Amador ledger., 1909-08-27
After Hutchinson of the
Western Federation

member of the Western Federation,
who took charge of the late strike of
miners In Amador county over the
Interpretation OF the eight hour law,
Is getting I'LL of adverse criticism
from his fellow members of the
federation. Martin Wallace, ex-
president Of the state miners union
affiliated with the Western Eede-
ration published a long comnluni.
cation in the Grass Valley Tran
script, denouncing Hutchinson as a
falsifier, breeder of dissension,
aud for incompetenCy in the manage
ment OF the strike in this county.
There Is no question that Hutchinson
stirred up lot of ill-feeilng in this
vicinity, not only by his conduct
while there, but also by his cores
pondence published in the organ of
the Western Federation in relation to
the strike, and the cause of its
failure. He abused all who did not
take an active part, as scabs, etc. The
visit of the present president of the
state union, W. j. Martin, to this
section is believed to be largely in
the effort to obliteIa ate the effect Of
the ill-advlsed tactics adopted by
Hutchinson, and to restore harmony
and good feeling in union ranks.
Martin Wallace has this to say about
Hutchinson:
''This is not the first time he,
Hutchinson, has tried to disturb the
state union of California. lie has
tried to poison the minds. of the
membership of the state union once
before in this State to the effect that
the state union would repndiate the
Western Federation in California
and undertake to Withdraw, but | am
glad to state he did not succeed in
his dirty work for the election returns
of the state union can show how the
mem bership stands with tho state
union, as the principal officers we're
returned to office again by an over
whelming majority. Furthermore |
am in receipt OF a letter from Jack
son, Amador county, where Hutchin
son went to take charge of the late
strike, asking me not to send such
men as Hutchinson to help them out,
as such men do more harm than
good to the Cause of the w. f. M,
and am of the opinion, as we'll as
the large majority of the mem ber.
ship of jackson. that if Hutchinson
had stayed away from jackson during
the late strike and let the state union
handle affairs, the strike would have
ended III favor of the miners. lie also
states that the Cousin Jacks, or
Cornishmen, and the Native Sons
we're the cause of the strike being
lost. Ibis charge l think will be
answered later by the parties charged
Not having been at jackson during
the strike am not in a position to
judge, but | will say that am not
a Native Son nor yet Cornishman,
but il were a Cousin Jack or Native
Son 1 would be proud of it.and'I can
give proofs that there are better
union men in both parties than ever
Hutchinson knew how to be. And
why they are better men is easily
nswered-beoause they don't ga
arnund sowing the seed of dissension
and decrying everything that has or
is being done by the officers of the
W. II. M. that he, Hutchinson, has
not done the hons share of it. What
right have you, Hutchinson. to bring
in nationality? A man can not help
his nativity and man that will bring
right on the Executive Board of the
W. II. NJ, and the soDDer he is re-
quested to step down and out the
better it will be for the ranks Of
organized labor. A man that mis-
represents, abuses and ISLANDERS will
degrade himself for personal ambition
AT any Llne duu auh VI III" OPih'on
Hutchinson is of such a class. No
one knows better than Hutchinson
himself that he Intentionally talsilied
when he made the statements that he
did on the floor of the convention
and he was simply using his official
position to dstort the facts about the
eight-houI law for miners in Cali
fornia. There is no one in the
Western Federation more willing or
ready to demand an elght hour law
that would reach from collar to