The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-22

While the crowd applauded Larned
climbed to his place and began to
speak. He was a short man, with a
forward thrust of the chin. His high
forehead was smooth az pale, it's
calm lines in vivid contrast with his
burning blue eyes. He ignored all of
a1unros joking and thrust his way IN
to the middle Of his contention.
81 hear some men say we don't need
a union here, but tell you you do.
You're going the way Of all mining
camps. AS soon as the claims are all
taken consolida tons 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. 1t
they're not, they'll work for nothing.
This camp is about to decline
no! Nor shouted dozen men.
The speaker held up hand. wait
a moment! I 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,
I these grub stakers, these Durro punch
ers, will not dig gold for other men,
[s.You bet they won t. shouted big
lunged fellow.] 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
a union if you don't; but, 1 tell you,
you short term miners will want a
! union before February is out
In such wise be 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
| contentment with good wage and a
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 la
Dor of others, and some of those in the
| valley, as Raymond we'll knew, ex-
pressed their contempt Of those who
dwelt in the Sky by calling them s'red
necksa" in allusion to their tanned or
drink inhamed faces. Politically tne
two towns we're already as wide apart
| as the poles, and references to this di-
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!w
Instantly Kelly was seized, a couple
of brawny fellows lifted him to the bar.
and so, towering over them all, the big
prospector took off his hat and, with
SIZZLING composure, said: "Boys, wish
| ye we'll. I make no objection to the
plans, but why should I, an old burro
rrrc..,e-. bother ne bead about ~
| ion? No ore IS cutc51' .ay wages. No
one is ssorfenin' ny 1ours Of labor.
sesides''-and here. be broke inte q
6road sn:Ie-"ln an en1ploE-ec OF labor
nneseif"
Down wid 'im.' shouted Munro.
! 'sTo what extent?" asked another.
ssTo the whole Of five men-not count
| in meself," answered Kelly with a ro-
guish grin. .And I'm har-r-rd mas
ter
A roar Of laughter responded to his
jest.
Down with the oppressor of labor!'
shouted Munro. "Off With IS headH'
Kelly playfully struck at him with
his hat and then became serious.
"Now, boys. let me tell you. I hon
estly don't think you need union.
The landscape is wide up here; there's
a chance for every man in the hills.
I believe in the big; free lasd. When
cry man tries to corner me. take me
mule and strike out into the wild coun-
t.. have no fear Of the Red Star
Mining company ncr any other, and
you needn't. I Go not oppose the I'M
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's we'll
enough for those who believe in it
and made it, but lave RE out Of it.
The Kellys will take care Of them
selves"
Larned was on the box before Kelly
had tine to get down and, leveling his
finger at him, cried out sharply: !,
That's all well and good for You,
Matt Kelly, 9 skilled prospector, a
man with a 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 clothe
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 OF a
thousand feet underground, working