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About Southern Oregon miner. (Ashland, Or.) 1935-1946 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 15, 1935)
Friday, February 15, 1935 8-HOUR STRIKE • IN MINES WAS TWO-SIDE WAR Applegate Old-Timer Sees Sourdough'll Slant on Labor Wars By J. <). REYNOLDS In 1002, 03 and 04. the federa tion of labor wa» e»pccliilly »trong In all the numerous mining locali ties throughout the Mate of Colo- ^^Kl<> It 1» my private opinion that Movi i hail WBwi'«l to have hin way, he would have arranged muttem with a lot lea» of turmoil than wan occurring right along It 1» true that both himself nnd Bill Hayward, secretary and treas urer, were supposed to receive double pay in time» of »trife. But even at that. President Moyer al ways leaned strongly to the side of peace. However, then* were plenty of soreheads in the organization who always were busy framing up a strike or something on that order a^^wid if Moyer didn't fall right into £|eie with their ideas they would 0>/'Ut up a loud holler about how he was short on guts, or wunted to draw his salary without doing any thing to earn it. Ho that oftentimes he was practically forced into do ing things against his own wishes and judgment. What started the big strike and ensuing war be tween labor and capital in Colo rado was the fact that a few men employed by the big smelter on the main line of the Rio Grande railroad were working 12 hour« per day. Now th«'»«' men had ea»y jobs and worked 12 hour» per day of their own free will, because they were paid for it at the rate of time and one-half for each shift, which made big wages for them. But the soreheads in the union found out about this and said they wouldn't stand for it. It must be eight hours for everybody, or noth ing. So Moyer took It up with the smelter people and they Inter viewed the workers In question and the workers stated they didn't want to change to eight hours as that made less wages for them and these facts were communicated to the president of the federation of labor. But the soreheads raised M> much fuss about it that Moyer was practically forced to issue an ulti matum to the smelter folks and when no attention was paid to that he called the strike which mxjn grew to such proportions that eventually the state had to be put under strict martial law. I was not woiking in the mines at that time, but was engaged in “Patronize Your Neighborhood Grocer” EGGS GUARANTEED LANE’S On the Blvd. Open Evening» and Sunday» —x HOME OF 100% PURE HOUSE PAINT Al»o Full Line of Wallpaper, Palnta and VarnHhen JORDAN’S House of Color SILVER CREST DAIRY MILK (Ise Nature’s Perfect Food for Better Health PHONE 78 Silver Crest Dairy SOUTHERN OREGON MINER opening up some mining property with the aid of a couple of pals of mine in the famous Hun Juan country. This Han Juan country was a veritable federation stronghold at the time. Thousands of miners were employed at the rich mines throughout that section and no where were working men treated any better. The going wage was $3 BO for an eight-hour day and the accommodations and food ut the mines were ull anyone could de sire. Several of the larger mines sup- [sirted free reading rooms and other entertainment for the men and all had hot and cold baths and janitors to look after the rooms as well us other pleasing conven iences Nobody in the Hun Juun mines had anything to strike for and didn’t want to strike. When the order came that there must be a general strike to make it effective, 1500 miners who realized what was coming got right up and left the district Home were men with families, others were steady fel lows who had saved a few hundred dollars and dreaded to participate In what they knew was coming But there were plenty of miners left even ufter that. A short time before this hap- pened I had sold one of my claims for $1500. The papers had been made out and the purchaser had returned to Kansas City to bring his partner and the money and 1 hud received word by wire they would arrive on a certain day. In fact there were two carloads of capitalists starting from KC. at the same time for the San Juan to Invest in mining property. At some place in Kansas the news reached them of the big strike being called and the whole bunch turned around and went back. Being wise to these strikes, one could hardly blame them for get ting cold feet, but the strike was pulled just four days too soon for me and cost me $1500 In cash, be fore it had hardly started. I never got a cent for that mining prop erty, as after the war the state was so badly wrecked and condi tions in such a mess that no one could sell a claim at any price, for no one dared to invest a dollar for many months after the thing was nettled. After the strike started and the miners went on the rampage, it didn't take long for matters to be come messed up to such a degree that downright war and bloodshed were only averted by putting the state under martial law and order ing militia into all the affected districts The "tin soldiers," as they were called, had a pretty hard job for awhile In getting control ot the existing conditions and re storing a semblance of quiet. In fact it was many a month before matters resumed even a slight ap pearance to normal. I remember the Meeker regiment was assigned to the San Juan country. These Meeker boys were noted as the hardest boiled In the state and they started in to live up to their i ep right away. First they decided to disarm everybody within a ra dius of 20 miles of Telluride, the center of disturbance. They would seize a!) firearms, seal them up and give receipt for same, with the understanding that they would be returned after the cessation of hostilities. This didn't listen good to myself and pals, who all had high-powered rifles of the latest pattern and needed them to hunt with. In fact we looked to the game to supply us with the great est part of our fresh meat, to say nothing of the pleasure of hunting, of which we were all very fond. So we rolled our artillery up in heavy canvas and hid It in the woods When the soldiers came after our rifles, we said we didn't have any. "But your neighbors told us all you fellows had high class guns,” they said. "So we did,” we explained, "but we heard thia trouble was coming up and thought we had better sell them." They wanted to know right away who we sold them to. We said some strangers who were passing through the country. So they gave It up as a bad job and did not molest us further. Then we dug up our rifles and continued our hunting same as usual and, as we lived 15 miles from the center of disburbance, we were never bothered again. Then the military decided to make every resident of the district pay $1 for a military poll tax. That was where I bucked and positively refused to comply with their regu lation. And neither myself nor pals so they hailed this us a godsend. the miners had threatened to closer all the time, and for a fact paid a cent for such u foolish rule According to orders they called on break. Night came and they all j nearly succeeding in stampeding I told the Colonel to his face the hogs to halt and when they were expecting the enemy to at those six soldiers before they dis covered what their "enemy” was. that I would not, under any cir wouldn't halt, they shot to kill. tack while it was dark. cumstances, pay one cent for the Th«! Colonel start«!«! In to raise the Finally an old, very tame cow privilege of traveling around in devil when he returned and found came poking up the hill, browsing Kight on the Comer th«' country where I had my home, what had happened, but the boys along the way. The soldiers could ami that he could do anything he convinced him they had followed pleased about it. In the long run , orders to the smallest detail. But n't see her but they heard the he didn’t do anything, though he | they had to pay the owner for the ' rustling as she rattled the brush and dried leaves, and were positive might easily hav«« thrown me in meat Just the same. it could be nothing but a force of COFFEE ROASTER the bull-pen. Every trail, every I got a great kick from an In ndners sneaking up the hill. They wagon road was under guard and cident that occurred shortly after called "halt" and when no atten I Ashland Blend .......... 25c lb. patrol» riding everywhere One the soldiers came in. They were tion was paid and the sneaky Brazilian Coffee 15c lb. couldn’t start out in any direction and go a mile before he would new and strange and had heard sounds kept coming closer and PEANUTS ROASTED DAILY encounter a guard camp and some some terrible tai ex about what the closer, they began to shoot. Over Always Freeh fierce, long-whiskered mountain ' 100 shots were fired down the soldier would throw down a gun miner» might do. Hix of these sol-, hili, not one of which hit the old North Main and Water Stu. In his face and »hout "Halt!” Then he would want to know all «Hers were guarding a ditch which cow, who kept right on feeding your business, who you were, where you came from, where you were going, how long were you | going to stay, etc. I'll bet I’ve had at the least calculation not less ■ ihan a hundred rifles thrown down on me and most probably a lot more than that, as I rode back and forth across the range to different | claims that I wax trying to keep j up assessments on. Finally they I ail got to know me very well, : found out I wax no agitator and attended strictly to my own af- ; fairs, and began to loosen up and | be a little sociable. And on my part I found some of the "tin »«Idlers" to be regular fellows, who were simply endeavoring to handle a mean Job the best way they could and In time I got so I could see things from their view point, as well as from that of the Although we continually adver miners. tise and display prominently the Meanwhile hell was popping on fine food products of our north every hand. Thousands of the min west, we are making special LION BRAND, 49-lb. bag............. $1.63 ers had armed themselves with emphasis on them this week. high power rifles and plenty am Many of these delicious foods munition and terrible threats were have won national recognition being made dally. The largest for their high quality. We are mines had thrown up fortifications glad and proud to offer them behind which were rapid-fire guns 100 pounds........................................ $4.99 to you, and as a group of our that would throw from 600 to 800 February money-saving values, bullets per minute and had pow you’ll find our prices startlingly erful searchlights mounted on low! towers that could pick up a rab bit two miles away. Riding up to Telluride one night with a friend, we could see the big searchlight at one of the mines LETTUCE, 3 heads 10c on the range going slowly round Imperial Iced and round. Finally it picked us up and held square on us for a full ORANGES, 126s, doz 29c minute. I said to my friend, “Now DEMONSTRATION SATURDAY Rose Sunkist, 126 size what is the matter with those guys up there? They can’t see us 12 SQUASH, banana, lb. 2c miles away, I’m sure.” The light was so strong the horses could large 5c 3 pounds............................................ 55c GRAPEFRUIT, NoNeeda Sugar hardly face It. THE WEST'S LARGEST SELLING COFFEE "Don't fool yourself,” he replied, APPLES, dozen......... 19c “they can see us plain enough." Mlx-I-Mum Fancy Winesap By the next time the light came 3 tall can» ...... around we were half a mile far SPUDS, 100-lb. sack 59c ther up the road and at a differ $2.87 Case of 48 Klamath Gems, No. 2’s ent turn. The light caught us, though, and held for a full minute while they were giving us the once-over. Well, it paid them to do it, as the rumor had come that 2000 armed miners were on the A Producers’-Consumers’ Sales Event road across the range to wipe out a few of the big mines on our side. To Help the Dairyman This raid never materialized, but there were pitched battles fought at some of the properties every now and then. At the Smuggler- LADINO or Union, about 150 armed men at tacked the mine force, which num BROOKFIELD, per pound....... bered 85, some of whom were new men not belonging to the BORDEN’S LOAF, federation and designated as American or Swiss, pound....... "scabs." After a battle lasting all day the attacking force got the best of it and drove the defenders out and over the range, regardless of slide rock or other obstacles, some of them, I heard later, being in their bare feet. There were so many things of intense interest happening all the time that I couldn't begin to re cord them in this yam, but hope to be able to relate a few more occurrences in a future story. Occasionally some little incident would happen to put a humorous touch on the strained relations ex isting throughout the district. A l the Lilly mine one morning the Colonel gave strict orders to halt every living thing that came up the trail while he was away, and if they didn't halt, shoot to kill. 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