The Enterprise, White Salmon, WA., June 21, 1912, page 1
CONTRACTORS GET MEN TO DAM
Adding To Crew At Dam Site Daily - Truck Load At Night
The strike at the dam site appears to be playing out.
Some of the old men have gone back to work, others have been coming singly,
in pairs and bunches of half a dozen, until now it is reported that there
are over 80 men at work. A few yielded to the importunities of the pickets
of the strikers and became members of the I.W.W., while others turned a deaf
ear to entreaties and are now at work. Rigs and the company auto, in charge
of deputies, have met the trains and rushed the incoming laborers to the
dam site. The pickets have attempted no violence, and so far decent in their
arguments with the incoming men, says Engineer Walsh.
A few armed deputies are maintained by Stone & Webster
as assurance to incoming laborers, the attitude of the strikers being peaceable.
Stone & Webster say they cannot yield to the 25¢
increase in wages, the minimum being $2.25, some of the laborers drawing
as much as $3 a day. Old laborers who have returned to work say they are
satisfied with the food conditions, and they get all the good food they can
eat. Poor food conditions was alleged by some of the strikers as one of the
reasons for quitting work.
A few of the strikers will have quarters in the Byrkett
building and receive rations from Portland from time to time.
Stone & Webster will take back any who many want
to return, with the exception of agitators, as they can use a large force,
100 more being desired right now, and in a few days still more.
The Northwestern Co. has accepted the conditions of franchise
of the Portland City Council and expect to be able to furnish power and light
by the new year.
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© Jeffrey L. Elmer