The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-08-28

the fact that 1t has unwittingly courted
further publicity, 1t is incumbent upon
me to lay before the local people all
the facts, and herewith is printed the
full text of the circular sent out to the
many owners of the Federal mines. Lo-
cal readers are Just as capable Of
Judging Of the truth and accuracy Of
the statements as Is the writer, and I
am willing to accept their verdict.
To the officers, directors and stock
holders of the Federal Mining and
Smelling company:
Gentlemen-Since the government
Of the United States stands for equal
rights to all and special privileges to
none, Is it not true that every man
and woman in every state is equally
entitled to the protection of that gov
ernment?
The people of the Coeur d'Alene
mining district, in Shoshone county.
Idaho, as citizens and residents Of the
United States believe they have just
cause for complaint because of sys-
tenn of discrimination that they believe
Is conducted under the auspices and
patronage Of the Federal Mining s.
Smelling company, great Industrial
corporation, in whose interests welfare
deeply concerned.
By virtue of their power, represent
ing that company, which is large en-
ployer of labor, the local officials Of the
company have been able to exercise
great influence politically and COM
mercially, and such Influence has, we
believe. often been exerted unduly and
to selfish end.
We have reason to believe that up
ttr.t, find "a a
sytem of coercion and intimidation has
been carried on under which many Of
your workmen have been required to
board and lodge at company boarding
houses, and to purchase their mer-
chandise from the United Stores COM
pany under penalty of loss OF employ
ment The latter is separate cor
poration. your company, the Federal.
having neither store nor boarding
house.
Your employees are required to sign
a contract before going to work, bind
ing themselves to contribute one dollar
a month, which Is deducted from their
wages and placed in a fund, out Of
w hich all claims for damages for per-
sor,al injuries suffered by the employees
are paid. and thus the employe on go
ing to work valves all legal rights IN
case of accident, except such dam
ages as may be allowed and paid him
by the insurance association. Wnlle
other great corporations are providing
for their employees in case of injuries
or death, you are exacting that those
who work for you guarantee them
selves against accident.
l ask you to investigate and consider
the conditions mentioned, and then 70
answer the following questions:
Can YOU contend that you nave
right to dictate to your employees the
fplace where they shall live or pur-
tchase their goods?
Is it not a fact that your company
has threatened with discharge, ana
has often discharged workingmen who
ibid not board and lodge at the coma,
pany hotel conducted by the United
Stores c,mmny? And have you not
compelled many Of your employees to
patronize the United Stores company,
and do YOU not issue time checks TO
employes Wl1o cease work between the
regular pay days. such time checks pc
ing payable only AT the United stores
company?
Is it not a fact that you are imam.
cially interested in maintaining ana
publishing daily newspaper at loss
of between five aud eight thousand
dollars per annum?
ana 40 UoL lHe Id " . ~ 'tt.S
states and of the staae ff ldaho, lot
bid acts of coercionp
Do you look upon your employees as
poems to be denied the pTfFneges Oh
free citizenship which you yourselves
enjoy?
What is the United Stores com
pany? Who are its officers, turecteTs
and stockholders? Why are theis
names not made public? Does the
United Stores company divide its pro-
fits with you? IL not why should yJuJ
company be interested in its employees
a fact that the United Stores company
by the time of your men, and collected
through your office?
, What right has your company to
constitute itself collection agency,
and without authorization or due pro-
cess of law withhold from the wages
Of men employed by you. amounts due
the United Stores company?
Will not your system of collection of
accounts due the United Stores corn
pany drive out all competition?
If you find, upon investigation, that
the conditions referred to do exist.
then can you deny that the acts of the
Federal Mining and Smelling company
in combination " III the United Stores
company, are an interference with
personal liberty, and are In restraint
of trade? y
Can you deny that such acts are in
direct violation of the statutes Of the
state of Idaho and of the peon stat
utes Of the United States? And will
Won correct such condifions2