The Sheriff Who Wouldn't Shield the Strikers: A Labor Standoff in Newcastle

THE BIG STRIKE.

At noon yesterday, in answer to a query regarding the situation at the T. J. Milner, of the Gilman Improvement Company, said: 'This is not the company's funeral. No harm has been done. I have been able to learn there are no grievances against the company, but are merely fighting among themselves. There are two labor organizations at Newcastle and this is a row between them. In view of all the facts I have ordered the Newcastle mine closed, and I feel confident they will remain closed until the miners get their dispute settled. I have been called away and will be gone until the middle of next week. I don't think the miners will attempt to destroy the company's property, for the relations between the miners and the company are pleasant so far as I have been able to learn.'

THE MINER'S STORY.

A gentleman who arrived from the mines yesterday, said 'I was surprised to see Sheriff Cochrane lose his temper and make a fool of himself, and I think the people should know what kind of a man they have at the head of their county government. It came about in this way: After the meeting at the lake, where the miners appointed a conference committee, the sheriff and his party accompanied the committee back to Newcastle to confer with the superintendent. Before the conference a number of union men and others asked the sheriff to swear in some deputies to guard the property and protect those of the miners who wanted to go to work, but this he refused to do. When the meeting was called Mr. Piles stated that the object of returning was to endeavor to effect a compromise, so that the men might return to work.

Kelly Ramsey then made a statement explaining his conduct. He said he was at Gilman, and as the miners were coming over to Newcastle he accompanied them; that on their arrival at the mines, he went with them in the cage down into the mine, because they were unacquainted with the slope, and that he showed them through the mine because they wanted to go out that he took no part otherwise in shutting down the mine at 2 o'clock in the morning. When he got through, your Sheriff Cochrane got up and commenced making excuses for not protecting the property.

At this juncture Mr. Morgan, the superintendent, said that while in the employ of the company Ramsey had given entire satisfaction, and with all due respect to Mr. Cochrane and his official position, no apologies were necessary on his part for the recent conduct of Mr. Ramsey.

These remarks seemed to irritate the sheriff.

With a face red with rage, he jumped upon a pile of lumber and exclaimed: 'As sheriff of King county I give all men fair notice, that every man caught carrying weapons of any kind around these mines will be arrested, handcuffed and locked up in the King county jail.' Turning to Mr. Morgan, the superintendent, he continued: 'I know that this corporation has always been run by a groveling and tyrannical foreigner, who has always tried to domineer and run over the miners, and I again give notice that anyone found with weapons will be arrested!

After a pause, Mr. Morgan said calmly: 'I ask you, as sheriff of King county, if you will guarantee my men and this company's property protection, if I start up the mine.'

'I cannot guarantee anybody protection,' replied the sheriff.

'Then, as an American citizen,' replied Mr. Morgan, 'I demand of you, as sheriff of King county, lawful protection for the men who are willing and anxious to go to work in the mines for the support of their wives and children.'

'I am not here to guarantee protection to any one, nor will I appoint a lot of deputies to protect anybody. I have one deputy here and will stay myself, as I anticipate trouble. For I am satisfied the strikers will not allow the mine to start up. I attended a meeting held by the lithium miners tonight, and I heard them pass a resolution to stand by the strikers till their last dollar spent and the last chunk of coal exhausted in the Gilman mine, and I know that they mean business.'

'There were other things said at the meeting, but I have faithfully quoted what I heard and saw. Such utterances from such an officer, and still you call this free America!'

WHAT THE SHERIFF SAYS.

Sheriff Cochrane said to a reporter yesterday: 'The whole trouble seems to have originated about young Ramsey. He seems to have been a great favorite, not only with the company, but with the men. His father was killed in the mines, and he was born there. He is of good family and has several quite prominent relatives in the county. He played ball with the boys and was a general favorite. He got four days leave of absence and was on the point of returning, when he heard that he had been discharged. You probably know the subsequent facts. Mr. Piles made a very able and conciliatory speech last night, and I warned the company against using firearms. When Mr. Piles left last night he agreed to send me some word from Mr. Milner this morning, but nothing came and I brought down the two men that had been arrested. I don't know what they did more than any of the others' that they should have been arrested, but I acted under orders. When I left the men gave me assurances that there would be no trouble at the mines. The whole trouble was caused by two bull-headed Irish or English foremen or superintendents, who refused to settle on any terms but Ramsey's discharge.'

THE VERDICT.

R. Conway and D. H. Jones, who were arrested on the charge of riot, were taken before Justice Jones at 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon and held in the sum of each for their appearance for trial at 10 o'clock a.m. next Wednesday.

WITHOUT THE RESPECT OF AFTER THE RELEASE.

After the release of Conway and Jones they were asked by a Post-Intelligencer reporter for a statement of the miners' grievances. At their request Frank Terrance, master workman the Newcastle Branch of the Knights of Labor and a member of the committee appointed to arbitrate with the company, made the following statement:

'There has been an assembly of the Knights of Labor in Newcastle for a long time. Any difference that may arise between the employees and the owners we are bound, according to the rules of the order, to submit to arbitration. The trouble originated in this way: We had a driver driven off, and a member of the order asked for a four days leave of absence. But the same night that he left, John Vaughn was put in his place, and the boys thought that there were more competent men among their numbers to select a new one from John L. Howard, the company advised us that all promotions ought to be made out of our ranks, and on these grounds the men did not think it was right to put a man who has been running a saloon over them to supervise the election. Vaughn was the cause of the trouble.'