Summary Of The Vancouver Island Coalfields August 1913 By Daniel Shade

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A Summary of Daniel Schades "A Militia of the Occupation of the Vancouver Island Coalfields, August 1913" In the article "A Militia of the Occupation of the Vancouver Island Coalfields, August 1913" by Daniel Schade there is distinct disagreement between the owners of the coal mines and the workers. The workers of the coal mines are very displeased with the appalling work conditions that are forced upon them, and thus start a huge uproar by striking. To contravene the strikers, the owners of the mines simply hire new workers. This causes huge animosity in the strikers who begin destroying the mines, burning down houses, and causing various amounts of damage around and in the Vancouver Island coal fields. To try and stop this …show more content…

Instead of negotiating with the workers the employers simply replaced them. The workers retaliated by completely destroying houses: "rails and mine carts [were] torn apart, and a host of other equipment in and around the mine [were] set alight" (23). Furthermore the miners chased many families to the forests of Vancouver Island due to their outrage at the men who replaced their positions on the mines. The government reciprocated by forming a militia. The militia was formed of "businessmen, clerks, tradesmen, shopkeepers, and teachers" with little experience in warfare (17). The militia dedicated one to two days every week through the winter and a week in the summer to prepare for battle. These men had to abandon their jobs to fight in the militia, showing clear commitment to the cause. This however caused problems with the militia’s employers. Many of the men were threatened to be fired if they did not return to their jobs. Thankfully, "in response the militia [coordinators] protected their men and even charged (and convicted) the secretary of the Victoria school district" (37).To protect the militia from further problems, Schade explains how the Trades and Labor Council (TLC) put forth an act to protect all those participating in the

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