Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-05-01

LABOR AND THE CRISIS.
While the news from the east dali
! brings reports of strikes in progress an'
contemplated or other labor troubles, i
ie a matter of pride as we'll as congratu
lation to know that no such condition
exists in Montana, Here the statu
between capital and labor, or employe
and employe, continue to be of the mos
cordial character. No effort has beer
made on either side to change the rela
tions that have so long existed an(
which have proved a mutual advantage
Fair wages, fair hours, and an honest
days work for the same is still the rule
Owing to the shutdown of the silver
mines and smelters there are not so many
men employed as there would be under
different circumstances and consequent
upon this the building trades suffer, yet
all who are at work receive Just compen-
sation. For this there is reason to be
thankful. Times could be much better
and they could be much worse They
are certainly in marked contrast for the
better with those that prevail in the
east. La the latter section the remedy
is in the hands of the work
ingman himself His power lies in
the intelligent use of the ballot. Strikes
may afford temporary relief in the
matter of wages, but they will not secure
work for the army of idle men. To &C.
complish that, there must be change
in the financial system, which will be
followed by prosperous era and re-
sumption of business. This can only be
secured by the industrial masses of the
east uniting with those of the south and
west in securing return to bimetallism
ibis is not the time to quibble about
party names or general politics. Free
coinage is the one need of the hours
To that all else must be subordinated, if
a victory is to be won. If this cause, the
cause of the producers OF the land, with
out regard to locality or calling, is de-
feated, the defeat will be due to the ig-
norance and blindness of the working
man. If, on the contrary, he votes for
his own interest, all will be well. No
matter which party hoists the free coin
age banner, it is the duty and interest of
every toiler to support that party and
aid in electing it's candidates. This
sentiment finds an apt expression
in a letter written a few days
ago by D. ]. Hennessey, one of
the most successful OF Montana mer-
chants. A New York firm with which
he has extensive business relations,
wrote him letter urging him to do what
he could to aid the cause of gold, or as
the eastern men call it, sound money.
In response he wrote manly letter CIV
ing the Montana side of it, and in it he
said: "Absurd and presumptuous as it
may appear, the humblest laborer in his
cabin in Montana claims the same right
to think and act for himself as does the
merchant prince in his palace in New
York. Rest assured there will be no
hating or hesitation on the part of dele
gates sent from Montana to any of the
national conventions. They will be there
to act for the people, and to demand free
and unlimited coinage of silver at 1G to
l. am democrat and hope my party
will continue to be the party OF the peo-
pie by declaring in convention for free
coinage of silver. If they do not, then
will support any party that does" This
latter paragraph has the genuine ring.
Free coinage is the politics of Montana.
On that issue, party names must be for
gotten If the democratic national con-
vention declares unequivocally for free
coinage its electoral ticket and congress.
sional candidate should receive unani-
nous vote, If it does not, the candid
ates OF the party that does, must have
the same support. The object to be at
tanned is too important to admit of Mon
tena being divided house.