Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-17
in standing out until the works are again
in full operation at the former wage rates.

Mr.. Leonard being called on stated tina
he did not believe 80 far as he was able t
judge from observation and information
obtainable that the company intended re
suming operations soon if the old rate
were insisted on. He said there was NJ
question but some families we're in neeC
and suffering, and he trusted tho Butte
people would contribute literally to their
assistance.
Mr.. John Kirby said armies meet and
contend for supremacyin in affairs OF nations
and men meet to fight the battle of life and
lend support to suffering fellow-workmen.
showed only too plainly the sentiment of
Butte workingmen. 1t was fitting that the
Anaconda workmen should take your ap-
proval or disapproval OF their action, be-
cause, had they accepted q reduction and
the reduction should cause similar effect in
Butte, you could say ''you men OF Ana
conda have done this"
The speaker quoted statistics in regard
to the Anaconda Company, and credited it
with having on June 18th Of this year
nearly 1000 men employed, either
directly or indirectly, and paying out over
&20, ,000 = .aon&h for lA6Or. He referred
to the condition Of workmen In Lake
Superior region as ascertained by personal
0OoCIV0VAOu1 fbuO 6dA0 ~ "0O OIL
to class Montana workmen with them in
any manner whatever. He stated that
one Ryan, q storekeeper in one OF the
places there, had told him he had one
hundred men on hin books that in five
years had not seen dollar of their own.
They had traded out every dollar due
them in the store the company protected,
as the Northern Pacific Coal Company pro-
tected it's store at Timberline. His elo-
quent reference to Montana workmen in
comparison with those of the Superior
region drew forth applause and cheers. He
said he did not believe man with q family
should be asked to live on the small sti-
pend of $3.50 a day. That he had taken
pains some time since to gather statistics
as to the actual cost of family
of five-a man and wife and three
children-and he had found that
the average monthly expenditures of
the families of such workmen in the city OF
Butte were as follows: groceries $4,000,
meat $3.50, rent $13. leaving but $14.5O
a month for fuel, clothing, etc., to a man
who received a salary OF $3.50 a day. AS
long as the men of Montana stand up for
what is right, justice will be accorded them.
When attempts were made to reduce wages
in Leadville they proved failures. There is
no necessity for fear that the effort will be
successful here. The men of this camp are
ready to meet any emergency. II the mines
do not pay the men will then work for less,
there is not man here that desires to see
any company work without profit.
Frank Hollywood referred to the strategy
down and by silence leaving men without
any warning that when work would be re-
sumed that lower wages would be given.
He thought unfair advantage had been
taken, as some men that would have left
or other places had been led to remain in
Anaconda. He stated that to his know
edge the company owning the Anaconda
Smelling Works had been the first to re-
iuce wages in places where it carried on
operations outside of Montana.
He read the following and motion was |
made to adopt the same:
WHEREAS, The employees of the Anacon. |
la Smelling Works have not accepted the |
present scale of wages rendered them, in |
he interests of the laboring element of
Montana Territory, be it
Resolved That we, workimgmen of Butte |
Iity, fully appreciate their efforts to up.
lold the existing scale of wages Of this !
Western country, do cordially tender them |
,ur sympathy and support, and further
Resolved, That y copy OF these resolu- |
ions he forwarded to Mr.. Marcus DAILY |
md be also inserted in the local news |
,apers.
Pending action on the resolutions an in
'itation was extended to any one present,
Who took any exception to the resolutions !
,r who desired to make any remarks to let |
himself be heard.
Sample H. Orr asked what proportion
he product of the Anaconda Company
,ore to the total product Of the United |
States
Calls were made for Reed, Searl,s and
Mantle to answer the question but there
vas no response.
Mr.. Leonard, on being called for said,
;he total product of the Anaconda Com
,any was about Is, 900 tons year-that
t did not exceed that amount.
Mr.. Orr then took the stand and made a
ew remarks.
The question on the adoption Of the
resolution coming up, Mr.. Barnard Nc
Dewitt moved to amend by adding the fol-
owing:
Resolved, That the workingmen OF Butte
will lend support to the men OF Anaconda
while they hold out against q reduction OF
wages.
On motion and vote the amendment was
adopted with applause, and the original
as amended were also adopted.
Chairman Haggerty made a few pertinent
remarks and dismissed the assembly.