The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1907-12-07

Resolved. mat III n companies operating in the Gold
field mining district pay all employees in bank checks pay.
able in exchange and suspend cash payment for labor: and
vembsr IS. 1907. and continue in operation until the pre.su.
financial crisis is past and the local banks are able to obtain
currency for funds and balances due them from correspond
ing banks and smelters.
In presenting this resolution to your body, the members
of the Goldfeld Mine Operators Association recognize the
importance of devising ways and means which will enable
the mines and mills of the Goldfeld district to continue in
operation. The association called on the local banks for
advice, and the local banks were represented by their presi-
dents and cashiers. 1t was the unanimous opinion and ad.
vice of the bankers present that the payment Of currency
could not be continued in the camp, for the reason that the
banks here were unable to obtain from outside sources gold
or currency.
In explanation of the above resolution il NAV be well 70
state that the form of payment suggested and adopted by
the bankers will be as follows: All companies employing
men in this district win pay for labor in checks payable in
to and will issue in exchange for these checks cashier's
checks upon each bank in denominations of IS, $40 and $50
amount. These checks will pass current among the mer-
chants of the town and will be taken in payment for ex-
change upon any outside city at which the local banks have
Yours very truly,
GOLDFIELD MINE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION,
By William Erb, Secretary.
THE REPLY OF THE UNION COMMITTEE
Sir-Your communication of the 18th inst. received and
contents noted. In reply will say that your communica-
ton does not in any way comply with the request made of
We feel that we have nothing in the shape of a report to
place before the membership of No. 22o, at this time, and
will act accordingly. Trusting your organization will fix
an early date when we can take up this matter together,
we remain,
MARION w. MOOR,
JOHN GALLAGHER,
JOHN GILBERT,
Committee.
In reply to this letter, the association sent the following
communications:
THE uLrIMATuM OF THE NINE OWNERS AssocIA-
Gentlemen-In reply to your communication of Novem-
Der 10th, the Gold6eld Mine Operators Association wish to
state that they have placed their entire case before you in
regard to the local money ~stringency and that there is moth
ing more to be said.
GOLDFIELD MINE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION.
By William M. Erb, Secretary.
UNION GIVES AN
At the special meeting of the Miners union, held Fri
day, the 22d, the following motion was passed: "That the
present committee be continued with instructions to notify
the Mine Owners Association that unless the wages of the
mine employees of Goldfeld are paid either in cash or in
committee, said employees will be called out of the mines
before z O'Clock on Sunday morning, November 18TH"
MINE OWNERS CLOSE MINES
On Saturday, November 20, the mine operators adopted
Whereas, It is impossible for the mine operators of this
district to obtain gold or currency to pay for labor and sup
plies, and
Whereas, The miners, by official action of the local
Miners union, have refused to accept in payment for labor
the only substitute for gold obtainable, and
Whereas, The local labor market has been unstable and
in a state of unrest to an extent that has materially injured
the prosperity and successful development of the resources
of the Goldfeld district and the entire state, and q
Whereas, The present financial crisis has caused the
shelters to place a prohibitive rate upon the treatment
of Goldfeld ores, now, be it
Resolved, That the mines Of the Goldfeld district re-
main closed until the present nnanclal Crisis Is relieved;
until local labor conditions are settled to the satisfaction Of
the operators of this district, and until the shelters will
treat Goldfeld ores at a rate which will warrant the mine
owners of this district to recommend production.
GOLDFIELD MINE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION,
By William M. Erb, Secretary.
The strike voted by the union went into effect Sunday
and on the following day the operators sent the following
to the Miners union:
DECLARE coNTRAcT ABRoaATED
Goldfeld, Nevada, Dec. 2, 1907.
Miners Union No. 22O,
Goldfeld, Nevada:
Gentlemen-You will please take notice that in view Of
your recent action declaring a strike contrary to the terms
of the contract existing between your union and the Gold
field Mine Operators Association, all contracts, agree
ments and understanding, whether written or verbal,
hitherto entered into between your union and the Goldfeld
Mine Operators Association, are hereby declared abrogated
and no longer in form or effect.
GOLDFIELD NINE OPERATORS ASSOCIATION,
William M. Erb, Secretary.
Following the receipt Of this communication, the miners
held a meeting Tuesday night and resolved that the Mine
Owners had violated the contract of the preceding April
and not the miners, in that the operators had refused to
pay wages in cash, but resorted to scrip Of the banks, which
the mine owners refused to endorse.
Nothing further was done by one side or the other in
the interest OF harmony and the strike resolved itself into
a deadlock. Then followed the announcement that troops
had been asked for by Governor Sparks, and that they had
been ordered into Goldfeld from San Francisco.
1RrYYhpYN ~ auvvw ~n~n-~ ~v~-~~c-