The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-05
S |: ].
-. NOW \ !! IN !; SIGHT
Western, Federation q. Miners Gain
j.. Advantage Over y: s., Reduction
and Refining Co,

, DENVER, Col, September s.-James
F.. Burns president Of the Portland
Gold Mining Company, has unionized
his mines for revenge. That is what the
enemies of the Western Federation Of
Miners say, but there are others who
think Mr. Burns has driven a very good
bargain with the union, and will lose
nothing by this step in opposition to
the United Reduction and Refining
company, whom the miners are fight
ing.
It came about from an interview in
the newspapers, with officials Of the
Reduction company, :; in which Mr..
Burns was held UP to ridicule. when he
read the TRADE his anger was at the
boiling point, and he put himself in
communication with President Meyer
of the Miners union, with the result
that the great mine has been opened
and 500 men put to work.
If the miners can win a few more VIC
tories, no matter how, the number of
men on strike will be so greatly reduc-
ed that their funds will last a long
time To be sure the mine-owners have
a great advantage in being able to hold
their property. out of use indefinitely;
but when idle it is bringing in no rev.
enues, and stockholders, no matter how
much opposed to unions they may be,
get tired after awhile of seeing their
property bringing in nothing, while
other people who are in harmony with
organized labor are raking in divi-
dends.
Union Stores Well Patronized
l. The attempt to hurt the miners by
stopping their credit with the stores has
| been a dismal failure. The miners start
ed union stores at Victor, Cripple Creek
and independence, and have been doing
q rushing business, as they sell to any
one and for cash at cost. The union
members who need supplies and are out
of money are taken care Of by their
respective unions, who give them or
ders for provisions on the union stores
AS the stock is exhausted more goods
| are ordered.
John Mitchell is expected here in a
few weeks to help organize the mines.
A letter from him has just been re-
ceived to that effect. He will remain
for the district convention Of the Col
orado, Wyoming, Utah and lew Mex
co mtneworkers, to be held in Florence,
COL, the first week in October.
The investigation into the blowing uf
of the SUN and Moon mine at Idah,
Springs has developed some excitine
testimony. An ex-president of the un
ion has testified that the secretary, now
the explosion that three Italians were
missing, told him several days before
to give the mine a touching up. If this
testimony is sufficiently corroborated
it will do the union cause great injury
though the union ,gleaders are strenuous
ly objecting to connecting the union it.
self with any such proceedings.
Gift From Unknown Party.
The officers of thelocal miners I'M
ion at. Cripple Creek received chec]
for $500 from a. man giving his nam
+ as Henry M. :5Birge,s who. says he is .
retired naval officer. He gave the checl
to eb used in. relieving the necessitie
Of strikers families. Birge gives Otte
! Creek, Maine, as his home, and his New
York address at IS West Thirty nint]
street.
The Telluride Mill at Colorado Cit,
was forced to close down Wednesda
| by the walking out Of the $50 union me-
employed there. The strikers have pick
cts stationed at the approaches to tn
mill to keep men from going to work