The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-04-22
A STATE SHELTER.

To the Editor of The Herald:
The recent strike at Murray brought
the snelter trust prominently before our
thoughtful citizens. 1t seems to be an ad-
mitIed fact that the wages it pays en-
ployees are too low.
1t is generally believed that the smelter
is making large profits as now operated.
ana justice TO its employees demands tsat
their wages should be raised They have
a Just cause. We hear that the price Tor
sueltlng ores has been raised. Why
should not large portion OF this increase
IN revenue go 10 the men who perform
the labor? The answer seems to be that
the snelter trust is not in Utah for It's
neaiths or 10 secure justice tor the la
oorer, but is here TO make money for its
stockholders, and with that end IN view
II will buy its labor at the lowest possible
price and charge the highest price IL can
get for smelling ores.
IL has won a victory over the laborerS
VINO attempted to secure raise IN their
wages, and is taking TO itself all the prOnI
on their labor. AT the same time il is
winning ana preparing a greater victory
over the miners of Utah by raising the
price Tor smelling their ores and so will
absorb the profits of their labor also, and
many low-grade miners will be compelled
TO shut down entirely. Think of the re-
suit of having our mining industry thus
crippled and the profits from it absorbed
by this smeiter trust and sent TO eastern
stockholders. Clearly, every industry in
the state will suffer from such a condition
Every business man. every farmer, every
labOrerS in the state can easily under
stand that he will suffer with this injury
to the mining industry.
Mining in Utah is the source of our
business life and the backbone of our sue
cess. Cripple or depress the mining IN
duStry and we all suffer. What can be
done to prevent and turn aside the calam-
ity that is plainly approaching? No prl-
Yate individuals or ordinary business as
. p. or. mil q n
with this smelter trust. The history Of
such efforts is that competitors are
crushed and ruined or bought out by the
trust.
The operations of the trust are against
public welfare, and the public has a right
TO protect itself through the use of its
only organiZatiOn-the state. County and
city governments are branches of the
state, and should be used for the prOtec-
ton of the people. if necessary. Let the
state or the county come to the rescue
and build and operate a Smelter, paying
fair wages and making only a reasonable
charge for treating our ores. This would
settle the labor question as between smell
tiers and their employees, and also settle
the larger and more important question or
securing to our miners a fair and just
charge for treating their ores. Such ac-
ton would stimulate the mining industry
nightly, giving confidence where there Is
now doubt and uncertainty.
l am a business man and a taxpayer,
and [ am willing to contribute my part
by the taxation necessary TO provide a
government smelter for this county or
state L hope the press and people viii
take up this question and discuss it, Let
us hear from the farmer and laborer, the
lawyer and doctor, and all classes, and, II
necessary, make ii an issue at our next
election, and allow the people TO decide it
by their ballots, Discussion will lead TO
an intelligent decision for the public well
| fare. Certainly The Herald will help on
the discussion. BUSINESS MAN.