The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-10-15
THE STRIKE.

Said one of the chief strikers for Hanks
a few days ago: "You democrats are
getting in your work at the dam and
smelters just now, but you will hear m
thing drop there pretty soonl' The
"drop,'' we presume, took place yester-
day. 1t was the strike, a full account of
which is given in our local columns. This
Hanks follower, who is noted for his in
discretion, simply gave away what has
been generally known for some time,
viz: that Rolfe, Hanks g. Co. have been do
ing all in their power for weeks to create
unrest among the laboring men of this
city and vicinity and to precipitate II
strike. In this they have succeeded,
The "drop" has been heard and If we are
not badly mistaken those responsible
parties will continue to hear it for some
time. 1t will not be a W ct sound, either,
as it breaks upon their ears hereafter, for
it is the death knell of Mr.. Hanks sena-
torial aspirations.
Their chief instrument in carrying out
this programme was A. j. Zimmerman, an
employe of II. P. Rolfe IN the Leader
office (and by the way, it is understood he
is working for less than the union rate
of wages, but doubtless gets all and
probably more than he is worth, (who is
at the head of the Workingmen's union
of this city and has been violent in his
opposition to Mr.. Gibson, in and out of
the union. He has tried to make the
latter a political machine and is chiefly
responsible for the strike that was in
augurated yesterday.
In this work Zimmerman was warmly
seconded by his chief, H. P. Rolfe of the
Leader. The latter has proven himself
almost as much of an anarchist as Zim-
norman in inveighing against corpora
tions, and the warm attachment he has
recently manifested ION paper for the
%worklngman, would be something amaz-
ing to those who knew him of old, did
they not see clearly through the scheme.
The corporation cry has been used to
the fullest extent against Mr.. Gibson, who
happens to be an officer of the Townsite
company. The purpose of the strike,
which was brought about by Zimmerman
in republican interest, is to intensity this
feeling, whether the alleged object OF the
strike is attained or not. But what is
most desired is this: The workingmen az
the dam and smelters who are entitled to
vote are registered and are pronouncedly
in favor of Mr.. Gibson for state senator.
If the agitators can prevent them from
being reinstated, or If they can cause the
closing down of any of these great works,
these men will likely leave the town and
county, and lose their votes, while if new
men should be put in their places the
latter would not be entitled to vote at the
forthcoming election.
This is the case IN a nutshell. This is
the "drop'' predicted by the Hanks rlac-
quer (who, by the way, is Il very officious
county officer, but the OILY trouble with
the scheme is that it is entirely too gauzy
and will not deceive anyone. Instead of
injuring Mr.. Gibson, it will react with
ten-fold force upon the agitators and
hemagoeues who have put the scheme in
motion.
We might call attention to the fact
that the strike at Sand Coulee, promoted
by this same Zimmerman, resulted in
nothing but the loss of several weeks
wages to the men and great loss to the
company. When at least Four-tifths of
the men on the great works here receive,
according to their skill and occupation,
more than $3.50 per day, what reason
able hope is there at this time of year of
forcing an advance in the pay of the
one-fifth? No one but an agitator for
political purposes can very well