Shortly before 2 p. m. the Wasatch county contingent of 125 men, traveling in an automobile caravan, was sighted on the highway a quarter of a mile from Park City, Union pickets massed at the foot of Main street and Park avenue. Sheriff Adamson and his deputies met the caravan.
The caravan proceeded up the hill leading to Main street, when it was abruptly confronted by some 400 union pickets, massed tightly in the narrow street. The first automobile was unable to pass. The caravan was stopped.
By this time, Sheriff Adamson had arrived with his deputies, but attempts to stop the struggle were futile. The pitched battle renewed and women, lined along the outskirts, shouted encouragement to the fighting union men, imprecations at the Wasatch county contingent.
A rumor then spread through the picket lines that the Wasatch county cordon had reorganized down the hill and planned to enter the Spiro tunnel, and entrance to the Silver King mine. Union men rushed to the tunnel portals, but the Wasatch county group had retired.
After the session, Commissioner Stevens stated:
We must insist that these roads be kept open. More than likely the Heber City group will come back tomorrow. In fact, I know they are coming back. We must bring them back to show that law can be enforced in Park City. We are considering means to take care of the situation.
More than ten days ago the comission instructed Sheriff Adamson to make ample preparations for an occurrence such as this. It appears they were not made.
We are making an inquiry now as to why these preparations were not made. We have got to see that these men get through when they return to Park City.
The national guard officers declined to comment upon the situation and Sheriff Adamson placed responsibility for the violence upon union pickets, who, he said, promised me this noon there would be no violence and that I would be able to escort the men through the lines.
We had about 125 men with us today and we are coming back tomorrow if we can get adequate protection.
To determine what protection can be obtained for those willing to work, J. L. Johnson, president of the welfare association, came to Salt Lake City to confer with Governor Henry H. Blood at a conference arranged by Gloyd M. Wiles, general manager of the Park City Consolidated mine. He was accompanied by three volunteers injured in the Park City riot.
Violence attending the strike followed on the heels of a union rejection of the strike-settlement offer made by mine operators. The offer resulted from mediation of Governor Blood between operators and international union officials. The proposal, accepted by the officials, was submitted to vote Friday and rejected by the local rank and file.
Violence attending the strike followed on the heels of a union rejection of the strike-settlement offer made by mine operators. The offer was made through the mediation of Governor Blood between operators and union leaders. The negotiations were made by Reid Robinson, president of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers; Ora Wilson, district representative, and Glen Gillespie, state representative of the union. The offer of the operators was submitted to vote Friday night and rejectied by the rank and file.
Meanwhile operators had posted notices that men would be reemployed Saturday at 10 a. m. Union pickets were posted at all approaches to thwart the reemployment, and union officials said no Park City workers applied.
At Keetley, however, Park Utah Consolidated Mines officials reported a full crew reported for work. Half a crew 40 men reentered the mine, in Wasatch county, at 8:30 a. m., said O. N. Friendly, general manager.
Although union officials reported the number of workers reporting to reopened mines in the Bingham-Lark area was dwindling daily, work proceeded Saturday without violence. Weekly ore reports from the district showed the following shipments from reopened mines:
Utah-Delaware, 800 tons; Utah Apex, 300 tons; U. S. mine, 1750 tons. Utah-Delaware shipment was said to be about normal, that of the Utah Apex half of normal and that of the U. S. mine about a fourth of average.
As the riot in Park City raged, union officials were conferring with Governor Blood in a last-minute effort to terminate the strike. Among them was Tom Costas, secretary of Park City local No. 99 the union which rejected the operators offer. He returned to Park City Saturday afternoon to report the outcome of the conference to union members.
W. M. Rogers, U. S. labor department conciliator, was at a Salt lake City hotel saturday, but declined to comment upon the disorders accompanying the strike.
The settlement offer follows:
To His Excellency Henry H. Blood, governor. | |
Honorable Members of the Industrial Commission of Utah, | |
Mr. Scott Smith, president Park City Mine and Mill Workers union No. 99, International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, and members of negotiating committee, Local No. 99, Park City, Utah, | |
Employes of undersigned companies. |
Sirs: | |
To eliminate all possibilities of misunderstanding respecting the attitude of the undersigned companies in this strike, be advised as follows: Confirming our announcement of November 11, 1936, we will increase the daily wage twenty-five cents (25c) above the scale prevailing October 9, 1936. In reemploying men, no discrimination will be shown against any employe because of participation in this strike or in union activities, nor will the managements impose medical examination for the purpose of using it against men on strike. Further confirming our previous letter, we will continue our efforts to discover the possibilities of basing the wage scale of the future upon the price of metals, of using any other recognized index that may contribute to the solution of the problem. |
Very truly yours, | |
Silver King Coalition Mines company, by James Ivers, general manager, | |
Park Utah Consolidated mines company, by O. N. Friendly, general manager, | |
Park City Consolidated Mines company, by G. W. Wiles, general manager. |