The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-11-21
RUMOR IN LEADVlLLE
1t Appears That Poth Sides Fave
Eyes on Montana.
TALK OF A GENERAL STRIKE
Nine Owners Scheming to Cut OFF
Contributions From the Outside
Tho Butte People Don't An
tlclpate Trouble. However.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Leadville, Nov. 20.-If the statements
made on authority OF the miners OF
this district are true 1t will not be long
before the miners and mine managers
of Montana and every other western
mining state will have locked horns in
a struggle for supremacy on the one
hand and for the present rate or
wages on the other. The strike AT this
point has been in progress for nearly
six months. The state militia has oc-
cupied the ground In military encamp-
ment for a longer period Of time than
have state troops of any other state
to preserve the peace. although the
militia has absolutely no authority
whatever in the matter of making ar
rests. its chief duty being to escort
imported miners from the depot to the
mines, although there have been no
attempts on the part OF the Miners
union to interfere. and statements are
made from reliable sources that what
little trouble that has occurred has
been forced by the Missourians. This
costs Colorado $500 per day. Now
comes a statement to the effect that
the governor will interfere to settle
the strike. Resolution after resolution
has been passed by the Miners union
denouncing outlawry, and they have
as rule kept off the streets at night.
The $500 men who are out have been
supported by the Western Miners
Federation, the miners of Butte and
of Montana have contributed largely
and with lavish hand to their aid.
Yesterday there was u rumor on the
streets which took definite form to-day
that the managers had prevailed upon
a number OF other managers in this
state and other mining states, Mon
tana especially, to prevent further con-
tribution OF funds by reduction OF
wages In various camps. Then the
miners decided to play their trump
card. and messages were sent to all
Miners unions In the state and
throughout the West requiring that a
sympathy strike be inaugurated and
that the managers be met upon their
own ground by the men striking the
first blow.
The Butte union is admitted to be
the strongest in the United States and
the strongest that has existed since
the days OF the Mississippi Pilots asso-
citation, and the announcement that
the managers would arbitrarily cut
the wages of these men 80 cents day
was calculated 10 fall as thunderbolt
In the camp OF the workingmen.
Now comes the news that the entire
Cripple Creek district. employing near
ly 10000 men. is ready to go on strike
and that the men of Telluride and In
Marshal basin are preparing to follow
suit. The purpose of the managers, II
Is said, Is to cause the Butte union so
much trouble at home that they can
not afford to send money to this camp
and that therefore the men here will
be compelled to give In from mere
force of want, the same force to apply
to other Colorado camps. Officers OF
the unions are very active. 1t is now
said they will adopt retaliatory meas
ures by following out the exact line of
campaign laid down by the managers.
for they hold that they have SO far
acted fair in that they have offered to
arbitrate any and all portions of their
claims. while the managers refuse alb
solutely to discuss the matter at all.
The best of authority, it is said. is Civ
en- for the statement that a clash will
occur In Butte. What the result Will
be 1t Is hard to predict.
The officers of the Miners union
scarcely credit the idea that the man
ayers will attempt to force matters In
Butte. believing that the union there
Is too strong and the interest of the
mine owners and managers them
selves so great that the result would
cost the managers much more tnan the
men have at stake.