Lincoln County record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1900-1905, 1903-06-12
UNION DECLARES
A STRIKE AGAINST
QUARTETTE MIN
ING COMPANY.

The "Searchlight' of Searchlight
lincoln County says
Searchlight Miners Union, No. 161
Western Federation of Miner,
officially declared a strike against
The Quartette Mining company last
Monday night which went into IF.
feet the next morning
The immediate and direct cause
OF The strike was the posting of a
notice by the company to the effect
that no and after June 1st nine
hours lnbor would be required of all
employees not effected by the State
eight-hour law.
A union committee waited upon
Supt. + j. Harrington and discuss
ed the situation. Later the con.-
mittee called and asked what action
the company would take in case its
msn were called out. Mr.. Harring-
toms reply was that in accordance
with his orders he would close down
the property.
Tuesday morning Immediately
after breakfast the whole force
walked out
The train crew had steam up ready
to make the trip to the river, but up
on being requested not to make the
run they prompy climed down and
the engine went back into the round |
house The walk-out was orderly
and with any demonstration whatso-
ever.
With both the union and the com
paDy the strike is a matter of prn-
ciple. But three men were effected
by the order for a nine-hour day
For 20 years organized labor has
been working for an eight hour day
In the recent national convention of
the w. F. of VI it WIS one of the
most important matters considered.
The action of the local union, is in
pursuance of this policy. The
stric iers mlintaiu that the company
is Imposing upon the rights of labor
in taking away privileges and say
tLat peaceful, orderly strike will
be enforced until a general eight
hour day is granted
On the other hand the company
contends that it is acting strictly in
accordance with the law; that the
eight hour day effect only those en-
ployed in underground mines or
workings and has nothing to do
with those working on the surface.
That the majority Of the mine
owners combined aud will stand to.
gether is quite evident. Both the
Duplex and Good HOPE closed down
Tuesday afternoon, The Duplex
mill ran until Wednesday noon un-
til it cleaned up the ore bins
Both these CO npanies claim thai
they were simply anticipating any
acti)n on the part of the union They ]
had given notice that they would
work surface men nine hours and
consequently expected to fall under {
the ban. Neither of these mines
had been working any of their en-
ployers longer than eight hours
Both, however, were apout to com {
mence doing work that would re-
quire a number of surface men.
The CYRUS Noble will also close
down just as soon as small con- :
tract, now under way, is completed. /
The Rambler mine has given
notice that there would be no lock {
out so long as the issue concerned d
the II after of hours only.
A. NJ. Jennings of Bufftlo, New
York, president Of the Southern Ne
vala company snl General Manager
Prev are expected to arrive tonight
just what action they will take is
not known.
Today practically all work around
Searchlight is at a stand still. The l
re-soundng roar OF The stamp mills {
is conspiciously absent; the inter
mittent coughing of the gasoIines Is c
not heard; where a week ago all was
noise aud hustle, today it is like c
New England Sunday.
But the quiet, peaceful stiffness
is like the calm of deep waters.
Under the surface are arrayed two c
p ,werful forces, orga1ized labor aud
cIpital, each filled with frm deter C
mination TO carry its point.
The manner in which the Unlon c
is conducting the strike IS commend
able, and is strengthening Its cause {
The Quartette company has been al
lowed to work the pump since the