The past week has been one of meetings, parades, discussions, and vain hopes — but no results.
Tuesday the mining companies posted notices to the effect that applications would be received for employment at the usual rustling places at 10 o’clock, a. m. and further stating that hiring would be without discrimination, with an increase of 25 cents per day over those paid on October 9, 1936.
Wednesday conferences were held at the state capitol, Salt Lake City, Governor Geo. H. Blood acting as mediator between mine operators and high ranking union officials.
This conference resulted in a decision to submit propositions evolved to a meeting of union miners in this city to be held at 9 p. m. Thursday. The proposition submitted was not made public.
Among those present at this meeting were Reid Robinson of Butte, Montana, president of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers; Ora L. Wilson of Spokane, Washington, and Glen G. Gillespie of Salt lake City, international representatives of the union on the one hand, and W. Mont Ferry, vice president and managing director, and James Ivers, general manager of the Silver King Coalition Mines company; O. N. Friendly, general manager of the Park Utah Consolidated Mines company, and Gloyd M. Wiles, general manager of the Park City consolidated Mines company. Operators and union representatives did not meet together.
In consequence of the decision reached at the capitol meeting, the mine operators agreed not to register miners who applied for work until Friday morning at 10 o’clock.
A meeting of the local union was called for 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon at Miners Union Hall, but as that place of meeting was inadequate to accommodate the membership present, adjournment was taken to the Elks Hall, when matters pertaining to the conference held in Salt lake the previous day, were discussed pro and con until 5:30 p. m. when it was decided to postpone the vote on the proposition submitted until Friday.
Voting commenced at noon today, (Friday) and closes at 8 p. m.
Final decision of union miners in the Park City district on the proposals submitted to them following a series of conferences at the state capitol between mine officials and high union officers, with Governor Henry H. Blood acting as mediator, Wednesday, will be taken by ballot at Park City Friday.
In the meantime, operators of the strike-closed mines have acceded to the request of Governor Blood to postpone for another 24 hours the acceptance of applications for workers to open the mines. This will make the deadline for hiring men Saturday at 10 a. m. if the unions vote not to accept the proposals submitted to them Thursday.
The meeting was originally called for Union hall, but with more than 400 men attending it was adjourned to the more commodious Elks hall.
Mr. Robinson said, after the meeting that the union members had voted unanimously to ballot on the proposals Friday, the hours of voting being set from 12 noon until 8 p. m.
He explained that the union constitution required that suitable notice of balloting must be given to members, which necessitated taking another day before definite action could be taken.
“The question on which the men will vote Friday,” said Robinson Thursday night, “will be whether they will accept or reject the proposal that has been submitted to them from the mediation conference at the state capitol Wednesday.”
It was learned from relable sources at Heber city that members of the non-union Park City District Mines Employes’ Welfare association would be ready to go to Park City to apply for work whenever the operators announced they were ready to accept applications.
James Ivers, general manager of the Silver King Coalition Mines Company at Park City, said Thursday night that operators in the district would accede to Governor Blood’s request and delay taking applications for miners until Saturday.
Paul H. Hunt of Keetley, manager of the Park Utah Consolidated Mines company there, said he had also been contacted from the governor÷s office, and his company would join the other two in waiting until Saturday before accepting applications.
Gloyd M. Wiles, manager of the Park City Consolidated Mines, could not be reached Thursday night, but it was understood his company would follow with the others.
At Heber City, J. L. Johnson, president of the welfare organization, said his men would make no attempt to go to Park City to register for work until present negotiations had been acted upon. He added, however, that 700 men from Heber, Kamas and adjoining communities were ready to go to work if union miners failed to accept the proposals Friday.
No change in conditions were reported from Bingham, where miners said to number 125 have been back to work in the U. S. mines for almost a week. No violence has been noted there.
Pat Doyle, captain of the union pickets at Bingham, asked for a complaint against Reuben Dean of Lehi Thursday, but on advice of J. Allen Crockett, assistant county attorney, the complaint was refused by Justice of the Peace S. J. Kenner.