The Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah
Saturday, December 12, 1936

[Captions under pictures:]
[At 9:00 a. ]m. today 100 men were reported on their way [to Park ]City to take jobs and enter the mines.

Meanwhile [some of t]he five or six hundred pickets shown above [near the] crossroad at the foot of Main Street were told their picketing would be permitted but the road could not be closed on the miner recruits on their arrival.

The pickets know the law and are aware of the legal rights of the new workers, it was said.

A carload of the men entering one of the mines, is shown above.

High tension prevailed in the area following word of the advancing strike-breakers, while 50 deputies moved among the men to preserve order and Sheriff Ephraim Adamson continued to swear in more aids.

[ST]RIKING MINERS BATTLE WORKERS.  

After about ten minutes of brisk hand to hand fighting, 100 would-be strike breakers were turned back from Park City Mines at 12:10 p.m. today by more than 500 striking miners.

Arriving in 17 cars and a truck the non-union miners were met by the strikers and forced back while throngs in sympathy with the strikers cheered. The temper of the miners was reported becoming more intense. No one was permitted to cross the picket lines. Newpaper men, reporting the strike were forced back.

Before they were allowed to approach the picket lines, the non-union men were searched for arms by deputies.

Notified of the fighting, Governor Blood today sent word to Park City pleading with both factions to maintain order.

No serious injuries resulting from the fighting were reported. Some of the strike-breakers were returning to Heber city. Others went with miners to organization halls to discuss the situation.

500 Pickets Gather As Men Go to Work.  

Prepared to resist any attempt to reopen the Silver King Coalition and Park City consolidated mines, more than 500 striking miners assembled at the foot of Main Street in Park City early today and established picket lines between Keetly and Park City.

Park Utah Reopens In Face Of Mob.  

The Park Utah Consolidated Mining Company resumed operations sharply at 9 a. m. with 40 men going in the mine on the first shift. Another shift of 40 men is scheduled to enter the mine at 4 o’clock this afternoon.

In resuming operations today officials of the Park Utah mine announced they were not taking applications for re-employment as the men who resumed work had only been laid off under the terms of a mutual agreement between men and company officials.

It is believed, however, that an attempt will be made this afternoon to prevent the second shift of men from going into the Park Utah mine.

Excitement Prevails — City Grows Tense.  

Park City is seething with excitement as it is confidently expected that miners from Wasatch county will attempt to return to work some time during the day. Officials of the Silver King and Park City Consolidated mines early today announced that applications for employment would be taken after 10 a. m.

Miners from Wasatch county are just as determined to return to work as the members of the international Union of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers, are determined to keep them out. A clash between the two factions is expected momentarily.

The strike began nine weeks ago when members of the union by secret ballot voted to walk out after their request for 50 cents a day increase in pay, no discrimination because of union activities and eight hour collar to collar day, was refused by the operators.

Compromise Offered.  

After considerable arbitration under the direction of the state industrial commission, the mine operators offered a pay increase of 25 cents a day and non discrimination because of union activities. In submitting this proposal the operators did not officially recognize the union as a bargaining agency.

During the past few days, however, representatives of the union, mine operators, business interests of Park City and members of the industrial commission met in the office of Governor Henry H. Blood in an attempt to adjust differences. At this time the mine operators agreed to resubmit the proposal but to officially recognize the union.

This latest proposal was rejected by the union members by a two to one vote in a secret ballot taken yesterday afternoon.

Works of Wonder | Biographical Sketch of Ephraim Adamson