Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-06-18

Miners:
Gentlemen and Fellow Workers
The eight-hour day passed by the las
legislature of the state of California
went into effect on Sunday, May 9th,
Here on the Mother lode, the mining
companies decided upon uniform
schedule of hours which read on
their notices posted: "First skip tC
go down at twenty-five minutes OF
seven In order that the men might be
at place ui work at seven o'clock
sharp; blast at twelve O'Clock; thirty
minutes for lunch, blast at three
thirty; first skip to leave bottom at
three forty -hve," therefore demand
ing eight hours work at the breast
and that men GO. come aud eat lunch
upon Itheir own time. The above
schedule of hours laid down ny the
companies most decidedly did not
meet with the approval of the major
ity of the men, therefore they walked
out
Sunday morning, May 9Th, the
night shift at the Argonaut nine
waited for the day shift to come on,
and they all agr eed that no one
would go to work unless they we're
given the eight-hour day as per the
law. Superintendent Rainsford upon
seeing that the men did not start to
work at tally, inquired the reason
why they were not going to work, to
which inquiry the men all at once
attempted ia explain, but being IN
able to get definite statement
Rainsford suggested that they go to
town and hold special meeting and
select special committee to wait
upon him and present their demands.
This the men proceeded to do by
posting notices that a special meeting
Of all men working under ground
would be held at Miners Union hall
at 2 p. N. They at once proceeded to
look up the secretary of the union,
who at that time was working in the
leila mine, and sent word to him 30
come out as they desired to see him.
Ibis he refused to do. The men then
requested the key to the hall for the
purpose of holding special meeting,
offering to pay for same. This re.
quest the secretary, "Datson," also
refused. They then waited tor him
to come off shift and requested that
he in person come down and open up
the hall for them III order that they
could hold this meeting and still be
refused, saying that they would have
to look up the trustees and get their
permission to use the hall. This was
done and after considerable talking
they finally pevaIied upon the trus-
tees to allow them the use OF the
nall. The meeting was called to
order by temporary chairman, "Ben
Fuller" and after much discussion
committee of nine was selected from
the various nationalities working in
the different mines, for the purpose
of placing their demands before the
superintendents of the various COM
panies, which demands were, IAN
eight hour hour day from collar to
collar exclusive of thirty minutes for
lunoh," which wonld make an eight
bour and thirty minute day from
collar to collar, in other words, their
Interpretation of the law.
While these oceedlngs were tax
ing place organizer Cora was in
Campo Seco looking into the situa-
ton there, the men there being on
strike over the same contention as
that which arose here in jackson.
However, it was understood that the
mines in Campo Seco would be indie
tnitely closed, and time has verified
the rumoI, as there are few men in
Campo at this time and no indication
of a resumption of operations; and
upon learning of the difficulty here,
Cora Immediately left for this place.
The committee selected by the men
waited upon the different superin-
tendents at eight O'Clock the follow
ing morning, placing before them
their demands and Interpretation of
the law, which demand was turned
down by the various companies and
the counter demand made, "that the
men come, go and eat lunch on their
own time" The committee reported
back to special meeting at p. M,
when Cora was present and called
upon to address them, in which adj
dress he convineingly demonstrated