Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-04-17
After Amador Miners.


Federation of Miners, of March II.
It is portion of a communication
written by Robert Randell, an agent
of the Federation, vino is employed
in visiting the various locals Of
California. The writer was in JACK
son few weeks ago, and his structures
are based upon the condition of
affairs which he found existing in
union circles here. We do not be-
lieve the miners of Amador county
are different from the miners in any
other camp. 1t probably is true,
that the members lag behind in their
dues, and manifest an interest in
being reinstated on the eve of de-
parture from this county. But that
is merely saying that they are govern
ed by selfinterest, which is the great
controlling force everywhere. They
Will join a union when it is clear that
they will be benefited by so doing,
they will become indifferent when
ever they realize that it matters little
whether they belong or not. The
travelling delegate talks as he does
from self-interest. The miners of
Amador county are not deserving of
this abuse:
The article so far as it concerns
Amador county reads as follows:
"And while | am at it, Mr. Editor, |
desire to say few words about some
alleged union men that are being
freshly Matched in Amador county,
California-the Gland of sunshine
and flowers, pretty girls and long
hours" il may be allowed to drop
into poetical mood.
The Western Federation of Miners
has reduced from one to three hours
the daily labor of every miner in the
state of California, yet it is re-
grettable fact that most of the miners
in this county begrudge paying dues
to maintain the organization that
has been of such signal benefit to
them.
| The only time many of the miners
In Amador county take any interest
in the organization is few days be-
fore they leave for a union camp.
They have lived here for years. but
have never seen and realized the
necessity of joining labor organi-
cation to better their conditions.
They say that labor organizations are
no good, that one is not needed here,
as the bosses are good fellows.
When they become tired of working
in Amador county nine hours for
81. %, $3.50, S2.75 and 50. if they are
lucky, they look for some new place
where condition are better, and they
invariably hunt up the organized
camps.
They seek the organized camps be-
cause they know that the hours and
wages are better than in the morgan
lied camps. The liars who will tell
that labor organizations do not better
conditions, to prove themselves liars
will always go to organized camps
like Butte, Tonopah or Blair to take
advantage of conditions other men
have fought for, struggled for, and
by self sacrifice esta blished and main
tanned.
Loo cowardly, craven and servile to
fight to better their own conditions,
they wait until other men have made
conditions good and then rush to take
advantage of those conditions.
And they get card before leaving.
A card generally with one lonesome
stamp upon it. And away they hike,
thinking that the little book with
the one lonesome stamp upon it
makes them good union men, and
expect real union men in other
camps to extend to them the glad
"mitt. "
No great mistake will be made by
putting down men from Amador
county, California, with one stamps
upon their cards, as lying hypocrites
and detriment to the unfortunate
local that accepts their cards.
. Beware of the man from Amador
county with one stamp upon his job
card, and an overW helming desire to
let everyone known what good
union man he is-he is fraud, a
fake, and a snake in the grass.
ROBERT RANDELL.
Jackson, California, March Is, 1908,
President Roosevelt Says
that outdoor exercise is needed by the
Amppican manila That's all very