Gilpin observer., 1907-03-28
NEWS FROM THE MINES and MILLS
Tho Labor situation In eeIddeId.

labor organizations of Goldfleld have
become so extreme and violent that it
seems the entire camp is about to be
thrown into condition bordering on
civil war, unless sharp and decisive
action is taken.
At the hour Of this writing, every
man on the street-and the streets are
crowded, is a walking arsenal; every
store and Office Is guarded; every mine
and business house, preparing to close
its doors for an indefinite period-or
until it can reopen with working
force of its own choosing.
This unhappy condition has been
brewing for many months. Strange to
relate, the situation is in no wise due
to any differences between capital and
labor-between employer and employe.
Wages are at the highest, hours are
the most satisfactory and work more
plentiful than ever before in the his
tory of the camp. The future of the
camp was expanding most gloriously.
Strike after strike was being made,
and people and money were beginning
to pour in as never before Everything
prosperity, growth, and abundant re-
ward. All at once the camp is thrown
into confusion and discord, and busi-
ness paralyzed to the point Of complete
suspension, and man is pitted against
man, neighbor against neighbor with
the whole town in terror.
To what Is this situation attribut-
able, and what is the duty Of the bus
mess men-the law and order element
of this community in this crisis?
The business and mining interests
of Goldfeld have not brought this
state of affairs upon themselves. They
are in no way responsible; in fact
they are the victims of circumstances,
and are caught between the upper and
neither millstones, and will be ground
to pieces unless there Is a change, for
the fight is between two great labor
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES enemies.
which seem to have chosen Goldfield
as the battle ground where they pro
pose to fight out their differences,
come whatever may to the business
and industrial interests of Goldfield.
But the business men of Goldfeld have
rights-vast interests, that must be
protected and it looks as il they will
have to look out for themselves in this
emergency.
1t is a happy condition that the min
ing and business men Of Goldfeld thor
oughly understand each other and are
so harmonious in all their actions and
relations. To such a degree Is this
the case, that it had never been found
necessary to have any business or
mining mems organization for Often
sive or defensive purposes. When
emergencies had arisen, single word
passed along the line met the concur
renee Of all, and produced united ac-
tion. So 1t is and will be in the pres
ent emergency.
To arrive at a clear understanding
of our present duty, it is necessary TO
analyze tho incidents and forces that
have led up to the present emergency.
There are two distinct national labor
organizations in the United States,
whose objects and methods are almost
diametrically opposite. Both profess
to be organized for the welfare OF
the working classes. One believes that
the best welfare of the working man
the "producer''-as he Is called lies
in a state of society known as social
ism, where there is no distinction in
the ownership of property, and where
all people are reduced to one political,
social and property level. To accom-
plish this state of socialism, they
would bring about a union of all the
so-called working classes of the coun-
try under one leadership and to
bring all working classes to the one
same level, they would destroy the In
dividual trades union, and cause the
carpenters, printers, machinistS and
other skilled trades to lose their idcn-
tity by merging themselves with COM
mon laborers into one vast organiZa'
tion known as the Industrial Workers
of the World. With such an organiza-
tion, embracing all classes of wage
workers in the country ar-ayed against
the employer or the "capitalistic
class" as they choose to call them.
they would bring about a general con
flict-a civil war. with the sole pur
pose of changing the political charac-
ter and system of our government and
reduce the Republic to form of So
cialism. or course, this means revo
luton; and force" as in ali rovolu
tions, is the very essence of the pro
gram. At the head of this organiza
ton is Eugene V. Debs.
The other national labor organiza-
tion is known as the American Fedora
ton of Labor. This great aggregation
has at its head such men as Samuel
Gompers and John Mitchell. known
and respected throughout the world.
The purpose Of this organization is TO
organize every skilled trade in the
country into its separate union, and
federate the various unions under one
general organization, with the sole
purpose Of elevating labor generally
and of protecting their people against
unjust aggressions Of employers, aud
settling them in the enjoyments OF the
full recompense Of their labor. Their
motto is Arbitration" This is patri-
otic organization. loyal to the govern
ment and existing institutions, The
American Federation of Labor Is not
political in any sense, but is organized
to secure the best station possible for
the laboring man, under just equa-