Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-21


was young and handsome and began
speaking in a clear, musical and most
persuasive voice. 1t was plain he was
on good terms with his audience and
quite certain of himself.
81 don't know why should be made
chairman of this meeting" he said aft
err some local illusions, unless it be to
open the way for the real speaker and
man Of the hour-the man who has a
message for you-Tom Larned Of Dead
Pine"
While the crowd applauded Larned
climbed to his place and began to
speak. He was a short man, with
forward thrust of the chin. His high
forehead was smooth and pale, its
calm lines in vivid contrast with his
burning blue eyes. He ignored all of
Munro's joking and thrust his way In
to the middle Of his contention.
II hear some men say we don't need
union here, but l tell you you do.
You're going the way of all mining
camps. AS soon as the claims are all
taken consultations begin and wages
will be cut. A big mining camp must
be run by union labor. The work has
got to be done by men bred to the
mine, and they must be organized. If
they're moi, they'll work for nothing.
This camp is about to deciine"-
NO! Nor shouted dozen men.
The speaker held up hand. "Wait
II moment. mean to say that this
swarm of easy going tramps scratch
Ing the surface looking for mine will
begin to melt away. 1t is already melt
ing away. These men on horseback,
these grub stakers, these bulro punch
CTS, will not dig gold for other men,"
["Iou bet they won't!' shouted a big
lunged fellow.] 1.-The real miners have
got to get underground and stay there!
You understand? Stay there! and
they will want somebody on top to
look after their interests. They'll want
union if you don't; but, ! tell you,
you short term miners will want a
union before February is OUT
In such wise he argued, and even
Kelly admitted the truth Of what he
said. Others spoke, griZzled old fel-
lows from other districts, men who had
given up all hope of discovering a lead
for themselves; men with families to
feed and educate, who had fallen to
contentmcnt With good wage and n
steady job. But in some of the
speeches a note of bitterness toward
Valley Springs made itself heard. Sky
town had begun to hate the valley as
the home of those who lived on the Ia
Dor of Others and some of those in the
valley, as Raymond well knew, ex-
pressed their contempt of those who
dwelt i'll the Sky by calling them "red
| necls," In allusion to their tanned or
drink fnflamed faces. Politically the
two towns We're already as wide apart
as the poles, and references to this d.
vision were numerous during the even
ing. The county was divided against
itself and hopelessly imbittered, and
Bozle was eager to be free from the
valley.
Kelly, weary of the wrangle, touched
Raymond on the arm and turned to-
ward the door. A big miner, detecting
this movement, shouted out, "Here's
Kelly taking sneak"
Instantly Kelly was seized, couple
of brawny fellows lifted him to the bar,
and so, towering over them ALL the big
prospector took off his hat and, with
smiling composure, said: Boys, wish
ye well. l make no objection to the
plans, but why should +, an old burro
puncher, bother me head about I'M
ion? No one is cuttin' my wages. No
one is shortenin' my hours of labor.
Besides"-and here he broke into a
broad smile-"Tm an employer of labor
meself."
"Down wild i'm" shouted Munro.
10 what cXtent?' asked another.
ITO the whole of five men-not count
in meself," answered Kelly with ro-
guish grin. "And I'm n har-r-rd mas
ter"
A roar Of laughter responded to his
jest.
"pown with the oppressor of laborw
shouted Munro. "Off with IS headw
Kelly playfnlly struck at him with
his hat and then became serious.
Nov, boys, let me tell you. hon
estly don't think you need union.
The landscape is wide up here; there's
chance for every man in the hills.
believe in the big, free land. When
any man tries to corner me, take me
mule and strike out into the wild coun-
try. l have no fear of the Red Star
Mining company nor any other and
you needn't. do not oppose the un-
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's well
enough for those who believe in it
and made it, but lave NE out of 1t.
The Kellys will take care of them
selves"
Larned was on the box before Kelly
had time to get down and. leveling his
finger at him, cried out sharply:
THAT'S all well and good for you,
Matt Kelly, skilled prospcctor n
man with paying mine already. but
how about these men who have no
skill in finding gold. who are working
for money to start themselves home?
How about those who are hoping to
bring their families here and clothc
aNd educate them? They are not so
fond of all outdoors. They haven't
even the mule and the grub stake.
They are holed up five hundred or a
thousand feet underground. working
for company, and this company.
tell YOU, has no regard for its hands.
Their interests are not those Of the
miner. You may Dlarney all you like,
but the miners must look out for their
own interests, just as the employer
hires lawyers and agents to look after
his.'
Every true" replied Kelly calmly.
Pm not objectin' to that. Organize
and take care O. labor's interests but
don't ask me, an employer of labor,
to throw up me hat when you vote to
raise the wages of me five men. I'll
fight scandalous"-
$50 it, Kelly! You have him on
three legs and goin'!" shouted wag,
and, amid the laughter that followed,
Kelly leaped down and made for the
door.
When Raymond overlook him again
he was in talk with lean young fell