The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-18

derstood u, II was this provinces Of good
oitizeuship 10 endsavor by proper methods
90 poaosfuilY djust the differences between
employer aud smploYe. What might be
the merits OF the controversy existing be-
tween the railway COMPANY and its en-
pioFes was something with which he
was not acquainted. AZ 20 the
details. the waves paid TO
it's employees, and Whistler those wages
were sufficient or not 10 meet the demands
OF iustios and fairness he was not advised.
but be did say. II hs had been stated 20
him that the wages paid we're not Sufficient
90 enable the men 10 live in decency and
reasonable comfort and educate their chill
dTen properly. the me its of the contro-
vorsy were on the aide OF the men. Loud
applauss. Not only we the mon en-
gagged in the strike interested, but much
larger community In this state, in butte.
Great Falls and wherever tins line OF tbo
road touches Ia the state OF Montana. have
IN equal interest with these lAborinR men.
Apl lause. The business OF the
sinte was affected by H. and the
laborinR classes affected. Espeoially Was
IL true Of tho iaborinR clauses OF Butte,
where many men RE EN- lloTed IN the minea
doI eudent a on the transportation OF their
ores. IL also affected the other towns IN
the state on the line Of the road. hr.
Weed said IL was ths duty Of every good
citizen to interest himself In the settle
n snt OF the coutTove ~ by every speedy
.
shown themselves 10 bo peaceful and law
abiding people. who had done everything
that Gould be expected of them as good
citizens. For that reason the best citizens
OF Helena had assembled Ia the auditor
Jun. lie dii not believe the men would
take any position TO forfeit the good will Of
she public, and which gave the men
such magnificent strength. He believed
that the Huthoi tiles of the state county
and city wOuid aid in seeing that justice
was done. App.ause. IL on the other
h and the employees forgot themselves and
their duty TO the com unity, then 10 wOuld
become the duty Of the authorities 20 pre-
serve peace and order. II the tie up should
continue for any langth Of time Il would b e
hard 10 estimate the loss. aud he urged the
citizens of Helena 10 assist in bringing
about sons settlement OF ths controversy.
IL should be settled as speedily as possible.
Mr.. Weed was followed by County At
torney Nolan, who believed that IL Jim Hill
we're present and could see the 5000 people
In sympathy with she employees of the
Great hoithern he might change his posi-
tion. short time ago, accoi ding TO the
view in New York regarding the contem-
plated cut in wages said that IL was
scheme which he had in oontem plation for
some time. Ii was not the inability OF the
Great Northern railway 10 meet the inter
est upon tts bonds. nor It's inability TO paw
dividends, that caused ID TO reduce wages.
bat for the purTose OF increasing the
profits of the railroad at the expense of
the laborinR men. Loud applause.
lie said he was not unmind-
full of the rights OF corporate
power, aud realized the fact that these
great enterprises had aided greatly in the
development of the country. lie also real
ICED the fact that the corporation was an
entity and had no body to be kicked or
soul 30 be damned. The action OF the
~ =
manage mont TO increase the dividends At
the expense Of the laborina element which
make possible those dividends. L0ud ap-
plause. he Was sure, that as an indivId-
uAl and A. an ofhclal, he sympathiz d with
the strikers In tais instance. 30 long as
they conducted themselves as they had
done in she past, so long could they conf
dsatlJ demand bis support in every peace
able way. A few days ago
a dsclarAtioon had been re-
csiEed from headquarters declaring that
the strike was in the hands OF few worth
less hoboos laughter who desired TO get
control of the EN- ployes. ana who by the ma
ca nations OF these men had paralyzsd the
corporation for she time being. He could
say with confidence that there had been no
br aeh OF the peace hy the men. 70 long
az they conducted themselves as heretofore
so long would they have ths sympathy an
support Of the citizens Of Helena in obtain
inn their just demands. Loud Aorlause.
G. O. Heed. Of tue Reed a. Graf com
pany. said his appearance upon the plat
form was to give emphasis TO the fact ID 40
he believed that labor had rights that car
ital had TO respect. He referred TO Judge
Caldwelrs decision defining the rights of
organized labor, aud expressed his sympa-
thy for the men.
G. G. Newman said he believed il was n
rue generally observed among attorneys
that when they found the court was with
a. - ell In tWa ha
likened the people 20 the couit and believed
that much speech was unnecessary. for the
court was with the strikers In thia instance.
He believed the people OF this region we're
in favor Of the employees. The men were
waRing a war for living wages. bread and
butter; the light was for their homes and
loved ones. 10 wss but natural for the citi-
zens OF this immunity 60 eympathizs with
them. lie sometimes thought that II one
OF tue officials al ST. Paul could be taken
ON his luxury and put TO braking between
Helena and Butte. when be returned home
he would say that the men we're enti-
TED to ell that they asked. The
lAbo er was worth of his hire. aud d a man
could not get living wages there Was some
thing wrong. The people Of Montana
sympathizsd with them and desired them
90 win la this struggle. He then moved
for q COMMITTEES on resolutions 10 express
the sense Of the meeting. The speaker, 4.
4. Richardson and Col. Nolan were Ap-
pointed and retired 20 draft she rssolu-
tions.
While they we're absent {. p. Connolly
spoke. He did not know whether he could
add anything In intslligenee or weight
either mentally OF physically, 90 the dem
onstration, but IL he we're 90 put peeuu-
iary value upon his remarks be should say
they we're hardly worth a box car ride from
Helena to Silver City after the strike was
over lie was not present in behalf of
anybody or TO disparage any oorpor alton.
Neither did be believe in demHROcuety.
These men aud this corporation we're a
great deal in the position OF the man and
wife Who had some difficulties aud tried 10
get divorce. aud as very froqusntly hap
pensd, after she divorce had taken place
that such would be the Outooms OF abs
present trouble. IL the road could not pay
the wages demanded 10 should raise the
passenger aud freight rates
When John Huseby, the late populist
candidate for mayor, lowered above the
chairman, he received an ovation which
any citizen Of Helena might be proud Of. lie
said 10 was a surprise TO HIM when he
learned that the railroad men desired his
humble SELF 90 talk. lie knew his inability
60 discuss the questions. but he, like any
one OF them. was citizen uu Ter IN starry
banner sui had n common interest with
them. IA vas tight and proper that We
should express our opinions" be said, and
u ths audience would kindly overlook his
shortcomings be would give his views and
opinion on the situation. IA IL not only
the interests % these railroad men that Is
under clnsideTauon. Ne have n common
inte est. and u - right and proper that the