Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-09
WEDNESDAY
CRUCIAL DAY
IN GOLDFIELD
NEVADA OWNERS'ASSOCIATI
FORMED
1000 MEN ALREADY IMPORTED TO
BEGIN WORK
Camp Quiet and Martial Law Is Not
Decentralization Men Picket
Mines-Sheriff Leaves
Town
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
GOLDFELD, New, Dec. S.-Wednes-
day has definitely been decided upon as
the day for reopening the mines in Gold
field
an authoritative statement was made
late tonight that sufficient men are al
ready on the ground to work the mines
The total number of those that have been
quietly brought in and those who have
secretly made application to return to
their former positions is placed at 1000
There are about 1900 Western Federation
men out
The men who are to take the place Of
the Ltrikers are not to be housed at the
mines but will be scattered through the
camp and protection for each individual
will be guaranteed by the Mine Owners
association.
Two propositions have been decided
upon, the making of an open camp for
all time ard the early lowering of the
wage scale. At the same time the Mine
Owners association are going to begin
a vigorous crusade to lower the cost OF
living in Godtield.
The scope of the Mine OwnerS associa-
ton Is to be greatly enlarged by the or
ganization of the Nevada Mine Owners
association, of which Goldfeld Mine
Owners association will be part. The
new organization Is already well under
way.
The announcement of the determination
to open the mines on Wednesday is to
be made tomorrow at noon by the Gold
field Mine Oweners' association, and 1t is
said that trouble may ensue.
If there is to be a clash between the
members of the Western Federation of
Miners and the soldiers of Uncle Sam
1t will come at this time.
There are now nine companies of
troops here the second detachment from
Monterey having gone into permanent
camp on Combination hill, within 800
yards of the mill of the Goldf1eld Con-
solidated company. The first detachment,
which comes from San Francisco, re-
mains in the camp established in the
northwestern part of the city, mile
and a half from the nearest mine.
Troops Are Ready
Colonel Reynolds, commanding all OF
the troops here, Is quartered in tent
in the first camp and will remain there.
He refuses to say whether he will detail
soldiers to patrol the mines when the
attempt is made to reopen, but merely
states that the troops are here to pre-
serve order and that they are prepared
| to handle the situation.
/ Sheriff ingalls, of Esmeralda county, In
which Goldfield Is located, has gone
| to some distant mines and the sheriff 8
office is in the hands of Under Sheriff
Bert Knight, who asserts that he is
amply able to handle any crisis that may
arise from the attempt to reopen the
mines. He has sworn in dozen depu-
ties. He characterizes the statements
made by the mine owners that the union
men are arming themselves and prepar-
ing to make trouble as false, and says
that in his belief there will be no effort
made to prevent the mine owners from
working the mines with whatever men
they may employ.
A telegram which the sheriff sent to
Governor Sparks protesting against the
presence of federal troops in Goldfeld
remains unanswered. There will be no
co operation between the local peace Of
ficers and the troops in the event of any
trouble.
Did Not Want Soldiers
Statements are being issued to the pub
| lie by both the Mine Owners associa-
| ton and the officials of the local miners
union setting forth the views OF both
sides of the situation.
| From what can be gathered. 1t seems
| probable that the Mine Owners associa-
| tion was primarily responsible for the
presence of the federal troops here, but
that it was not intended in the first
place that troops should be sent at this
| time 1t was intended to have them in
readiness to respond to an urgent call.
| but when the fact became public that
| the sending of troops was contemplated
the governor was told it would be best
! to have the troops on the ground, as
the miners were incensed over the fact
| of the troops being held in readiness to
| come and might commit violence at any
minute
| The mine owners then saw the chance
| to take advantage of the presence of
| the troops here to begin preparations to
reopen Denial is made that miners from
other camps are to be brought in. and
| the statement of the owners is that they
believe enough men can be had in Cold
field to reopen during the present week,
but at the same time the statement is
made openly and positively that men
from the outside will be brought in If the
local men will not accept scrip in part
payment and go to work.
Decide Question
| There is but little denial of the state
ment being freely made here that the
mine owners have all along deliberately
refused to guarantee the scrip in the
manner demanded by the union, with the
intention of precipitating a struggle and
settling, once for ALL the question of
union domination of Goldfeld. Their
statement is that they are worn out
with the constant struggle between them
selves and the union and that they mean
to maintain an open camp in the future
and be free to employ whoever they will
without question by the union.
| All of the mines are picketed at pres
| ent by union men. and according to the
statement of the owners it is impossible
for the owner or manager of property
to visit his property to know what con-
dition it is in. much less to put men in
the mine to work the pumps. But be-
yond this there is little evidence on the
surface that any preventive measures are
being taken by the union.
Both sides freely state the fight is on
and that this is to be fight to a finish,
and that they are prepared for it. Neither
side pretends that the question of ac-
cepting the scrip issued by the John S.
Cook company bank was ever anything
more than an excuse to bring the whole
long list of grievances on either side to