The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-12-10
Miners Must Throw
Cards Away to
Get Work
Employees RidicuIe Plan
TO Lessen Living Cost
BY Harry Quinn
SPECIAL DIsPArcB TO TIE CALL

1O[0A' AGGD, 1NGN., OGk.
o.-According to members of
the mine owners association,
the tension IN the strike sit
uation is at the breaking
point. According to officials
Of the union there is no truth
in the reports made by the
owners that the miners are
armed and that serious trou-
bic is likely to occur; Judging
from the conduct of Colonel
Reynolds and his small army
Of United States regulars
encanped on the outskirts of
the city, no covert act is ex-
pected tonight.
The days developments, how
ever. indicate that a crisis viii be
reached Thursday, when the Mo
hawk Combination and all other
important properties will be re-
opened. The operators issued the
final statement this afternoon.
The mines are to be opened at /
O'Clock Thursday morning.
A new scale has been drawn up,
reducing wages for the district
about 30 per cent.
The operators invite al OF their old
employees 70 return TO work on condi-
ton that they throw away their cards
Of membership in the western fedora
tion Of miners renounce forever that
organization and agree to accept the
new wages. In return they promise to
see that the cost Of living IS reduced
50 that the cut in wages viii be Offset
WILL CHEAPER LINING COST
They declare they viii bring suf-
fcient pressure TO bear upon the mer-
chants Of the town TO make a 20 per
cent hole in the latter's gross receipts
ana promise that il the merchants do
not lower prices on the necessaries Of
life the mine owners association viii
appropriate 100000 for investment in
department stores and lodging houses,
where goods. meals and shelter viii be
given 20 the employees or the associa-
tion at cost prices
Before this statement had been is
sued the union officials had been ap-
prised Of its contents and President
MscKinnon declared that the PROPOSE
tion made by the owners was absurd.
He said that wages were not too high
FOR the cost Of living here and that it
was ridiculous to talk of reducing
prices Of goods and food supplies.
AIacKinnon laid particular stress
upon the statement that the officials Of
the union would not countenance vio-
Ience. and that it would be a clean.
open fight between the men and the
operators. He said that il reports had
been circulated 10 the effect that mem
bers OF the federation had attempted to
destroy property they were fathered
by The owners association.
NO VIOLENCE. SAYS LEADER
"our policy viii be to wait and meet
Developments as they appear, but there
viii be no violence said MacKinnon.
we DO not intend to invoke the aid Of
the federation officers in Denver, unless
some Unforeseen emergency renders US
unable to fight our battles alone. Then
,-ndoubtedly we would call for help.
-.Ninety-nine per cent of the mem
aers Of the local union viii remain
loyal; there win be few traitors. but
they are already known. They SIT in
cur councils and they see all that
transpires. but we know them and have
known them All along"
The officers were busy All day COM
7Ieung arrangement for the opening of
s.ae mines Thursday. All the leases on