Strike Scrip
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The scrip above, was one of the propaganda tools that the unions used. Spend your cash at the [fanciful] Exploitation Mercantile Company of the Consolidated Mines Company. This represented the company stores that the miners could use their scrip at. You would be an ‘E. Z. Mark’ if you went along with this scheme. The back (next page) just reiterates what will happen if the mine owners get their way! Not only will the miners suffer, but the entire financial system will fall apart.
The final interesting note is the crossed rifles in the bottom corner of the obverse. These must have been used after the Federal troops were called in to quell the strike.) |
But at the same time the union was gaining prominence in Goldfield, so was George Wingfield. He started as a faro dealer and by 1907 was the King of the mine owners and businessmen in Goldfield. He didn’t rise to this position so quickly because he was timid and afraid of conflict. And by September he had had enough of the unions.
In October and November the mine owners, lead by Wingfield, put changing rooms in place to keep the miners from high-grading the ore. That was the practice of the miners carrying out high-grade ore in their pockets when their shift was finished.
They also started a scrip system to pay the miners. The downturn in profits of the mines was given as the reason. However, it must be pointed out that almost $8,000,000 in production was reported in 1907 (that would be $208,000,000 today). That means between the miner’s high-grading and the mine owners skimming - the actual production was ???. That would be more than the years 1906 and 1908!
Those were fighting words for the union. Once again they organized strikes to force the mine owners to pay the union workers with cash!
In October and November the mine owners, lead by Wingfield, put changing rooms in place to keep the miners from high-grading the ore. That was the practice of the miners carrying out high-grade ore in their pockets when their shift was finished.
They also started a scrip system to pay the miners. The downturn in profits of the mines was given as the reason. However, it must be pointed out that almost $8,000,000 in production was reported in 1907 (that would be $208,000,000 today). That means between the miner’s high-grading and the mine owners skimming - the actual production was ???. That would be more than the years 1906 and 1908!
Those were fighting words for the union. Once again they organized strikes to force the mine owners to pay the union workers with cash!
Wingfield had his own plans - plans to break the union!
Remember this was the wild west. If two people drew on each other, there was hardly ever an inquest and no one was ever brought to court. However, Wingfield used this incident to great advantage. He said it was a conspiracy and the two union men had planned the murder. The case was brought to court. Still….
He then had three witnesses testify to what they heard and saw. One had been in camp only a little while and said he came here for his wife’s health. Remember Goldfield in December was a wretchedly miserable place to live. And this December was worst than most. The second witnesses credentials were impeccable. He had spent seven years as a Lieutenant in the Civil War. It turns out he was actually a soldier with a dishonorable discharge. The third witness was Diamondfield Jack. He had recently been convicted of murder while riding for John Sparks (yes, the Nevada Governor) and was pardoned at the last minute. He never had any qualms about intimidating people to do what his bosses wanted. He would later write to Tasker Oddie complaining that Wingfield never paid him back for paying the other two witnesses to testify.
The defense could not match the high priced owner’s lawyers. The men were convicted and sent to prison. Another half dozen local union leaders were told to leave town or…. They did.
Wingfield busted the union. He would go on to become King George - Nevada’s political, economic and business boss! Yet, after receiving a report from the officer in charge, President Roosevelt would chastise Governor Sparks for calling on the United States Army. There was never any violence and no indication there ever would be violence. All union workers found guilty in the murder of the restaurant were released within a few years. When they could receive a fair trial they were found not guilty.
And this was not the only corruptible event he organized and he was not afraid to pay to have people disappear. Still he is pretty much respected in Nevada today?
- He replaced the legitimate police force with his personal police force; a force loyal to him. Diamondfield Jack Davis was in charge.
- He coerced Governor Sparks to call out the United States Army to quell the violence. They arrived in December and were ready to head home immediately. President Theodore Roosevelt would chastise Governor Sparks for calling out the Army since there had been no real violence and none was likely to happen. (I might add that Sparks’ action would hurt his popularity immensely among the common man.)
- Two Union agitators were leading a picket at a restaurant where the owner had cut the wages of one of his waitresses. She was a union member. The owner confronted the union bosses, Smith and Preston. Guns were drawn, shots were fired, and the owner was killed.
Remember this was the wild west. If two people drew on each other, there was hardly ever an inquest and no one was ever brought to court. However, Wingfield used this incident to great advantage. He said it was a conspiracy and the two union men had planned the murder. The case was brought to court. Still….
He then had three witnesses testify to what they heard and saw. One had been in camp only a little while and said he came here for his wife’s health. Remember Goldfield in December was a wretchedly miserable place to live. And this December was worst than most. The second witnesses credentials were impeccable. He had spent seven years as a Lieutenant in the Civil War. It turns out he was actually a soldier with a dishonorable discharge. The third witness was Diamondfield Jack. He had recently been convicted of murder while riding for John Sparks (yes, the Nevada Governor) and was pardoned at the last minute. He never had any qualms about intimidating people to do what his bosses wanted. He would later write to Tasker Oddie complaining that Wingfield never paid him back for paying the other two witnesses to testify.
The defense could not match the high priced owner’s lawyers. The men were convicted and sent to prison. Another half dozen local union leaders were told to leave town or…. They did.
Wingfield busted the union. He would go on to become King George - Nevada’s political, economic and business boss! Yet, after receiving a report from the officer in charge, President Roosevelt would chastise Governor Sparks for calling on the United States Army. There was never any violence and no indication there ever would be violence. All union workers found guilty in the murder of the restaurant were released within a few years. When they could receive a fair trial they were found not guilty.
And this was not the only corruptible event he organized and he was not afraid to pay to have people disappear. Still he is pretty much respected in Nevada today?