ore. that
he had been unable to collect for large
quantities Of ore sold and delivered, he
opened up the Chaplin mine. put, 1000 men
at work and pad them q good Fair wage;
-hn. hos vvn1n o1A
I was at this mine a few days ago and
was Informed that miners wages were
higher In the Chaplin than In any other mine
on the three ranges To substantiate this
statement, I was not only shown the cur.
rent payroll, but the mines books.
How He Helped the Furnace Men In 1895
Another reason why I cannot be made
to believe these stories about Mr.. Hanna
IL what I know about his action In Cleve.
land In 1895. In the latter part Of that
year there sprung up q great demand for
iron, which resulted In advancing prices
and general activity In the iron industry.
The workingmen employed In the furnaces
In Cleveland thought. very naturally, that
they ought to beneft from the good times
40 well as their employers. So they de-
mapded a certain percentage advance. This
demand was willingly granted. After a
short time, prices still getting better, the
men came 10 tue cOuciuSlOn tudC III Jus.
tice they were entitled to another raise.
They made demand which was not cheer.
fully received by the furnace proprietors.
In fact, they called q meeting to discuss
the matter At this meeting a majority
expressed themselves as being opposed to
any further advance In wages until it was
assured that the activity In iron was
permanent thing. 1t was also the prevail
ing feeling that to grant the demand of the
men a second time would only pave the
way for another and even more peremp-
tory demand. which might rot have the
apparent justice of the one .nder discus
sion.
AT this point Mr.. Hanna walked into
the meeting, and in a strong speech threw
all the weight Of his influence and interests
Into the balance In favor Of the men. He
said that prices had risen and We're ris-
ing that the men had asked for what
they were entitled to, and that they ought
to have 1t. Mr.. Hanna had hardly fin
ished his speech before the meeting voted
to grant the demand for increased wages.
~ think that shows Mr.. Hanna's i'm
pulses and Intentions In respect to labor"