Amador ledger., 1903-04-17
A STRIKE DECLARED
All Mines of Jackson District Under
the Ban of w. F, M.

The much-talked of strike came to a
head on Monday morning. All kinds
of opinions had been INDUCED in for
several days before the eveutful time
came, as to what would come to pass.
1t was we'll known that the strength of
| the miners union in actual members
employed at the several mines in this
neighborhood was not great. But the
question OF what effect strike declared
by the union would have upon those
not identified with the local organiza-
tion was an entirely different question.
This was the vital point. Would the
non-union men continue work in face
of the strike. If they surrendered with
the rest the matter would assume a
very serious phase for the mother lode
mines. Sunday night the union held
its usual weekly meeting. That was
supposed to be the time when the re-
port of the committee appointed to
serve the demands upon the superin-
tendents would be made.
Early Monday morning notices were
posted around town, and 10 the vicinity
of the mines concerned, to the follow
ing effect:
Strike Notice-Notice is hereby given
to all men of jackson district that a
strike is declared on all mines and mills
of Oneida, Zeila, Gwin, Kennedy, Cen
tral Eureka and South Eureka mines.
M. w. MOOR, of w. F. NJ.
w. D. OULD, Pres.
At the change of shift at tho mines
named, delegations OF union men went
to the mines, not in large bodies, but
in squads of two or three, and inter-
cepted the men as they were going to
and from employment. They were
stationed too at all trails and roads lead
ing to the works. Web Smith, super
intendent of the Kennedy, and j. H.
Hampton, superintendent of the Oneida,
objected to the invasion of the grounds
by the strikers-Or rather the union
forces who were determined to inaugu.
ratio a strike. Most of the employees
were persuaded to turn back. Some
were interviewed at the Kennedy
works. The superintendent told the
men that they would be protected
while on the premises or at work. This
was not broad enough for the men.
They were informed that if they work.
ed they would be blacklisted by the
union. No actual violence was in.
dulged in. The leaders were shrewd
enough to tell the men to avoid demon
strations OF violence, to refrain from
carrying weapons; promises of good
behavior were made to the officers.
Nevertheless the impression was con-
veyed that the path of safety Law in
quitting work. Practically all the
underground toilers of the Kennedy,
Central Eureka, and South Eureka
quit work. Many did so simply because
they saw the Others turning back.
AT the Oneida superintendent Hamp-
ton would not allow Interference inside
inclosure. The boarding and sleeping
houses of the company would accom-
modate fifty men at least; they were
guaranteed protection; twenty-four
men out of considerably over 100 re-
fused to go out, and went to work.
At the Zeila the pickets were posted
on the road and every avenue of ap-
proach. But Notwithstanding every
man reported for work at the morning
shift, except one. w. F. Detert, the
superintendent, was exceedingly graft
fed at this result. The men were sat-
ished with their work aud pay, and
showed it by refusing to listen to the
solicitations of the strikers,
All through the day the ranks of
the union forces were swelled by new
members. Common rumor says that
40 new men joined Sunday night; Mon
day over 100 are said to have Joined.
The Initiation fee of SO, it was said.
would be raised to SO in day or two.
Whether the men were prowised sup
port from the funds of the federation
we do not. Rumors are current on both
sides of this question. Seeing
the success of the move to get the men
out it is not surprising that there was
strong accession to the union side.
In the afternoon, as the change of
shift at the Zeila approached, the
union men gathered in their hall on
Court street, and from there marched
through Main street, in double file
over 100 strong, to the leila works,
the object being to show sufficient
strength to induce the men not to go
to work. The strikers kept in the road
and sidewalk. They did not go beyond
the large gate on the north of the
works. Every man going to or COM
ing from the mine was surrounded and
made the fussilade of persuasion. Most
OF the marchers were Austrians, many
OF them strangers in Jackson. Natural
ly the employees were overawed by the
show of numbers. A few went on to
the mine, but not enough to justify
work, W. F. Detert was in his office.
He expected demonstration of this
character, He watched the proceed
ings not only from inside the inclosure,
but also walked through the mass of
strikers lining the sidewalk. Under
prnnnd work iS cuSnnndod Thn ,,,ino