The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-05-06
The STRIKE IN BUTTE
The LaborerS Confident Of Winning
Their Fight for Higher Wages.
Enthusiastic Meeting Last Night
Stirring Addresses by Proml-
nent Men-Many Points
Already Gained.

BY the Standards Special Wire.
BUTTE, May 5.-The strike, begun Sat
urday Is growing in magnitude and the
ranks OF the strikers are being augmented
hourly by dissatisfied laboring men. Al
though fully 800 men are out, no one
would know any trouble existed unlcssin-
formed, so orderly and quiet Is every
thing conducted. II is the good behavior
and orderly conduct of the men that nave
won the general support and commenda-
ton OF the community, not n member OF
which, unless II be n few contractors, but
what believe three dollars q day only fair
wages for a laboring man in this section
of the country.
At the meeting held Saturday night n
committee was appointed TO visit the con-
tractors and all Others employing surface
laboring men and notify them that here
after not less than So was To constitute a
labors this morning and waited upon
quite n number Of individuals and COM
panies employing laboring men. The
first one waited upon was King.
the contractor, who had already
adopted the new scale and was
paying his men accordingly. The Silver
City. Montana, and Miners Lumber COM
panics were next waited upon. Here the
committee ound the men receiving S15
per month and bunk room which they
considered equivalent To 81 per day. The
companies agreed to pay the latter wages
II the men so elected. William Winters.
whose men struck Saturday still refuses
To accede To the demand OF the strikers
and SO informed the committee. e.. =.
Lewis, n wood dealer, informed the
committee that II was ~nobody's business
what he paid his mel and refused point
blank to adopt the new schedule. Shortly
afterward. however, the committee was
told by several Of Lewis men that he had
weakened and was paying them the new
schedule rather than have n strike on his
hands. The section men and other lab
orers employed by the street-car company
were next interviewed by the committee
and stated they were to receive the same
wages paid ON other railroads for the
same work. The superintendent Of the
company informed the committee that he
could not make n change i'm the wag Of
the men without permission of Mr.. Ben
nett, who was out Of the city. The men
then notified the committee they would
quit work tins evening.
This was the substance of the commit
tees report at the meeting held tonight
Mt the Lyceum theater, nj which {. A.
Meredith, temporary president, presided.
To-nights meeting was the largest that
has yet been held. the auditorium of the
thcatcr and the lobby AS far as the outer
doors being packed. After hearing
the committees report, Patrick
Boland Of the Miners union,
seled the men to organize and be firm in
their demands, as the IA they demand
was the wages which had always been
obtained here for that kind of work ever
since the town existed. Outside contrac-
tors were responsible for the reductions
refusal IN work for less the contractors
would be compelled To yield or quit bust
ness.
Hon. Peter Brcen of jefferson county
next addressed the meeting and made
2 ringing speech in defense OF
10 be moderate and peaceful and tn keep
aloof from those who counseled violence
and lawlessness. Success could only he
obtained In thorough and systematic or
ganization and he advised the men Ia or
game aud stick to their demands.
Hon. ID. j. Hennessy was then called for
and he made a telling speech full of good
demand ~ hes strikers only a fair one, 81
n day being little enough for n laborer Ia
receive In this community. tie
also advised moderation and alb
stinence from violence or any scmblance
of IL. Organization was needful Ia insure
success, and he pointed 10 the success 81
the Miners Union as an example. By or.
ganizing and refusing TO work for less
than the schedule asked they would bring
the contractors Ia terms. In their present
demands he assured the men they had I'll,
suppor Of the entire community. tn,
gentleman spoke at considerable length
and was repeatedly applauded. III his al
vice IL needed success will attend thu
strikers.
Judge DeWolf also made q few remarks
of the same tenor as those Of the gentle
men who preceded him.
The meeting then adjourned until
o'clock afternoon, Ia rcasscm
BILE at the same place and perfect a per
manent organization.
See .Black Hussar' Tuesday, May g.