The Minneapolis journal., 1903-02-09
SOUTH DAKOTA
Strike of Golden Reward Smelter
Men Is Bitterly Resented by
the Management.
Labor Union Has Taken Sides With
the Strikers Although Not ,aee.=
Originally Involved.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Deadwood, S. D., Feb. 9.--The Golden
Reward smelling plant is still idle and
only the cyanide mill is running. The.
mines, situated in Ruby Basin and around
Bald mountain, are being worked with a
reduced force of miners, and are turn.
ing out only enough ore to supply the
cyanide mill.
Harris Franklin, general manager of
the Golden Reward, is in Chicago, and his
son, N. E. Franklin, has gone to confer
with him. In the meantime the smelter
employees are out of employment. and the
management continues to assert that the
plant will never be started again. Many
people believe this statement has been
made for the purpose of making possible
an easier settlement with the men.
The labor union did not authorize or
order the strike, but since the men walked
out it has sustained them. The ques-
tion involved was not exactly wages but
the men say they would be more willing
to work for smaller wages than with the
meager assistance they were given. The
trouble arose over the laying off of a
helper on the feed floor. ls+5.. q sIJisyA >:
The feed department is aYdisagreeable
place to work, owing to the intense heat
and the smoke and fumes, often so thick
that men are overcome. Several men re-
monstrated with the superintendent, over
| were notified they could call at the office
| and get their; checks. The union is now
demanding that these eight men, as well
as the helper, be put back to work.
| Only twenty-eight men were directly
affected by the laying off of the helper,
but their work is said to be almost un-
|, ,endurable, and the union considers that
| it is battling for a principle. The wages
lpaid at this smelter are 25 cents, an hour,
/ for twelve-hour shifts. There does not
4 appear to be any probability of the strike
extending to other mining companies.
t Building and Loan Case.
/ Judge W.. G. Rice in circuit court has
| decided the case of NJ. G. Clark, trustee
against M. G. Corners of sSpearfish in IA
! vor of the plaintiff, Clark, receiver. fol
the American Building and Loan associa-
tion, brought suit on foreclosure of {
mortgage given to secure a note and {
balance due on d loan, Of $4,000. ,z.te 5
| IS The complaint set forth that Conners
became a subscriber to the association
in May, 1889, for forty shares of stock
bidding $50 a share as a premium, received
| a, loan and gave a mortgage on Spearfisf
property for security Monthly payments
were made by Corners until the associa'
tion went into the hands Of a receiver
in 1896, the payments during that tirne
amounting to $4,000.
The association, in it's action, contendet
that the money paid by Corners was fol
assessments on the stock and was not
! therefore, to be credited on his loan, the
full amount of which, $4,000, was asserted
to be still owing. 1t was held by the de
4 fendant that the bid Of $50 a share bl
i Corners as premium on the stock was no
a free and competitive bid, but a rate
fixed by a corporation, thereby making
the contract subject to .usury, and tha
the payments should go to discharge th'
loan. s. The court sustained the defendan
in this contention. The issue Of the cas-,
OF Clark against Corners also decides
the case of Clark against Zoellner, tn
questions being the same.