Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-05
GARLAND


swarm or easy gong trnmps 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 burro punch
ers, will not dig gold for other men,
['You bet they WON'T" shouted a big
lunged fellow.l 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
union before February is out
In such wise he argued. and even
Kelly admitted the truth of what he
said. Others spoke, grlzzled old fell
lows from other districts, men who had
given up all hope of discovering lead
for themselves; men with families to
feed and educate who had fallen to
contentment With Il good wage and a
steady job. But in some of the
speeches 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 we'll knew, ex-
pressed their contempt of those who
dwelt in the Sky by calling them "red
necks," in allusion to their tanned or
drink inflamed faces. Politically the
two towns were already as wide apart
as the poles, and references to this di
vision We're 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 q sneak!''
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
smiling composure, said: Boys, wish
We we'll make no objection to the
plans. but why should l. 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" here he broke into
broad smile-"I'm an employer Of labor
meself.''
"Down wild inn" shouted Munro.
''To what eXtent?" asked another.
ITO the whole of FIVE men-not count
in meself." answered Kelly with 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 8 head!"
Kelly playfully struck at him with
his hat and then became serious.
Now. boys. let me tell you. l hon
estly don't think you need a union.
The landscape is wide up here; there's
a chance for every man in the hills.
1 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. I do not oppose the TN
ion. Mind what I'm sayin'. It's well
enough for those who believe in it
and made it, but lave me out of it.
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, q skilled prospector,
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 or a
thousand feet underground, working
for a company. and this company.