The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1894-04-20
CITIZENS MASS MEETING.
About 500 People Attend the Meeting
at the Opera House to Consider
the Strike.
Speeches Made by Hon. r. $. Ford
Messrs. Donovan. Freeman
and Others.
The Meeting Exceedingly Enthusiastic
Resolutions Unanimously
Adopted.

room was, on account Of the large mum
Der attending, adjourned to the oper'
house, which was through the kindness
of W. E. Chamberlain, assistant man
ager, loaned for the occasion.
About $50 some 800 citizens and rail
road men were present, and Mr.. Rey
nolds called the meeting to order. Al
this time the following gentlemen vert
on the platform: w. G. Downing, ]. w
Freeman, C.Wegner, M. M. Lyter, Judge
Race, R. S. Ford, w. 1. Riker, W. E
Chamberlain.
j. E. Reynolds explained the object Of
the meeting, which was to allow the
business men Of the city to explain theil
views of the situation. He said the mer
we're fighting for their rights. 1t was
not from choice but from necessity. The
men had served notice on j j. Hill that
so far shalt thou go and no further
After other remarks he called for nomi.
nations for chairman. z. M. Webster
was nominated, but it being found that
he was not present on motion Aid.
Young was unanimously nominated.
The chairman made a few remarks
relative to the situation, stating that he
was not familiar enough with the wage
schedules to go into details, but believed
the men had Justice on their side and
hoped they would win.
w. l. Riker, chairman Of the board OF
adjustment Of the American Railway
union, stated this was a citizens meeting
and he would therefore only dwell on a
few topics. He felt considerably indis
posed, as he was feeling the effects of
sixty hours constant work. He then de-
lineated the origin of the strike, which
was to displace the members of the A.
Il. U. by bringing in new men from the
east, and it was a matter of self preser-
walton to tie up the road. The sched-
ules demanded were only living wages,
the cost of living here being forty per
cent greater than it was in the east. lie
desired to return thanks to the business
men, the press, and the mayor of this
city for the courtesy and helps received.
He then read several kilograms he had
received, one from Chicago from the
Knights of Labor offering assistance,
one from st. Paul stating ABOUT new
men being sent out to fill the places Of
| the men of the A. r. u, another one OF
similar tenor, and one from the mayor of
Havrs to j. j. Hill stating that the citi-
zens of that place will not allow scabs to
come there to take the place of the men
on strike there. There was also one
from G. w. Case, general manager of
the road. to the effect that the company
had always been ready to confer, but
would not allow itself to be coerced, and
denied everything about new men being
sent out to replace men now employed.
Mr.. Riker stated when men were sent to
st. Paul last fall to confer with the rail-
way officials regarding revised schedules,
they were actually refused admittance
into the headquarters building. Other
kilograms were read in which the COM
pany was held responsible for the mails
being delayed. Mr.. Riker further stated
that he had wired Hogan at Butte, that
the railroad property here was thorough
ly protected. The conditions existing
here we're the same all along the line,
and no further news vas expected till
today.
He then gave a synopsis of the wages
received by the men prior to the strike,
and read the terms demanded by the
men, which have already been published
in the columns of The TRIBUNE.
A committee of four citizens, consist
ing of r. S. Ford, j. Donovan, A. Jensen
and w. G. Downing, were appointed to
draft resolutions.
The meeting was then addressed by
Judge Race who said when he came to
this town at first he found it a white
mans town, the lowest wages being $500
for labor; when the railroad came here,
il a man was offered $40 per month he
know the wages paid railroad men, the
American people were the best fed and
best clothed in the universe but $50 a
month would not do it here. He then
gave a graphic description of the wages
paid o by the railway, and stated il il
was necessary to lower the wages of the
poorer paid men to avoid going in the
hands Of the receiver, it would go there
anyhow. He stated the company should
be plainly told the restitution among
the employees, and that what the nen
are asking for is favored by the business
mel Oh tnf5 tOWn. ne u
that the men would respect property
and respect themselves, and hoped they
would receive the support Of all the bust
ness men in this town.
j. W. Freeman remarked he was IL
favor Of good wages in every vocation oil
life,-well paid wages is the foundation
of good business. When man receives
pay for labor what its worth, it reaches
every avenue Of life. Mr.. Hill sent on
a circular last fall, and asked the mel
to stand by him during the hard times
Yet he said at New York "that the hsrt
times affected his road less than an,
other" The success OF the strike de
pended ON the citizens being behind tn,
men and warned them against any de
~predations. He said be heard yesterda'
there was going to be a large amount o
drunkenness, and yet this morning no
one case was Q in the police court
showing the men are Of Drawn, integrit
and sobernees.
M. M. Lyter said be was unprepare'
to speak. He alluded TO the magnitud
10 The u<v;lro ,oud aosd - mo-. a ..~;o,,