Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-09
ANTI-sTRIKE SENTIMENT IS STRONG
Conservative Men Fear Mines Will Es
Closed Indefinitely,
ORDER FROM THE WESTERN FEDERATION
LOCnl Union is Told IL Must
Secure an Eipht-HOur Dny
or Surrender Its
Charter.

Sunday in mass convention to decide
whether or not they will go out on
strike. The demands of the men are for
an eight-hUur aay and minimum daily
wage of $3.50 for all men employed under
ground.
The meeting is called to discuss differences
between the miners and the Homes;ake
Mining company, and on the decision
reached by tho meeting will hinge the mat
ter Of striking or not striking AT the
present time it looks as though the men
favoring a strike will not be able to gather
a strong enough following to carry their
point. This is the first thing that has
looked like trouble between the company
and its men since it began operations in
the Black Hills, over twenty-eight years
ago, and, should the conservative element
of the Miners union have its way II VIII
be ended by tomorrow evening. Should the
men decide upon a strike it will imme-
diately affect 800 men, who receive wages
ranging from 50 to SO a day, and indi-
rectly affect every man in Lead, for tho
city depends entirely upon the wages paid
by tho Homestake company.
Tonight everything in the city is quiet.
II there are any radical people who are
anxious for trouble they are keeping out
Of sight. No matter how the question may
be decided at the meeting tomorrow, this
Q
ders, and the reports which have been
sent out to eastern papers by correspond
ents to the effect that troops have been
asked for is false. 1t is not anticipated
| that trouble will occur and the meeting
tomorrow afternoon will be orderly and
the result Of its decision abided by.
Trouble Brewing Long Time.
For some time the present trouble has
been'brewing, but so strong has been the
sentiment in the local union against rad
! ical measures that 1t has never amounted
| to anything until the present time, when
the movement has behind it the weight OF
the Western federation of which the local
union is branch There are 1,1OO pald-up
memberships in the Lead union and of this
number the majority are married men with
| families. own their own homes and are in
other ways interested in the city. Here
tofore this element of the union has been
able to sidetrack anything that savored of
a strike or trouble, but, IL Is said, the
ultimatum has gone forth from the head
quarters Of the Western federation that an
eight-hour day must be demanded by the
! Lead union and il it IS not granted a
strike must be called. Should the Lead
union fail 10 call a strike, If it's demands
are not granted, then it must forfeit It's
membership in the Western Federation OF
Miners. This has had the effect Of maxi
ms mnay Of the conservative members OF
| the union look with favor on a strike, II
one must come
One of the strongest arguments made in
favor of a strike is the fact that the
Black Hills country is the only one IN the
west that has not I'm force the cight-hour
day ana the only one that is not paying
an average wage Of $3.50 to all men going
under ground. But against this last ar
10 . he f.et
in the world are conditions Of work so
pleasant and the same care for the safety
OF employees given.
Company Pleads Poverty.
Superintendent Grier e the tiomcstaks
company, by request, attended the regular
meeting OF the L-Eu union on Monday
night and addressed the men on the sltuu-
tion, but I'm his talk save them no reason
to hope that The company would grant
tEem any of their demands, MAINTAINING
that if it should do so that It would DE
unable to pay dividends, The ore OF the
company miled during the last year aver
aged S3.5i 20 the ton, which d.d not allow
Of paying more than 6 per cent on ths
money iny csted.
1t is certain that the company will not
grant the demands OF the miners and that
It is prepared to shut It's works down; in
fact, AL OF the work which has been done
for the last three weeks in the mines has
been to this end. Drifts and slopes in
which there Is a flow Of water have been
bulkhe AIDED, where tlmbering hab been re-
quired II has been done, and other opera
tions have all been along the lines Of ma!S-
ing the mine safe during long period of
idleness. The Homestake is what is known
as dry mine, and a small pumping plant
after the precautions which have 50 for
"a.
, in fact there is no possibility Of It's being
flooded,
Black HiIIs VIII Be Idle.
one of the worst features OF the situation
should a strike be declared is the fact that
It will practically affect every mining
company in the northern hills, and, IN that
event, the Maitland, Golden Reward, Golden
Crest, Branch Mint, MOgul, Gilt Edge
Maid Safe Investment and other active
companies and those which are preparing
; 10 begin active operations, Will close down.
This will mean that there viii not be a
mine worked In the, Black Hills, and the
strike in Lead will extend 10 all parts Of
the country. Last welk this agreement was
, reached between the managers Of the dlf-
ferent mining companies and viii be
strictly adhered 10. 1t Is figured out by
the managers Of the different paying COM
panies that two OF three years idIeness
will add just that much TO the life OF their
properties, that the ores in them cannot
e become lost OF get away from them, and
b that they would rather see their properties
4 idle than run them at loss or without
n profit This Is a phase of the situation
y which has not been considered by the
4 miners leaders and one which was not
n made public until this evening, and one
10 which will have a greater influence toward
L preventing radical action than anything
" else Should the strike be declared there
y Will not be a miner employed n the Black
I Hills. so there can DE no contributions
s from minors holding positions 10 the strike
p fund.
While the situation is looking better 70