United labor bulletin., 1909-12-17
MINERS TROUBLE IN LEAD. S. D.

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MINERS TROUBLE IN LEAD, S. D.
Lead. s. D., Nov. 80, 1909.
To All Members of Organized Labor,
Friends and Sympathizers.
Greetings: following is an ulti-
matum issued by the Homestake Mining
company. operating in the Black Hills
labor:
"Notice.
Notice is hereby given that the Home
stake Mining company will employ only
nonunion men after January 1st, 1910
The present scale of wages and the eight
(s) hour shift will be maintained. All
employees who desire to remain in the
company's service must register at the
general office of the company on or be
fore December 18th, 1903.
IT. ]. GRIER,
Superintendent"
After this order of the above-named
company had been posted for several
days and the management of the COM
pany found that their employees had
taken the position of refusing to comply
with the same and renounce their union,
the following notice was posted by the
company:
"Notice.
Lead, s. D.. Nov. "a. 1909.
Notice is hereby given that the Home
stake Mining company will cease operat-
ing its properties this evening.
1T. ]. GRIER,
Superintendent"
This action on the part of the Home
stake Mining company has directly
thrown out of employment some $500
union men, comprising miners, engineers.
fremen, machinists, electricians, team
sters, painters, moulders, bricklayers,
carpenters. stonemasons. blacksmiths,
millmen and boilermakers. and if con-
tinued will affect many more. A ma
jority of the men locked out have fam
lilies dependent upon them. which will
easily run the number of people involved
up to 10000. and right in the dead of
winter, and all for no purpose other than
an effort on the part of this mining com
pany TO coerce and intimidate members
OF organized labor Into renouncing their
unions and signing the scab list of the
Homestake Mining company. The afore-
said action OF the Homestake Mining
company was in no way prompted or
brought on by the local unions involved.
These unions had not made any demands
upon the company and had not requested
any advance in wages, nor for any reduc-
tion in the hours Of labor; in fact no eff
forts had been made by the union men
to alter or change the conditions under
which they had been working for many
years. and there had been no strained
relations between employer and en-
ploye. nor did any exist at the time of
the company taking this action against
organized labor.
We. the undersigned unions involved,
having been forced into this conflict
through the position taken by the Home
stake Mining company. wherein they de-
clare against organized labor in general,
propose to unitedly defend our rights to
organize for the protection of ourselves
and our fellow men.
The members of the organized labor
movement will know what action is nee
essary when this notice reaches them.
We appeal to the unorganized workers
to acquaint themselves with the exact
situation in Lead. S. D., before coming
here. Don't join the scab. strike-break-
ing army Don't be deceived by agents
of the company who tell you there is no
trouble here Do your own thinking. Be
men and assist your fellow working men
in the Black Hills to maintain their or
ganization which is fighting your battles
as well as their own.
We further request that this letter be
read in the meetings of all local unions
and central bodies to which 1t is sent
and that they assist us in making public
the conditions as they exist here.
BRoTHERS-United we stand, divided
we fall,
HENRY JOHNSON. President
A. F. RAMSEY, Secretary.
Carpenters and Joiners of America. No.
144o. A. F. of L.
(SEAL)
ED FARROR, President
THOS. Eek, Secretary.
b. of p. D. and p. of A.. No 564. A. F.
OF l..
(SEAL)
AXEL ERICKSON. President
JOSEPH HINTON, Secretary.
Central City Miners Union. No. s, w.
F. NJ.
(SEAL)
]. C. LETCHER. President
T. ]. RYAN, Financial Secretary.
Lead City Miners Union. No. ., w. F. NJ.
(SEAL)
]. w. BERRY. President.
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