The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-10-30
By a Laborlng Man, Who Knows
Just What He Is Talking
About
Meeting at Great Falls, of Laborlna
Men, Addressed by Their
Brethren.
Michael Corbstt aud Other unIoa Men
Read the Record on the subject
OF LabsF.
sneclnI 10 Tho Indonendent.

Special 10 The Independent.
Great Falls. Oct. 29.-The Helena-for-
the-Capital meeting tonight was char
acterized by n full attendance of labor
ing people and enthusiasm met the
statements OF facts by their brothers
from Helena. Michael Corbett was In
troduced by Chairman J. G. Huntoon
ms the FIRST speaker OF the evening.
Corbett stated he was here 10 defend
the reputation Of the working men OF
Helena. Traitors 20 labor were going
about through the state circulating
false and infamous reports upon the
union labor OF Helena. chas. Lane re-
Gently had declared that Helena had
contributed but 80 20 their distressed
brothers In the Occur d'Alenes. II was
lie. pure and simple, but n sample OF
the campaign Anaconda was making.
Two years ago that shrevd corpora
ton had gone 10 work and, through It's
emissaries. worked resolutions on the
Chinese question through the council Of
Silver Bow laboring men. IL said they
favored no city for capital which en-
ployed Cinnamon. IL was introduced
and fathered by a staunch reporter OF
Anaconda In that campaign and this.
and yet he voted for Chinese city
when at that time there was a candi-
date for the capital acknowledged 20 be
entirely free from Chinese, the city OF
Great Falls. That man is Peter Breen.
The same man attempted 10 induce the
speaker TO Introduce similar resolutions
before the Helena laborunions regard
Ing this question. He had railroaded
set through the Butte Union. which
stated that the Occur d'Alene mine
owners were OF Helena, and therefore
Helena should be deprived OF the capt
tai The other resolutions he tried to
have passed by the Helena union. but
list OF Idaho mine owners was de-
manded. Peter Breen failed 20 furnish
one, and the matter was dropped.
The speaker had found, through his
own efforts. that out OF twenty-five
mine owners in that field. two were
from Helena. He had thought at first
there was some merit In Brcen'a propo-
sition. although he did not like his
methods. but now he had discovered the
purpose. He and the rest OF Helenn's
working men objected 10 being spanked
like so many babies at the will OF "A
Turkish pasha. Corbett said; II have
proof In my pocket that Peter Brcen
went TO the Occur d'Alenes without a
vestige of authority. He had no COM
mission from the Miners union OF
Butte. nor the knights OF Labor. He
was a would-be leader Of labor. who
pushed himself forward"
Helena had organized labor before
Anaconda existed. and 10 illustrate how
different the nurture afforded by each
OF these cities he would say that an
assembly was sormcd In each In 1855:
that OF Helena is alive and fourishing
to-day. but Anacondas ceased 10 ex-
ist. crushed out by the power OF cor
poration. and had been sustained by
contributions until the capital cam
pnlgn. when Marcus Daily took Il to
his bosom.
When In September. 1883. the speaker
worked on the erection OF the Anaconda
smelter as stonemason the rate In
Butte was 81 per day, and during the
fall II was paid at Anaconda. Mean
time, the company advertised In Salt
Lake and Denver what magnificent
works Il was building. and the extraor-
dinary wages IL paid. and the result
was that more artisans came into tho
country than could find work. and In
the spring he, with the rest. was cut
down 20 IS. and had 90 take II and be
content. That is some OF Days friend
ship for labor.
His organ first said there were no Ia
Dor unions In Helena, then discovered
ten union men there. but and these
other gentlemen are here 10 testify
that thre are ten labor organizations
In Helena. We had a larger delegation
10 meet and talk with Great Falls To-
cal labor unions. and wish at this point
10 thank you for the cordial reception
which we had on Friday night"
Corbett went on 90 refute the ly-
ing statements made by Anaconda
speakers regarding Helena's position
toward labor. and cited many cases
wherein Helena had shown herself mag
unanimous while Anaconda had en-
tirely failed to toe the mark. The
speech was full OF bright. witty re-
marks, which caught the fancy OF the
audience.
J. l.. Carruthers, John Huesby.
Adolph Lutz and others followed In
short speeches enthusiastically re-
ceived.