Amador ledger., 1904-09-23
RITCHEY.
RITCHEY, Sept. 10.

RlTCHEY, sept. III.
On labor day" we breakfasted
early, and then in our comfortable
buggy we drove to the picnic grounds
near Sutter. Arrived there quite
early, but found our genial Stony Greek
neighbors there sin force" before us.
The usual amount of gay bunting and
flags gave the grove festive appear
ance. while it seemed that at least one
man out of every three sported a
gorgeous w. l. IF NJ. badge. The
band played, and Mrs. Lewis, orator
of the day, was duly presented, and
proceeded to very huently harangue
| the assem- bled multitude on the hard :
ships and wrongs, and the down
trodden state of the miners. In force
full, bitter words she painted the out
RACES of the deportation of the Colo
RADIO miners and their agonized wives
and children until over those listening
a cloud seemed to gather, shutting out
the beauty and the brightness of the
day. Personally, we have never been
able to find any authority under any
law, either national or interstate.
authorizing the deportation of Grim
inals or persons whom the authorities
feared might commit some criminal
act, from one commonwealth to an
other to be turned loose. there to men
ace the peace of that commonwealth.
But still it seemed to us that one rous-
ing, cheerful song, full of hope and
faith and courage, would have done
more to brighten the lives of the
miners than all the word painting of
wrongs that could be presented by each
and every person with the gift of speech.
Granted that the miners life is one
perpetual risk, his work room cramped,
the air foul, the light dim. Did he
not voluntarily adopt that calling
with its short hours and sure paw?
Taken as a class, miners are men of
Drawn. Then why, if they are not sat-
lshed, do they not do something else.
There is land in plenty that our Uncle
Samuel wants to give away to just such
men; men of muscle who could if they
would turn farmer, and work sixteen
or eighteen hours day for home, for
health, for sunshine, rain, and fresh
air and independence. All! Those long
hours of work Work with brain and
muscle, There's the rub But the
price is gladly paid by those who have
inherited the spirit of the Pilgrim
Fathers and the revolutionary heroes.
Blessed life, free from the petty rival
ries of crowded cities, free from the
sitting smoke of factories, from the
hellish influence of the disreputable
saloon. Close to stern. grand, just
beautiful nature, and within easy
reach through books of the highest,
purest, and best thought that old earth
has ever produced
There are always two sides, some
times more, to every question, but [
have yet 10 hear the orator for any
union who, as it were, turns the canvas
and shows the picture of the millions
of dollars invested in development work
from which no dividends are reaped,
of the millions in specie paid out
monthly to the miners, of the impos-
sibility for small capital to carry on
these great works. None of us are
perfect. Each is mutually dependent
on the other The situation is in no
way benefited or bettered by passion
ate demands. :" What is needed is
dispassionate consideration by each
side of controversy of the rights of
the other side. Therefore it seems to
us that the stirring up of mems pas
sions, the iteration and reiteration of
their wrongs only serves to retard the
coming of the day for which we long.
A thought keeps recurring to our
minds. 1t is this: Those speakers and
grand officers are handsomely paid in
the hard earned dollars of "uniOn men"
for talking, and they might fall into
dlsuse II mems passions were calmed
instead of being reused.
The blue rock shooting we enjoyed
There was au eXhiliration in seeing the
contestants exhibit their nerve and
skill.
The ball game too we enjoyed, all
except the ugly display of temper by
the Jackson's when San Andreas did
some really fine playing. 1t was worth
going to the picnic just to see the
equanimity of San Andreas both in the
hope of victory and in the face of de-
feat. They may not play ball well in
San Andreas, but her sons know how
to be gentlemen even in defeat.
POLLY AND |.