Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-17
THE GREAT MASS MEETING.
WOrkingmen of Butte and Vicinity In
Conference.

t Workingmen Of Butte and Vicinity
=. Conference.
= They Resolved to Aid Their CO.Labor
!, ers in Anaconda.
All the seats in Renshaw Hall were file,
long before the appointed hour last even
ing and at p. m. hundreds of men wer
standing in groups at the rear end of tn
!, hall talking over the situation and tn
| probable result of the meeting. Partie
from Anaconda said that people there ar
in anything but an enviable position
Many are known to be even now in actua
want and are quite apprehensive as tt
what straights they will be driven befor.
winter is over il work is not afforded them
This sitpatiap sppliesm more pagt ticularly t.
families, the loose men being ableof course
to strike out for fresh fields and pastures
new. It was related that a day or two
ago several families sent their children to
the meat markets for meat and were in.
formed that no supplies could be furnished
hereafter without cash accompanied
the order. The proprietors were
willing to accommodate but
had credited to such an extent
that in justice to themselves they could not
longer continue so to do.
The meeting was called to order by
Frank Hollywood, and ON motion and
vote Mr.. J. j. Haggerty was elected chair.
man.
Mr.. Haggerty non taking the chair, stated
he was not fully informed as to the object
of the meeting, but would call on the speak.
ers as they were arranged on a programme
which had been handed him.
Mr.. Turner of Anaconda was the first
gentlemen called to the stand. He re.
marked that he was commissioned to
speak OF affairs as they affected the labor
ing class in Anaconda. He gave history
OF the inception of the Anaconda Smelling
Company's operations at that place, stat
| ing that active operations at the smelter
were first commenced in November, 1884.
| At that time and for one year thereafter
| the company employed sixty-five men in
the smelling department. In November,
1885, change was made whereby thirteen
men were dispensed with, and the work
they had been doing shifted on to twenty
six of the men comprised in the reduced
force. In 1886 a still further reduction
was made, and every man in the lessened
force had all he could possibly do; and such
was the state of affairs when the works
closed down in August.
In April 1885 an order was issued by the
Anaconda Company reducing the wages of
- ,onlSo o%n1xy
taken to counteract the movement and the
order was withdrawn. On November 6,
1856, the company notified it's former en-
ployes that it was ready to commence
work again providing they would accept a
reduction as follows:
Skimmers from. m....................$4.5O to $50
Firemen from.....................$3 SO to 800
CacinerS from. to 3.OO
Outside employees from.........$3.OO to zoo
At meeting Of the laborers of the city.
where 600 to 700 persons were present, a
vote was taken by acclamation and de-
cision made that the scale of wages would
not be accepted. (Applause.) Mr.. Turner
remarked that he was one OF a committee
appointed to wait upon Mr.. DAILY and APP
prise him OF the action of the maeting
that the company could not resume with
profit to itself at former wages.
He, said the scale OF wages
was made out in San Francisco and
sent to him. That he had visited San
Francisco in an endeavor to have the rates
changed, taking with him tables showing
the cost OF living here. etc., but his efforts
had not been successful. The management
held that at the prices they had been pay
ing the company was not able to compete
with it's product with the Calumet and
Hecla and other companies. The commit
tee returned to the meeting of employees and
The matter was then put to a private vote
and 297 voted not to accept and 81 in IA
vor of accepting the reduced wages. The
committee again returned to Mr.. DAILY and
informed him OF the decision OF the meet
ing.
Mr.. Turner then dwelt for sometime
on the condition of the workmen
and their families stating that many were
in debt and that the conGscation of their
little homes stared them in the face. A
meeting of the business men of Anaconda
had been held and the result was that they
had urged the men to accept the offers held
out. Mr.. Turner said that he believed
many who had voted not to accept had
done so not because of an unwiIlingness on
their part to go to work at the reduced
wages but because accepting such wages
might act as an opening wedge in effecting
q general reduction throughout the Terri
tory. He considered it an honor to be
called upon to speak in behalf OF the inter-
ests OF men who, actuated by such motives,
had refused to accept the reduction. Zap
plause.
Mr.. w. Penrose was next called to the
stand and remarked that he understood
the object of the meeting was to devise
means to protect the late employees of the
company at Anaconda. He perpetrated
some intended puns in reference to the re-
pOrts of matters there Koched up for The
MINER and of the Mantle of solicitude
thrown over the matter by another paper
and claimed to have read the Review OF the
man who is said to Leon-hard on the Ana
conda paper. He said he was unalterably
opposed to any attempt to reduce wages.
| (Applause) He was not inclined to blame
Mr.. Daily, but believed he was simply acting
under instructions as agent OF the most
powerful syndicate in America.
He thought reasons should be advanced
to help stiffen the Anaconda laborers in
| their determination to stand out against
a reduction. He stated that three years
ago the mining companies were said to he
able to produce copper at cents a pound,
! that the present price was IL cents and
therefore the companies were better able
to pay the wages to-day than in years gone
by. He stated as his belief that the com
pany would not long remain closed down
that when Daily gets everything ready he
will start up whether the men submit te
reduced wages or not. He said Mr.. DAILY
had lived for years on the coast; that hi
knew the temper OF western men, and knew
it would be the sheerest folly to attempt tC
get men to work at lower figures.
Mr.. Penrose here paid extended back
handed compliments to the city dailies
claiming that they misrepresented matters
ETC., and we're working hand in hand will
capitalists in an endeavor to fleece tn
workmen and bring about lower wages
He made reference to the difference, cost o
living etc. in the Lake region and Montana
and said that while it might be true tina
Lake Superior ore was easier worked, tn
percentage of sill 7er in Montana NOR
than made up the difference. He said b
was sorry to hear that the circumstance
in Anaconda were such that any person
. were influenced by their necessities to de
sire to accept the reduced wages offered
He said the company had over 50 600, ,OO'
in improvements, and in his opinion couls
not afford to let the plant remain idle. H
again referred to the Butte papers, and hi
remark that they may try to make Dali
think he is nice man because he sided il