Amador ledger., 1904-04-29
wALK-ouT AND LOCKOUT.
Labor Trouble at Fremont-C Consolidated
Mine-Miners Refuse to Work With
Non-Union Men, and are Discharged.

The Fremont Consolidated mine near
Drytown, the largest employer of labor
in the northern part of the county, was
| the scene of a strike and lockout yes
terday morning. This company has
moved along without the slightest fric-
tion with its employees up to this time,
1t bas paid the top-notch scale of
wages, and everything appeared to be
meving along satisfactorily. Nearly
all the employees were members of the
Amador City Miners Union, but the
mine was operated on the open shop
plan-like all other mines in Amador
county, with the solitary exception of
the Keystone of Amador City. Mem
bership in the Western Federation or
any other labor organization, was not
a prerequisite to securing work. AS
far as we have been able to ascertain
the trouble at the Fremont was pre-
cipitated in this manner: A few of the
union men were not in good standing
with the organization, owing to nom
payment of dues. Among them was
one Harry Thornton. He was en-
ployed at the Kennedy, it is said, at the
time of the strike last year, and under
the pressure was induced to join the
union. Whether he became member
of the Amador union in good standing
we do not know. 1t is claimed that he
was not only behind with his dues, but
that he was talking and using his in
fuences against the union cause.
Whether any official action was taken
by the union toward bringing on the
trouble we are not informed. Thurs
day morning the men appeared as
usual at change of shift prepared to go
to work. One of the miners, named
French, recently from Cripple Greek,
Colorado, was spokesman for the en-
ployes, aud stated that some of the
union men were in arrears with their
dues, and that the miners declined to
go down into the mine unless those in
arrears either paid their dues or were
discharged. We are told that six men
beside Thornton were in arrears, and
these intimated their willingness to
pay up. Thornton, however, declined
to pungle up under the circumstances,
saying he would quit rather than sub
nit Thereupon the miners declared
they would not go to work unless he
was discharged. The superintendent
took the ground that it was a matter
with which he had nothing to do, and
declined to interfere. Thereupon the
men walked out. Eighty-two men are
thrown out of work. Superintendent
Goodall told them they might consider
themselves discharged.
At the request of the superintendent
Sheriff Norman went over to the scene
of the trouble. When he got there the
men were scattered around the works,
mostly seated on the log piles, discuss
ing the situation, but showing no spirit
of violence The sheriff was unaware
at first that the men had been dis
charged, and from the men received
the impression that the trouble might
be adjusted. Finding that the en-
ployes had been discharged, and arbi-
tration was out of the question, he told
the men they must keep off the
company's grounds; to go and get their
clothing from the changing room and
boarding house. He took list of the
men discharged, including about all
the underground workers. Before he
left Thursday night the men appeared
at the Office and were paid off, and took
their belongings from the company's
grounds.
The mill was running last night, but
it is thought that it will come to a
standstill for lack of rock in few days.