The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-07
ONION MEMS TESTIMONY
Denied That the Assembly Was
Responsible for the Boycott.
DID NOT AUTHORIZE IT
Had Nothing to Do With the Notices
Which Were So Widely Distributed
in Its Name-Judge Burns
on the Stand.

At the Chinese boycott injunction
hearing yesterday several ex-ofiicers
and delegates of the silver Bow Trades
and Labor assembly testified and de-
MED fatty that the assembly was
responsible for the boycott or that ii
authorized the boycott notices issued
and distributed owe the name of the
assembly a year ago.
Judge p. II. Burns. one of the de-
PENDANTS, was the first witness called
Yesterday morning. He said he was 36
years of age and had lived in Butte
about four years. n was in the city
during the winter of 1861.
did you know OF the existence in
Butte. in 1861. of combinations and
organizations Of men known as b
organizations"
Yes. sir; ! was connected with sew
eral."
The witness said he had personal
knowledge of only the existence of
W unions. but possessed hearsay or
common knowledge of others. The Sill
yer Bow Trades and Labor assembly
had representation from 10 or IL unions.
From January to July, 1897. he was
president of the assembly. MIR. Burns
WI questioned relative 10 the contract
between the assembly and the Standard
Printing company. by which the as
sembly secured control of the Bystand-
er. but he knew little about IL.
Do you remember of any statement
made in the assembly by delegates
- 49, r,AISs md INnftnEEf Itntnn
relative TO Chinese labor" asked Col
onel Sanders.
They might have. The assembly was
organized in the interest of labor and
TO maintain union wages and the dele
gates often reported cases where per
sons employed n~on-union labor"
What. IL anything. do you know or
the existence of a boycott on the Chi
nese at h a timer"
IF by a boycott you mean the with
holding of patronage, then i would say
that there was. as IL is n of the prin-
cipies of all labor organizations to
withhold patronage from persons who
are not members Of organized labor or
who employ such labor"
The witness was asked again IL the
boycott was not expressly against the
Chinese.
Il believe II was generally under
stood among the labor unions to boy
tOlI tnfm 10 the extent nl UNION ldbOT
Withholding patronage from them"
do you not know there was spe-
officially as TO the Chinese a boycott
declared and carried IN by the labor
organizations. or some OF Them
Il do not absolutely-only by hear
say"
Mr.. Burns said he did not remem-
Der ever seeing any boycott notices dis
tributed about the city and the only
banner or sign he saw to that effect
was on a wagon hauled about the city.
He did not believe hat sign bore the
name or endorsement of the Silver
Bow Trades and Labor assembly. A
number of boycott notices and dodgers.
bearing the alleged endorsement Of the
Silver Bow Trades and Labor assembly
were exhibited To the witness. but he
did not remember having ever seen
them before.
who had charge Of the grievances
presented in the Silver Bow Trades and
Labor assembly,"
1.-TWO committees-the boycott COM
mittee and the arbitration committed"
The witness could not tell who served
on those committees during his term of
Office. He explained the duties of the
two committees and said he never
knew of a grievance during his term
as president that was not adjusted and
settled by either the arbitration or
boycott committee.
Did you ever effect a settlement
with the Chinese
mo. sir: / don't think the Silver Bow
Trades and Labo assembly ever had
anything to do with the Chinese
The witness was asked as to his du-
ties as president OF the assembly, and
he said that about all he did was to pre-
side at the meetings.. call the order OF
business and appoint committees
IF n person or persons conducted
a boycott on the Chinese in the name
of the Silver Bow Trades and Labor
assembly and without its authority was
81 not part of your duty to expose the
fraud and prevent it,"
Il would consider il the duty of any
member who had any knowledge Of it,
The Bystander contract was agar
referred to and Mr.. Burns testified that
when the assembly secured control al
the paper william Hogan was elected
editor. How far his authority extended
in the conducting of the paper the wit
ness did not know.
The witness named the different Labor
unions represented in the Silver Bow
Abe Miners union at one time belonged
10 IL. but withdrew.
When the Miners union withdrew
did il not give as its reason the boycott
on the Chinese. which IL did not ap,
proven"
No: IL did not. Ny recollection Il
that no reason at all was given. The,
simply sent us a short communication
Awarded