The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-24
NOTHING LIKE THAT
The Messenger Boys Have No Time to
Clean CuspidOrs.
STRIKE NARROWLY AvERTED
For a Time Yesterday II Looked
as Though the Whole Service
Would Come to a Standstill.
But IL Did Not.

An Industrial strike Of momentous
proportions was narrowly averted in
Butte last evening, and IL was only by
very wise and prudential generalship.
on the part Of Z. G.. Erich. manager of
the Independent District Messenger
company, that the business interests of
the city were not paralyzed and the
messenger boys prevented from walk
ing out with a solid and unwavering
front. The boys had a grievance
against the manager, and weighty
reasons, for the organization Of a mes
senger kids union. Since Mr.. Erich
has been in office the boys have been
compelled to clean his cuspidor daily.
The undesirable assignment first fell TO
one kid and then to another until all
had a turn at the unpleasant job. and
then the union was formed and a dec
laration of principles promulgated. II
was resolved that no more cuspidors
would be cleaned and a severe penalty
was added for the violation of the first
principles of the union.
When the night shift went on last
evening one of the boys received the
usual assignment, but he remembered
his solemn oath and the penalty, and
so he bucked and refused to clean the
cuspidor. He was told to quit his job
Another boy was ordered to do the
scrub act and he also refused and then
got his time. The third boy went the
same way and then a grievance COM
mittee of one waited on the manager
and informed him that unless he took
back the three boys and cleaned his
own cuspidor. the whole messenger ser
vice would walk out on him and para
lyze the business. 1t did not take the
manager long to recognize the direness
of the threat and he cleaned the cuspi-
dor and the three boys went back TO
work.
The entire success OF their first
threatened strike encouraged the boys
and they are now seriously considering
another and much greater grievance.
They are paid $40 a month for their
service and from that amount there is
deducted SIC for each uniform. which,
the boys claim, cost the company $l3
each, and besides that they are fire.
quently fined and must pay for all
breakage of dishes, etc. They are taxed
81 each month until their uniforms are
paid for, and If one of them is fired"
on the fifth week. for instance. he must
leave his uniform behind and IL goes
to his successor who is again taxed SIC
at the rate of 81 month.
why" said one indignant messen-
ger, -four kids have paid for this uni
form l wear. and then we are fined
every time we tear the darned things"
The next strike will he on the princi-
pie of one kid, one uniform. one pay.
and no hand-me-downs. The boys are
waiting until the new messenger serv-
ice gets into operation before springing
their new grievance.
In connection with the messenger
business, John ORourke says he has
no interest whatever i'm either the old
or the new messenger company. having
disposed Of his interest in the indie
fpan nd I,
right he had in the new concern he as
signed 10 the old company, and all he
now owns in it he viii give willingly
for nothing.