The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-02-19
''Indusfriai Peace" Talk
Heard BY Large Audience


Intervention in the way or friendly
voluntary Cancellation. This Act was
copied from a law existing in Eng
land. which provided that concili-
stOr might BE- sent BY the government
10 confer with contending parties
and seek TO bring them together. He
could use his powers TO persuade. but
had no power TO compel a conference
or. In fact. any course of conduct on
the part OF either OF the parties 10
y dispute In my work as Deputy
Minister Of the Department OF Labor
in Canada. | was sent on good
many OF these srrands. sometimes 10
British Columbia, by the Pacihe.
sometimes 20 Nova Scotia, by the
Atlantic. and 10 other parts OF Cana
da as well. dealing with disputes IN
mines, on railways. in factories and
other classes OF industries.
Little Troubles.
After a few years experience in
work OF that kind " seemed TO me
there were certain situations continu-
ally presenting themselves.
One In particular was the diff
Guilty OF getting the parties together,
once 2 conflict had taken place. An
other was the difficulty OF getting at
the truth 7 found. too, that as strikes
Gan on thp original troubles were for
gotten and that situations became
complicated by a lot OF new griev-
ances. We had one strike in 1906
which proved memorable. That strike
started early Ia the year and was In
the coal mines OF Southern Alberta:
but summer Intervening. no one had
paid much attention to H. Then we
got on TO the month OF November
and suddenly the settlers in the Ca
madam Northwest realized that they
were face TO face with winter and that
there was very little coal stored for
winter use. They discovered then
that the mines from which they had
been getting their supply OF coal had
been closed through the whole of that
season. Without any provisions In
the way or fuel, there was COnsterna-
ton for moment Then the different
communities made efforts to have the
mines opened again.
Il was sent out to deal with that
situation. As / went through Sas-
katchewan and Alberta, past the
homes OF the settlers. ! saw the
ground already covered with snow.
nut turning 10 the south in the prov
lnCe or Alberta. to where the mines
were located. II became warmer. and
] found the disputants wholly indif-
ierent TO the seriousness OF the sit.i-
gtion created 10 the north as result
% these disputes I spent nearly a
week trying TO get the parties TO this
dispute together hut the conflict had
been on for so long a time. and so
much bitterness and hatred had been
aroused, that IL was next TO impossible
To compel a consideration of a Joint
meeting, or OF the real questions
which occasioned the strike al the
outset
L want 10 read to you a short let
ter, and ] do this for the reason that
~ VIII give YOU an idea OF the whole
situation better, In the picturing Of
L a
possible otherwise TO obtain. In this
single letter TO the prime minister OF
canada from one OF the settlers ON
the Ilains ! think we have as graphic
and interesting picture as IL would
Dt posslbi" Tor any artist 10 portray
~ describes the situation as 10 was
throughout many hundreds OF square
miles OF territory al that time II
Vas written in November. 1906 TO
SIR Wilfrid Laurer.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DIS
Il hlSI OF RAMSEY. SASKATCHE-
Wan, Nov. Il, l9O6.-Dear Sir VIII
!ilu. Ine hamlet OF Bladsworth is
the supplying point for settlers in an
piONlnately twelve townships sur-
rounding. These townships have an
proNimately fifty settlers each settled
.acFein. The country is open rolling
lISIIlti aeNold or trees. The settlers
depend Tor fuel on wood or coal oh.
talned at the nearest railway Station
bladWoith. The local dealers secure
lhelr wood from The Prince Albert
country and their coal from the Gait
mines. l.ethbridge No coal has been
4 oblained from this latter source since
ApTll !. One car was obtained from
/ Bann In September last. since which
no coal mas been received here Ton
cars are under orders from OH.
bTlnse and none delivered. One car
Is ordered from Evanston and prom.
$50 DN me mine operators for De.
q t'mDer u next
Wood has been ordered from the
/ ,oWan company. Prince Albert. and
1 their answer is.
We have Heither slabs. edeings
nor cuttings. and although we have
inquired We are unable to buv ann
,oid wood. as there a. none In tho
+ Settlers have been burning Ir,,ho,
7 an $50 thousand. willow brambIe
. twisted hay. and gram. Tbese
sources are well nigh exhausted
? Ut. - Eye reports from obserya
non That no fuel Is in the settlers
hands and that suffering and nor
Maps death will cusue therefrom An
d puIHc schools are closed for want OF
. IutL ne Saskatchewan hotel "a "a
. ioomcd house. has hut one fire
blizzard has been blowing on No
B NtWbor 10Th. 10th and 18th. with zerc
I weather.. ] leave you. sir. 10 imagine
? Nhat me condition Of your fellow sinh
4 lects is in the electoral division nj
4 halochr-a name not unknovn ir
hlstory. This condition rs moi local
bur general '"e''i
2 We are informed that those nor
-pnS operating the mines Of tho moo
pie are disputinE over their rfgbfg
i't'rdiess OF the right Of tho peopls
70 I'VE. ] would respectfully an
,na' you. sir. put an end 10 "a dispufs
ihai Is inioorablo and the r1eirtar
thtc or HIGH ondanrcrs tho Iifa and
happiness linalicuablo rights of III
. rec people, OF all settlers.
p ask you. sir. on behalf of "a errr.r
'n- people that by the powers vested
.H you tho right Of eminent d,r,,i,
b' exercised ''''"
can assure YOU. sir. without az
leratlOn that This matter h. ono "A
II" ana death TO the eeffIlrs No.,
ONO requiring Immediate action
d our Obcdicut humble arrrarf
WILLIAM D.. RAMSEY.
hartman Of Committee
Alberta Trouble
NO" think that you viii a1rea
.N"' In mar communication Won hsv,
Iaphir description OF frrrib.f
lIIalion @. if existed fn tIbsrf,
NAT rendered Dr. even more frs..r
e. lho cirumeiaurn that tho parfi,.
Do" were Fighting between fb.-,
selves seemed who'll. indfnsr,rt q,
.N' effect which their dIauuto v-,
paw .Nt UPON The hundreds ana Thou