Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1903-07-22
MAKES DENIAL
FALSE REPORTS
F. M. Murphy's Posi-
tiOn Toward Labor.
UphOlds Consistent Labor 0rgani.
cation, But DenOunces Agita-
tOrs-EffeCt on Business.

F. NJ. Murphy returned home Satur
day evening from a business TRIP
through the east, having returned by
way of Denver where he was Joined
by General Baldwin and party who
are making a tour of inspection OF
this territory. Mr.. Murphy was seen
by a representative OF the Journal
Miner today and questioned as to the
general conditions of business in the
east and especially as to the feeling
toward Arizona. He replied that his
trip had been hurried and very busy
one, but he had noticed that the un-
settled labor conditions of the coun-
try were having their effect, not only
on this section but throughout the en-
tire country. There has been so much
agitation in labor circles that the bus
mess men of the country hardly know
what is going to happen next or how
to calculate on the future. He said /:
al understand reports are being cir
culated that l am opposed to all labor
organizations. Such reports are abso-
lutely without foundation, as | be-
lieve a great deal of good has resulted
to the laboring men from organization
where these organizations have been
conducted in business like and con-
sistent manner, aud not as means of
warfare on the employers of labor.
The great body of working men are
reasonable and L believe want to do
what is right, and it is only when the
well meaning employees are dominated
over and controlled by hot headed ag-
itatOrs, who have neither responsible
ity nor good business judgment, and
who bring the organizations into bad
repute and cause strife between the
employer and employee to the detri-
ment of BOTH
When asked as to the report which
is being circulated in this county that
he is trying to get the new scale of
wages that has been adopted by the
Yavapai County Mine Operators Asso-
citation in force and then to have the
new law carried into the courts and
declared unconstitutional and hold
the wages down to an eight hour basis
for ten hour day, be replied:
1.-The report is not only false but
malicious. There is not man in the
country who would like to pay top
notch wages any better than myself.
have always paid my employees good
wages, and often more than some of
the enterprises with which l am iden-
titled really warranted. Much of the
work that is being done is in the
way of development without any GER
tainty of returns, and reasonable
economy must be practiced or those
putting up money in such cases will,
of necessity, have to quit. In regard
to the Poland tunnel, for instance,
this enterprise means great deal to
his section and especially to Prescott
and Yavapai county, as it would be
the means of opening up very rich
mineral section where hundreds of
men could find profitable employ
ment and scores of good mines could
be developed that without the rail
road facilities which this enterprise
would give them, would lay idle and
produce nothing. The thing that
looks so strange to me is that these
agitators cannot see that they are
working a great injury to the terri
tory and a hardship to those they
would have it appear they are-so anx-
ious to help. L say agitators, because
l know that there is only small per
centage of those employed who are
stirring up this trouble. A great many
men belong to labor organizations
honestly believing that where they are
properly conducted good results will
follow, but they allow the walking
delegates too much latitude. If there
was less left to those self constituted
bosses and the members of the unions
would take a more active interest in
conducting their affairs and do so in
a just manner, it would be much bet
ter for all concerned. 4 very great
majority of our miners want to work.
and l fully believe but for the dicta-
tion of the agitators there could be
between 1000 and 1900 more men work
ing in this section. This would mean
a great deal to this county. 1t
would mean that many thousand dol
lars more each month would be turn
ed into the business channels of this
city. The troubles we are having are
striking at the very heart of the bust
ness and industrial progress of this
section and is of vital Importance to
everyone who has money invested
here and who wants to see the country
push forward as it should. There can
be no question as to the right of
organization, but the development of
this country must not be retarded I'M
justly. Miners who may not want to
work can, if they please, go to some
other section of the country, but how
about the lawyers, the doctors, the
merchants. etc, ETC., who have set
tied in Prescott and throughout the
country, and who are dependent upon
reasonable business activity? How
about the assessment roll that must be
materially affected if our large min
ing camps are to be crippled and no
new ones created? The few that will
be left to stand the brunt will find it
pretty hard, and the farmer will come
in for goOdly share of the extra tax
that will surely be imposed if bust
ness is brought to a standstiIl or seri-
ously hampered.''
Mr.. Murphy said that he stood now,
as be always had. ready to do all
within his power to promote the good
of thesentire territory and especially
Yavapai county, which is his home
and which ne expects to make his
home as long as he lives.