The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-01
ENLISTED FOR. The WAR.
Occur d'Alene Miners Say They Are
Prepared to Stay Out
Two Years.
Labor Unions Throughout Mon
tana Promise Them Ample
Assistance.
Forty Thousand Dollars From
This State Every Month-Tha
Owners Are just as Firm.

- :
This State Every Month-Tha
Owners Are just as Firm.
Al one time il was thought there might
be an agreement between the Mine owners
association of the Ceur d'Alenes aid the
Miners union, and thu differences between
the two adjusted. But all hope of com
promise in the near future has been
abandoned and both sides are preparing
for a long siege. The mines closed Jan, 10,
owing to a difference between the owners
and the railroad companies about frelght
rates. This trouble was settled in a month
or 40. but before the owners would agree to
begin operations they notified the miners
that they must accept n new scale OF wages.
This was $3.50 a day for skilled miners ana
S3 for laborsrs and carmen. The rate be-
fore the shutdown was $3.50 a day for
both skilled and unskllled miners. and this
the Miners union refused to do. The scale
hxsd by the owners was II under which
the mines we're operated before the Miners
union was organized. There have been q
number Of attempts to settle the trouble,
but all without results and now each side -
arranging for a long term Of ldleness.
President O'Brien a Secretary Poyn-
ton, OF the Ceur d'Alene miners union,
have recently visited Montana. and laid the
case Of the miners befors the labor unions
in the various cities. In talking Of the sit
nation and the result of his visit President
O'Brien says: 'The situation has not been
changed ID the least since April !. Ing
miners are waiting and the owners are do
ing the same. The boys are quiet. attend
ing to their own affairs and awaiting the
outcome with great confidence. The own
ers' association thought to starve Us out,
but thew are already beginning to see that
this policv cannot be carried out. Inc
miners refuse to be starved. Ihey may
keep their rations down a little, M 40
without early vegetables and forty cent but
ter. but they will have all the substantials
needed to keep away hunger even II the
contest il kept on for two years. d I'M
ions in Montana recognizes the Ceur
d'Alenes as q part of their home terrlsoty
and the miners their brothers. Ihey VIII
stand BY US to the last and aid us with SYM
pathv and bread"
The officers will purchase in Spokane
n outfit for a big supply stose to be opened
t Wallace, with branch houses at all the
owns where the miners reside. referring
TO his plans, President O'Brien said: we
viii purchase a big stock Of provision
staples n will supply to the miners the
goods needed for their support. We have
decided that it is useless to be paying the
stores owned BY mining companies big
profits on supplies and thus STRENGTHENING
our oppressors. Oar goods will be bought
at Wholesale in carload lots and the ex-
pense Of keeping the men during our fight
for our lights will be reduced TO the mini
mum. Will We have money enough 70
carry out this programmed? Undoubtedly.
We ar .eceiving the solid support OF the
trades unions every where and Will not lack
for funds, no matter how long drawn out
the contest should be.
1T ID neither our intention nor our pur-
pose" concluded Mr.. OBJ len, "to be run
out by the Importation of soab labor. The
mine owners are delaying action, but the
issue is there and they will be compelled to
meet it sooner or later.
trades unions" said Secretary Poynton,
'and have been we'll treated. At Missoula
the Farmers alliance took hold of our
cause, as we'll as the Knights of Labor, and
carloads of provisions, such as tour, but
ter and potatoes. will be shipped to us. At
Butte there was only one sentiment. and
that was that the miners must win their
fight. This was true of the Carpenters
union, the stationary engineers, the incl
tiers, and even the Wemsn's Protective
union, there being thirty-three organiza-
tions in all that pledged their hearty sup.
port. Go ahead; stand up for your rights;
your fight is our fight and We will see that
you do not lack money if the contest is CON
tinued two yeara,' they said. 1t was very
encouraging and will be good news for the
boys at home, who have been out of work
for about four months, but who propose to
stand up for their rights until the starvation
period is reached, if it is necessary. Now
L. -l-L 49, - .,1 ~- E-. ~-,kI Al.
chances OF starvation removed our chances
of success are improved. At Granite the
union took Immediate action and the C9ur
d'Alene fund WAS put down as a standing
fund to last till the trouble is over. This
10 what the unions generally are doing.o
The secretary and treasurer of the Rntte
Miners union recently spent a few days in
Wallace. The result of their report tc
their union was that each member was
assessed SIS a month for the support of the
CGur d'Alens union. p esident O'Brien
has already received 81, 200 in cash from
the Butte union. Altogether the labol
unions in Montana have pledged the Coeul
d'Alens union $4,000 q month during ths
shutdown. The union men claim tina
they can defeat any measure that the asso-
citation may attempt for resnminG work
and that in q quiet, lawful manner. The
train men. they say, are thoroughly organ.
lied and III sympathy with the miners. anC
al CASE tue Mlh6 OWueFS DeBlu operation!
At the reduced wage schedule they wouit
find it impossible to get q ton of ore haulet
out of the country.
The mine owners on their side are deter
mined to run their business, and if the
cannot get men in the Occur d'Alenes t,
work will 90 outside for them: The pump
in the Poorman at Burke will be aiken GU
and the mine allowed to food. The owner
are not in any hurry to start up, owing t
she low price of silver, and the probabilit
is they will make no attempt to do SO unit
the market gets better.
The largest line of purses, card cases an
leather goods in the city at The Bee Hive.
Those spring suits The New YORK Clothing G.
are showing are "heautiea.f