The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-25
A MEETING or LABORERS.
The Gathering at Assembly Hall to
Hear tho Result Of
Arbitration.
No Final Report Made on the
Rapid Transit Wage
Question.
The Feeling on both Sides Indicates nm
Amicnble Adjustment of All Ex-
listing Difficulties.

The meeting at Assembly hall last night
to hear the report Of the committee mp
pointed to arrange for arbitrating the
Rapid Transit company wage question, was
we'll attended. Michael Corbstt presided
and John y. Bennett was secretary. ]. W.
Rose. one Of the committee. reported that
on meeting they had found that Harry
Hazleton and himself were pretty much
Of tbs same mind, that Manager Lawrence
had good grounds. according to his state
msnt, for doing as he did. In selecting one
Of their number they settled upon Michael
Corbett as most likely to stand out for
what the majority of the workmen consid-
ered the exact rights of labor. Mr.. Rose
then made some general remarks on the
state Of labor, in which he stated that the
craftsmanship that had a million or two
tramps and a few Thousand millionaires
ought to BE- retired. They wanted a pollt-
ical filler to cleanse the stream from the
source.
Chairman Corbett said that he had no
titled Manager Lawrence Of his appoint
ment AZ arbitrator on tho part Of labor.
Mr.. Lawrence thought the matter could be
settled By himself and Mr.. Corbett without
the need Of the third arbitrator. It val
evident that Mr.. Lawrence was 1nwell, az
he said he was. He said that az soon al he
was in condition to talk the matter over he
would notify Mr.. Corbett. That was how
the matter stood. Mr.. Corbett then gave
his views briefly in the relations Of capital
and labor. He said working msn and en-
ployers should meet and settle the wage
question, for q season at least. He didn't
think it ought to be confined to the rapiG
transit company, as they were liable K
meet the same difficulty from other quar-
ters al any time. If they got together anG
settled the matter, even for one season, j
would be beneficial to all around. It had
driving capital out Of Helena. He would
like to see the working people pu'
themselves on record and il there was n
blame take it. II any blame attached tx
capital let capital take it. IT there is an,
grass to grow in the streets Of Helena" h
said, let the people know that it is no
owing to the laborinR men,"
Lid you understand that Mr.. Lawrence
was to act as one of the arbitrators2'
asked Secretary Bennett.
"Yes,'' replied Chairman Corbett.
"Ihen." said Mr.. Bennett, II insist on
having 8 third arbitrator. The third party
would not have the same interest rs tbs
contendinR a1bitrators. There will be nj
good results unless the board is complete
This brought out a general expression o
sentiment. Some thought that Mr.. Law
rencs's wish to be one OF the arbitrator
was q confession on his part that he meant
to be liberal. II necessary the third mar
could be called in. One man thought i
better to put up with the reduction 70
awhile rather than stop the work. provided
IN agreement could be reached to establisl
. higher price later on. Others were op
posed to taking a cent less han $3.50
day. They said if the scale of wages one
cams down it would stay down.
A. s. Douglass said he was not go sur
how it would work to try to establish a rat
Of wages for a given time. There was, b,
said, an organization in Helena known Al
the Builders and Manufacturers Exchange
"a voice, TITS dead.") He didn't know
~tration much to its own satisfaction ant
very much to the detriment Of the laboring
people. These arbitrationB had caused
many men to pack their grips and leav.
Helena. Every organization that had hat
anything to do with the Builders and Man
ufacturers Exchange had been arbitratee
clear out of sight. If they tried to arbi.
t:ate again and met with tho same success
the balance of the workinRmen would pacl
up their grips and leave. Still it wa!
worthy of a trial. It took two to make
bargain. At present one side was doing al
the bargaining, and the other side wal
looking on.
Without any further action the meeting
adjourned to Sunday evening to hear thu
further report from the committee on arbi-
tration.