The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-10-21
THE GAG LAW.

THE GAG LAW.
In another column will be founG
the full text Of the so-called Gag
Law" We give 1t that the reader'
Of the MINER may become acqaaint
cd with its provisions and determine
for themselves ~ to its justice or ne
costly. Of ceurse there j. ~ there
has been a wide difference Of opinion
concerning the necessity for the exist
euce Of such y law upon our statute
books. While one party claims that
the law IL . direc. aud standing insult
to peaceable, orderly. law'ab'dinz
and intelligent class u our citizens
the other holds that 1t is nect ssary
for the protection Of the immense
mining and other interests Of Mon
tana against the violence Or interior
ence Of oryanixed bodies Of men who
desire to control the price OF lavor.
The latter party also holds that the
law Is not aimed altogether at miners,
but j. intended to check unlawful iu-
reference upon the part Of iaborerz
In other industries with the rights
and property Of their employers. Here
then we find clashing Of opinions,
but ~ we view 1t, no cIashing of III
terxsts; for 10th parties concede that
It il to the interest Of all concerned
that every industry in the Territory
should bs peaceably and continuous
ly pursued.
The law as 1t stands IL = dead letter
upon our statute books. Some Of it,
provisions are 80 manifestly unjastiy
severe that their enforcement y uld
be u violation Of every principle of
equity ~ practiced among civilized
people. For instance any person
vho utters y threat intended to in
timidate an employee STALL be deemed
guilty Of a nli*<ie,aeanor aud liable to
y heavy fine and imprisonment. The
punishment is cut IT all proportion
to the offence and long Us the pres
ent law remain. upon our statute
lxh.ks IL wilt b. Il dead letter. But
this d.,es not prove that there Is II"
necessity or will be no necessity for
s.,nle law which will check aud pun
isl, unlawful interference with pri-
waite rignts and property. II there
ever wilt Ike ne..'i Of u law for this
purpose the time is now at hand.
For The mex, ten years or longer rail
r.a.d building will BE- one Of the l.rin-
cil,sl industries pursued IN the coun-
try. While many honest, initsstri-
Gu; and law abiding men engage rs
day laborers upon them, there are
many others who arc neither orderly
nor h.,ncst. We have evidences of
this fact within the past ten days in
this Territory. Recent press reports
have informed III that there are over
two hundred ex-cOnvicls working
upon the Northern Pacific below
Misss,ula, besides sDiail ARMY Of
camp followers largely composed Of
and refugees from JUS
tice.. a short time ago these wor-
thies organized /" strike and drove
off, $50 other laN,rers employed by
the contractors. The military was
t:ltyrapl,isl ior and after the lapse OF
\ Jew days the strike was adjusted,
bat upon what terms cur di>iatc:l.s
fail to explain. 1t is ayaii.s. just
such q class 81 wO:kmen Ell! ,l.,yers
Of labor in Montana m,u>; lc i.rot..c,-
ri, and 10 protect then, ettectual!y u
law for that purpose
should he enacted.
We are not, nor do We believe The
honest wcrkingmen Of the Territory
are In favor O; giving over the prime
industries Of Montana To law!essles.
of any kind. Nor do we believe they
would withdraw protection from
hen, to an extent that would divert
capital from engaging in them or
would disturb or render uneasy that
slready employed. Capita, is ssnsi-
i've to threats Of lawlrssless, AMI
while We believe that its investment
n our mining properties here would
We perfectly safe, rs far as it would
" DISTURBED by ac,s Of violence or Of
unlawful interference on the part Of
he la',oring men, ye: men Of ni-:sms
le-itate to invest where the law does
rot protect their investments from !;
cts Of violence or unlawful intcrfcr-
nee which may l'e offered them. III
lew Of the foregoing facts i; must be |
"ncesietl that the present law slorn
4 its ),arsiness aud niMliti.d to Lur-
'ionize with our peaceful commune
y, or some other law which will meet
II reasonable requirements should lie
u force. Nothing more should he
sked, nothing less should he &c.
on.1..<l