The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1903-06-18

George H. Kelly, head OF the great
est newspaper trust in Arizona. and
leading politician of the territory,
came over last week TO personally view
the effect OF the eight hour law now in
operation in the Clifton Morenci dis
trict, Mr. Kelly opposed the adoption
OF the eight hour plank in the demo
cratic county convention. where it was
defeated, but after il was adopted in
the territorial platform his papers
supported il, along with the other OBJ
iectionable panks in ths platform.
Mr.. Kelly. did not believe in such
things. but they were in the platform,
and being a loyal democrat, he advo-
catsd them in his newspapers and on
the stump. and promised the people
that the pledges made in the platform
would be redeemed by the legislature.
When the legislature halted, and re-
fused to pass any Of the laws a. pledged
in the platform. Mr.. kelley's papers.
with the assistance OF the Tucson Citi-
zen. trained their guns upon the mem =
bers OF the legislature and told them
that they must at least pass the eight
hour law, as the party had won on that
issue, and must keep its pledge to
the people It was under such pressure
that the law was finally passed though
in a greatly modified form from the
pledge made in the platform. a it in
cluded only underground workers,
whereas il was promised in the cam
paign to include all classes OF labor.
When the ranger, were ordered to
Morenci Mr.. Kelly thought he would
come over to see how the thing worked.
He found the mines and plants shut
down and thousands OF men out OF en-
Payment, with scores of armed officers
and rangers parading the streets, TO
protest the peace of the community
He found that there was no likelihood
that the companies would recede from
their proposition to pay the men nine
hours wage under the old scale for
eight hours work under the new law
a loss to the men of - cents each per
day, loss to the miners OF the district
of $500 per day, or Sl6l 900 per year,
with CORES ponding amount Of loss
| to the companies, grand total of
s322, 900 per year, to say nothing Of the
loss from the strike, and the expense
| to the tax payers Of keeping an army
OF deputy sherifTs in the field for some
weeks. He found bitterness, strife
and suspicion where peace and conf
dence formerly e-istcd. This is only
the beginning. and what the end will
be God only knows. Mr.. Kelly re-
manned but one day. and then returned
| to Bsbee, which was not affected by
the new law. as it was an eight hour
camp before the passage OF the new
law which prescribes eight hours as a
days labor, with heavy penalties for
its violation. Mr. Kelly will probably
tell the people through his papers that
the passage of the law was a mistake,
but that will not undo the great wrong
already done to thousands OF people.
The above was written for last week 5
issue, but was crowded OHt by Hood
news. Since it was in type Mr.. Kelly
returned to Morenci to report the
news caused by the arrival of the ter
ritorial militia and the regular troops.
Mr.. Kelly has had a fine opportunity
to observe the beauties OF the new
eight hour law, and its effect upon
the mining interests Of this part oil
the territory.