Amador ledger., 1902-11-28
THE LABOR TROUBLE AT KES-
WICK.


county, heretofore one of the most
prosperous and aourishing mining
towns in the state, is practically at
a standstill owing t. 4 strike order
ed by the miners union. Hotels
have closed doors, and many other
business houses are following suit,
determined to quit business until
the trouble is over. 1t was no ques-
tion of wages that caused the shut
down that threw 800 men out of en-
ployment. 1t is simply determine
tion on the part of the owners to
submit to no dictation at the hands
of their employees as to who they
shall or shall not employ. They are
>contending for the right to run their
business in their own way, while the
strikers arc contending for recog-
milton of their union in the affairs of
the mine The Shasta Courier, pub
lished near the scene of the trouble,
gives the following account of the
origin OF the strike. 1t shows how
easily thriving community can be
plunged into the depths of distress
by following the counsels of few
unreasoniug leaders:
For some time past it has been
limited that an extensive strike was
liable to ensue at the Keswick smell
ter, owing to differences between the
company and the Keswick lodge of
the Smeltermen's Union, a branch of
the Western Federation of Miners.
For some time organizers have been
busy in Shasta county. At De La
Mar a lodge was organized and later
one at Keswick. The Keswick lodge
practically embraces the Iron Noun
tain mine employees. The strike, it
appears, is not over wages, as the
men made no kick over the pay. 1t is
simply matter of principle with the
strikers. Lately man was run over
at the smelter, by the Stag train, and
the men in charge of the train were
fired by the company on account of
the accident. There are no particu-
lars as to the degree of blame in the
accident-but at any rate. the dis
charged train men belonged to the
union. This was the primary trou-
BILE. The union demanded that the
train men be reinstated. Several un-
pleasant little matters came up, and
Donnelly, head of the Keswick union,
with several others, were given
the s'grand bounce" by the company.
Whereat the union met and demand
ed that the discharged men all be
taken back. The company stood pat
by its determination to run things
its own way, and when the union
sent demand to reinstate the men
or stand a strike, Manager Wright
told the boys to play ball.
The committee appointed by the
strikers was refused an audience by
the manager of the company, and it
was decided to call strike when the
shift changed. The business men of
Keswick tried to arbitrate and ad-
just matters, but the company would
not make any concessions, refusing
to recognize the union. Notice of
general strike was then declared,
and the men at Iron Mountain and
Keswick went out almost unanimous
ly. So did the fires in the furnaces.
The company is having a time
with the fire at the mine, and per-
haps would not care if shutdown
would come now at the smelter.
1t is said that the company can
stand six months suspension easily.
The smelter men are well organized
and declare they can hold out till
the Internal smelters, heated by
birthstone and superintended by the
devil, are froze up solid. About 800
men are affected. The strikers claim
they will receive help from The fed
GRAFTON. So if the company can
stand it, and the smeltermen can
stand it, then they are all right
but it's the plain, common. middle
of-the-road citizen and business man
and taxpayer who gets HI. The
business community gets it in the
neck no matter who wins out.