White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-20
Entire Ely District
in Throes of Strike
Labor Situation Goes From Bad to Worse
Terror Reigns and Flame of Discord
Is Famed to Full Blaze.

A general strike ordered for all
mines. mills and smelters in the Ely
district; scenes of attendant disor.
der that placed the situation beyond
the control of the local authorities;
the arrival of armed guards from
outside the state, employed by the
company to protect workmen and
property; the personal presence on
the scene of Gov. oddie: the killing
of two men and the wounding of a
third I'm an exchange of shots al
MeGill, Thursday morning. between
strikers and the imported guards
the declaring of martial law at Nc
Gill by the governor. and arrival OF
the state police, have been unpreee-
dented incidents of the past week
in connection with the present labor
dispute in the Ely district
The climax was preeipitated Mon
day night when Tom Cora. organizer
for the Western Federation of Min
ers, received the following telegram
from Salt Lake:
General strike declared on all
mines, mills and smelters in Ely dis
trict, TO take effect Immediately
This Will serve as official notice to
all crafts, and you will act accord
ingly." The telegram was signed by
Charles Meyer for the Western Fed
GRAFTON; Joseph =. Ryan for the Boi-
lermakers A. l.. Wilde for the
Shoyelmen; c. 7. Nicholson for the
Machinists; Joseph Valentine for the
Moulders; and Frank Ryan for the
Structural Iron Workers.
The calling of the strike was not
entirely unexpected as IL had been
generally understood that any at
tempt to start work at Copper Flat
would result In such an order. This
attempt was made Monday when a
number of foreigners were given en-
pioyment at the Flat. The work was
of a superficial nature, but proved
Of sufficient importance TO bring mat
ters TO a head. But the action was
so sudden that much confusion re-
suited and many of the men who
were due 10 go off work with the
change of shifts at eleven o'clock
Monday night. were not informed
and knew nothing of the strike un-
I'll their relief failed to appear
There was some trouble at the
smelter gates at that time between
strikers who guarded the gates and
men desirous of going to work, but
the company. apprehending the sit
uation, succeeded in getting about
three hundred men inside the works
and supplying them with food and
blankets. Most OF those who arriy'
ed on the 1916 shift train when
told that a strike had been ordered
returned on the same train.
Tuesday morning there was more
trouble and the seriousness of tho
situation had increased. The gates
were heavily guarded by foreigners
armed with clubs, and a determined
effort made to prevent anyone from
entering the smelter grounds. Not
withstanding. number OF workmeI
succeeded in fighting their way In
but crowd of about two hundred
Greeks who went up the hill from
the Greek and Austrian quarters
were attacked and driven towards
lower town, followed by fusilad'
of rocks, while those in close rang
of the pursuers were beaten wit
clubs. Several shots were reporte'
to have been fired
Tn aggressive spirit was contine
throughout the day, Tuesday an
about so deputies were put on dut
- Sheriff Grain. The strikers mair
'Seir position ard prevente
~ entering the grounds
Aleputies we're on dut
Gil ade and the numbe
COuthcfl sufficient to que
had it occurred
he'd must occu