The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-12-02
WESTERN Miners ARE T. !.
/. FOR COUNTY DIVISION
Superintendent Attempts to
Credit County Division to,
Ambitions of Miners.
Hibbing Tribune Ably Dis
credits Interview Given by
Prominent Mine Boss.

credits Interview Given by
Prominent Mine Boss.
That the Hibbing Tribune got tho
right steer on an interview given by
a prominent mining superintendent on
the question Of County Division WILL be
recognized by every member of organ
ICED labor in this vicinity.
The superintendent attempted to
scare some people with a bugaboo
about the Western Federation of Min
ers, and the part it is likely to play IN
the politics of the proposed new county
Of Iron. We all know that the western
miners are in no position to make any
claims in this direction, and labor peo-
pie have no fears from that source.
We also know that the big mining cor
porations will lose less sleep about the
matter than any other interest In the
county. The editorial in the Hibolns
Tribune is as follows:
IF his information is authentic the
Eveleth correspondent Of the Duluth
Evening Herald has exposed the hand
Of the mining companies on the county
division proposition, and 1t shows
united and determined opposition to
the establishment Of a new county on
the grounds that the mining interests
would suffer from increased taxation
and domination OF the labor unions IN
politics. In an interview with the cor
respondent q prominent mine superin-
tendent is reported to have expressed
his views as follows:
III the Western Federation OF Miners
continues to grow, not only Will county
division be almost certain, but the
great iron mining interests Of northern
St. Louis county will be endangered.
The Federation favors county division
strongly, and for q very good reason.
It is argued that II st. Louis county
is divided and Iron county created 1t
will be possible for the organization
to control the politics Of the new coun-
ty. It will not then be necessary to
contend with the vote Of Duluth. II
is easy, therefore, to see the reason for
the Federation men being such declared
county divisionists. They cannot other
wise secure the political power desired.
Besides the fact that these men could
easily secure the official machinery OF
the new county there is another strong
argument against the division. It Ia
that the new county would be one OF
such great wealth that it would be a
mark for the state board fixing the as
sessment In view of these facts be-
leve that the great iron industry of
northern st. Louis county Is in serious
1ixrfa a
such action almost certainly means the
placing in power Of men with but little
knowledge Of business conditions and
necessities"
A clever play on the part of the an
ti-divisionists, whose interests in each
case are in Duluth. to frighten the en-
ployers Of labor and business mon of
tho range into dropping the county d.
vision subject. But when the object
of the mining superintendent's fears
are considered calmly and without pre-
JUDGE there will be found no cause for
alarm over the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF the
labor unions on the range. In fact,
safety from political dominance by this
class would lie more largely in county
division. since the city Of Duluth Is
strongly unionized while ON tho ranges
after many months of incessant labor
by union emissaries, only few weak
organizations have been effected. This
mining district cannot be compared
with tnat of Colorado. There the min
ers were all of one nationality and were
easily organized, while hero the scot
and race divisions are 80 numerous and
distinct as to make amalgamation i'm
probable. The fear Of increased taxa
ton Is even more devoid Of foundation
Instead of being a mark Tor the state
board 1t would be quito likely for that
body to burden the new county az little
as possible. In our present condition
the Range bears the burden of taxa
ton for the county and Duluth gets the
benefits. With that city thrown upon
its own resources it Is not at all un-
likely that both mine and real estate
taxes in the new county would be ma
terially lessened. A bugbear moro tor.
rorizing than those Mr.. Mine superin.
tendsnt has set up must be produced
before the range people can be persuad-
ed to drop the county division agita-
tion."