The Blacklist at Franklin Mine
Striking miners appeal for their jobs after a bitter labor dispute in King County, clashing with the superintendent over claims of systematic discrimination.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Franklin, King County, W. T. James F. Jones, Superintendent of Franklin Mines: Having been informed that you have discriminated against some of your men whom you have employed previous to the time they were stopped by the Newcastle men, we respectfully ask you to answer this letter and give your reasons for so doing. In the settlement made with Mr. Howard, it was provided that no man would be deprived of the privilege of resuming his former position under the Oregon Improvement Company for any action he had taken in our late trouble. We do not think it fair for any of your former employees to be dealt so harshly with, when it is taken into consideration that the men of Franklin had no other alternative than to quit work at the bidding of the men from Newcastle and McAllister. Now, if you have resolved to prevent these men from getting work, we would kindly request you to reconsider your action. You are not without friends in Newcastle; they are numerous, and for the sake of harmony and peace, we respectfully ask you to reinstate these men if possible. Treating you will reply favorably and hoping you will not consider this as intrusive, we remain, yours respectfully, Isaac P. Ross, Sec. Com. By order of the Assembly and Executive Committee. Referring to the above communication and in answer to inquiries from a Post-Intelligencer reporter, Mr. Jones says: 'There seems to be some misunderstanding in this business. Mr. Howard said to me in conversation in the city, and by telegram and letter from Tacoma, that he made no such arrangement in regard to the Franklin mine. Regarding the question of discrimination, I would say that there was no issue between me and the men that would call for any such action. All the men reporting for work at the present time were accepted and are at work.'
“Now, if you have resolved to prevent these men from getting work, we would kindly request you to reconsider your action.”
This 1886 dispute echoes the ongoing tension between labor organizing and corporate retaliation in Washington’s history. Just as these miners fought against being blacklisted for their collective action, modern workers in the region continue to navigate the precarious balance of power in labor relations and the right to organize without fear of retribution.
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