Amador ledger., 1903-04-10
THE kEswlck STRIKE.
How it was Inauguratsd, and the Forces
Behind It.

The Redding Free Press publishes
the following statement, signed by 146
employees of the Mountain Copper Com
pany of Keswick. giving the inside his
tory OF the strike which has been in
progress at that point, and which is
now in the throes of dissolution. 1t is
an object lesson worthy of considera-
ton by the business interests of Jack
son at this juncture. 1t shows what
harm can be done by few irresponsible
and hot-headed men, when they get
the notion that they have the backing
and financial aid of a powerful organiza-
tion. The signers have been employees
of the company from one to y years.
To The PUBLIC:-As a committee
representing the old employees of the
Mountain Copper Company, we issue
this statement covering the relations of
the Mountain Copper Company with
its employees as we have seen them dur
ing our time of service as set opposite
our names attached hereto.
The Mountain Copper Company has
never, to our knowledge, discrimi-
mated against any workman on account
of his affiliations. 1t has been at all
times just and courteous in its dealings
with the employees. Union men, who
in the past have been thrown out of
employment by reason of Industrial
disturbances, have found the smelter
and mine havens Of refuge. About so
per cent of those working on the COM
pany's local railroad were strikers in
the gigantic strike of 1894. During the
trouble in San Francisco two years ago,
hundreds of men of various affected
trades came here seeking work and
found it without questions being asked
about their sympathies or labor con-
nectiOns.
A few months ago the Western
Federation of Miners of Denver or
ganized union. This local association
elected as its president a common
drunkard who had been twice in the
hospital for treatment for injuries re-
ceived in saloon trays. 1t had for vice.
president and secretary two non-em-
ployes of the company, the former q
barkeeper, the latter barber and re-
porter on county paper. One of its
executive committeeman was, accord
ing to his boast, a ''foater," and an
other was man who worked but a
couple of months in the smelter and
who openly stated that he joined for
what was in it; that he was out for the
job of organizer at S5 per day.
These drunkards, grafters and nom
employees gathered together motley
crowd of men who were for the most
part of Latins, Slavs and boys. Subse-
quently five men were discharged for
neglect of duty. They had been on a
continuous spree. The union" with
out consulting the 'sllied interests,
or the big majority of company's en-
plOyes, demanded the immediate REIN
statement of those habitual drunkards
and the recognition of its order. Both
demands were refused. The sunion"
was not representative body either
in the quantity or quality of its men,
bers. 1t had but quarter OF the en-
ployes of the company. In this minori-
ty was only very small number OF the
skilled or ''old time" employees. We
say that this body was neither respect
able nor responsible, and that what
ever it would do would be the vOicing
of the mind and sentiments of the
radical, ignorant foreigners.
On January 31st this strike ended.
On February the 10th the "UniOn 143''
took up the question of reopening the
strike but voted it down by a So to Al
vote.
T. J. Lewis, member the Executive
Board of the Western Federation of
Miners and it's sole representative in
this district, declared at the meeting
that he was opposed to another strike
because there was not sufficient cause for
one; that the Western Federation of
Miners would not tolerate or support
it.
Three days later, February o, 1908,
the Western Federation of Miners OF
Denver ordered a strike without con-
sidering the recent vote or further con-
sidering the local ''uniOn."
The company was not in any way
hindered or hampered in it's operations.
Only 81 members Obeyed the order. On
the other hand there are over 500 men
working at the smelter and mine.
In their propaganda the leaders and
organizers made bitter attacks upon all
other labor organizations, belittling
their power and influence and benefits,
casting slurs upon the ability and sin
cerity of the respective officials. They
tried every means to force conscientious
union men to destroy their time
hOnOred cards and to join this fedora
tiOn which has no standard of admit
ance. 1t takes in all kinds and classes
of men, employees or non-employes,
skilled or unskilled workmen, anybody
and every body.
The stronger this society grows the