The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-07
.LEARY MINERS STILL OUT.
TROUBLE CAUSED by REFUSAL TO
REMOVE sUPERINTENDENTs.
Compauy officials Believe Dimculty
to he Only Temporary-Are Not
Particularly Anxious to Reopen
the Mines MT the Present Time.

The miners employed by the Green Riv-
err Construction Company, at Leary, seem
10 be unable to adjust their differences
with the company. After many days OF
idieness, a few of the men returned 70
work yesterday morning, but quit again
at noon. II is said by the officials OF
the company that the men were intimi-
dated by other dissatisfied miners ana
that the shutdown may continue some
time. The company also states that its
bunkers ct West Seattle are almost full,
and it has all the coal II will need for
many weeks, so is not particularly anx-
ious to have the men resume work.
President w. II. Murray, of the Miners
Union, at Leary, states that the exist
ing trouble dates back to October ".
when the mine closed down for repairs.
He says that few days after this shut
down occurred. thirty union men were
longer be required. Superintendent Shut
fiction, of the company, admits that the
men were discharged by him, but says
this action was taken because no more
work was in sight
When these notices OF discharge were
received the union petitioned Frederick
Bausman, receiver of the mines, for the
discharge of General Superintendent
Shuffleton Local Superintendent ]. 0.
Edwards and two shift foremen. Before
the receiver had considered this COM
munication the company was reorganized
and he was discharged. The miners then
took the petition before the new company.
but IL refused to remove Shuffleton or the
other men, believing that the miners
should not ask to dictate in such mat
ters. A notice was then posted, giving
all the men chance to return to work.
but on learning that part of their num-
Der would not be given immediate en-
ployment the men refused to enter the
mine.
The miners now say that they object TO
the, scale of wages. which they claim to
be below the Puget sound average. They
further object TO a provision in their
contracts which gives the superintendent
the right TO discharge any man at any
time without notice to the union They
claim that the superintendent Is import
ing men from other points, and that his
action is In violation Of an agreement
made some months ago.
Superintendent Shuffleton stated last
evening that he was not aware of any
dissatisfaction arising because of the
wage scale. He exhibited a signed agree
ment recently prepared by the company
and the men. and said he believed Ii 10
be satisfactory. He stated that he had
reserved the right to discharge objection.
able men. but believed that to be fair
provision. With regard to importing nom
union men, he said that il was his in
tention to give the preference to local
union labor whenever such a course
possible. but as the union men have re-
fused 10 serve IL has become necessary
TO bring in a few miners from other
points. He believes, he says, that the re-
moval OF few alleged agltators now
about the camp will result in a settle
ment OF existing differences and within
short time the mines will be running
as usual. although few men will be em-
ployed until the repairs and alterations
now in progress at the bunkers are COM
pieted, and general shipping Is resumed.
Charles Ulitz, organizer for the North
west OF the Western Federation of
Miners. stated last evening that from
the investigation of the present trouble
which he had been able to make he was
OF the opinion that the miners were in
the right and considered 1t probable that
the Federation would support them in
their present course. He expects to re-
ceive further instructions from head
quarters at Butte ut an early day. and
may then take decided action In the mat
ter.