The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-04-06
HAYWARD WRITES
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there are rapidly regaining their for
mer strength.
In May. 1901, the miners union Al
Rossland. B. c., and the smeltermen's
union at Northport, WASH, were COM
peeled to make stand against the re-
duction Of wages. While the union
was successful in maintaining its or
ganization and preventing a reduc-
ton, the smeltermen's union at NORTH
port was entirely disrupted. These
strikes lasted for q period of nine
months, during which time perfect
order was maintained by the men.
The coal mines operated by Crows
Nest Pass Coal company were the
scene of another strike the same year..
the miners refusing to accept a re-
ductton IN wages. A notable fact to
abe mentioned, in connection with this
trouble, showing the hazardous nature
OF the occupation of mining, was the
terrible explosion which resulted in
the death of 1874 men. It was immed-
lately following this explosion that the
company attempted to reduce wages.
In the nature Of things it would seem
that the company would have been
compelled to pay premium for men
to operate its mines. However, when
the mines were again opened it was
at reduced wages, and this reduction
was accomplished before the bodies of
the dead men had been removed from
the mine. In fact, eight of the bodies
were never recovered.
The Contract System.
The contract system has been the
cause of much controversy between the
miners and their employers. It was
to abolish this system that the strike
was inaugurated by the Telluride union
in May, 1903. The Smuggler-Unio
mine OF Telluride was being operated
under the contract system. A large
number of the men who were at work
found it difficult to make a living,
many of them at the end of the month
having barely enough to pay for their
board and powder. AS soon as the
strike was declared the company made
provision for working their property
with non-union men. Strike break
ers were employed and tough charac-
tiers were imported to brighten and in
timidate the strikers. The company
converted its property into a veritable
arsenal. On one occasion the build
ing where the miners union was hold
Ing its meeting was riddled with bull
lets and numerous union men were
met on the trails and assaulted. This
eliminated in fight between the un-
ion and the non-union forces on the
morning of July 8, resulting in VIC
tory for the union and capitulation
on the part of the company. A settle
ment was effected and a, scale OF
wages and hours formulated which
was satisfactory to all porties. This
agreement was never violated by the
miners. - a
From 1901 to 1903 many other strikes
of more or less Importance occurred
IN different localities throughout the
jurisdiction of the federation. During
the last few years there has appar-
emily been a concerted action on the
part of the Mine Operators associa-
ton directed against the unions, re-
sulting in strikes and lockouts and
making trouble generally, especially in
Colorado. In nearly every instance
the question involved has been the
eight-hour day, and this particularly
applies to the state of Colorado, where
an amendment to the constitution pro-
vtding for an eight-hour law was car
rded bv a majority vote of 46,714. 1t
provided that the state legislature
should pass an eight-hour law apply
Ing to all persons employed in mines,
mills, shelters and blast-furnaces.
Through the manipulation of a lobby
maintained by the corporations, par
ticularly the Colorado Fuel & Iron
company and the American Smelling
& Refining, the legislature failed to
ratify the mandate of the people. The
miners and mill and smelter men went
on strike so that popular govern
ment could be maintained in Colorado.
While the eight-hour day was the main
issue, there were other questions in
volved which caused much dissatis-
faction among the employees of many
of the mining and reduction compan-
les. Among these was the blanket in
surance system, three per cent of each
mans wages being deducted by the
company, in addition to the l1osp;tal
and physicians fees, making a total
of four or five per cent This insur-
ance was not such as one would re-
ceive from an insurance company Int
only protected the miners during work
hours. The fees for medical atten-
ton did not provide hospitals and
nurses nor professional attendance
upon the miners families. In addi-
ton to these exorbitant charges which
were applied to men working for the
United States Refining & Reduction
company for wages as small as $50
q day, there was also great discrim-
inatdon against the union. Every ef-
fort was made by the company to pre-
, vent the employees from organizing.
This was the primary cause Of the
strike in Colorado City, eliminating in
the greater and more eventful strike
IN the Cripple Creek district. which
involved in the neighborhood OF $500 |
miners: SO much has been written
about these strikes that it seem nm
necessary to review them.
There ts one point in regard to the
Colorado trouble worthy of particular
mention at this time, and that is the
Assertaon OF the mine operators that