The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1919-08-14

~ the Hercules and Hecla mines
n at Burke, the Morning and
Hunter at Mullan and the In
terstate Callahan and Tamarack &
Custer mines on Nine Mile, effective
at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning, Fri
day, August Is. The strike was Off
cially ordered last night at a meeting
Union No IA, which is composed Of
delegates from the various locals Of
the International Union of Mine, Mill
& Smelter Workers. A referendum
was taken recently by the local bod
les on the question of a strike. which
resulted in a large majority in favor
of it, The matter of formally calling
the men out was then passed up to
the district union, which took the ac-
ton as above stated. The strike or
der was finally passed, it is under
stood, in the face Of earnest protest
from Mr.. Davidson, member of the
executive committee of the interna-
tional union, who has been here for
about settlement without a strike.
Protest against the strike was also
made by John ]. O'Nei who is here
representing the international The
meeting was in session until late
hour, and the discussion was charac-
terized by much bitterness by the op
posing elements. However, those who
favored the strike were clearly in con-
troll and were unmoved by the argu-
ment of the opposition No strike was
ordered at the Bunker Hill & Sullivan
and other mines in the Kellogg sec
ton, but these will receive further
consideration at a meeting of the dis
trct union next Saturday.
McWade Makes Strong Protest.
General Robert E. McWade, concil.
iation commissioner representing the
department of labor, was present at
the meeting last night. He has de-
voted many weeks trying to bring
about a satisfactory settlement be-
tween the operators and their EN-
ployes, and felt that he had accom-
plished his purpose when this radical
action WIS taken by the union.
Through lis efforts comm tees of the
various mines have conferred with the
respective managa S, and while these
conferences have not resulted in OBJ
tanning direct concessions, it was be-
lieved that they had brought about |
better understanding and removed the
cause for a strike at this time Cen
eral McWa1e called the attention or
the union to the agreements he had |
secured from the operators, and I'M
pressed upon them in forcible terms
the obligation resting upon them to
remain on the job. One OF these |
agreements with the Hercules COM
rany follows. all others being in the
same form:
"Gentemens Agreement.
mo anti-union discrimination
open shop.
Eight hour day according to law
through faciitaton as early as prac-
ticable OF entrance to and exit from
the mines. /
Each man to present his grievance
to James ]. Murphy and from him to
Eugene r, Day.
Wages depend upon rise and fail
OF market for lead, silver and zinc.
Ceases of grave dispute, such as
change in wages, to be discussed with |
General McWade and Eugene r. Day |
with view to amicable settlement.
"This agreement is made directly |
with the United States government
through it's cancellation commissioner
General McWade. and not with any
union or non-union organization, and |
It is entered into solely for the plr-
pose of maintaining the utmost har-
mony amongst all employees. and OF
observing the laws Of our state and
country"
General McWade attributes the
strike order to the temporary ascend
ency of the radical element in the
union and this is borne out by the
fact that the action was taken in spite
Of the protest of the representative o.
the International union. He is OF
course disappointed, but not discour-
aged, and SAYS he will "stay on the
Job until they are beaten and until
decency Is restored in the Occur
d'Alene district"
Days Indscretion. !