The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-14
SOMEWHAT OF A F|ASCO
Only Hundred People Attended
the Smoke Meeting.
TELLING PROTEST MADE
Members OF b MIL and Smeitermen's
Union Out in Force-Closing Down
h Works Would Prove
Great Hardship.

Between coughs about 100 people of
Butte met at the council chamber of
the city hall last evening and talked
smoke and how to solve the smoke pro-
blem. So far as solving the smoke
question or even making a step In that
direction. the meeting did not amount
to a hill of beans. A committee was ap-
pointed and there the matter dropped
inc there it will stay dropped just
where 1t has been dropped year after
year before. The only thing really de-
monstrated by the meeting was that
the people OF Butte. or at least the
to get rid of the smoke and are salts
fed to let things remain as they are. II
the people of Butte were interested in
the solution of the problem they would
lave been out in a mass meeting and
the leading business men and other
prominent citizens would have been
present. OF the bare 100 present a large
share were members of the Mill and
Shelter Mems union who were there
to make a telling protest against the
closing of the shelters and they did Il.
The meeting settles IL that the smell
tiers will continue running and that is
all that was accomplished. The smoke
in Butte's streets did not seem quite
so bad after the meeting was over, but
whether the meeting had anything to
do with that may be doubted.
The meeting was called to order by
Ex-Governor Richards, who said he a
been asked to state briefly the objects
of the meeting as being TO get together
n talk over the smoke nuisance and
be done, and what can be lone to re-
lieve the situation. He advised moder-
alton. n said that IL must be re-
membered hat the smelter industry
is the great industry Of the town and
while great hardship is entailsd by
the smoke. there might be greater suf-
ferfng IL the smelters were closed.
Mayor Harrington was suggested for
chairman of the meeting and was
unanimously chosen. The mayor said
that on account of the terrible smoke
of the past week he. In conjunction
with The chairman of the board of
county commissioners. had requested
of the smelter men hat they close down
their works for a few days pending n
change in climatic conditions. All
agreed to do so IL desired. The Butte
Reduction works has already closed
down its plant. He did not know that
any others had done so as yet.
w. ID. Clark was selected as secre-
tary of the meeting. Mr.. Clark read to
the meeting the call and the address
to the smelter companies which had
been sent by the mayor and Mr.. Clark.
Captain Brannigan moved that a COM
mittee OF five be appointed to devise
ways n mean by which the situa-
ton might be alleviated. He did not
wish to retard any enterprises or re-
tard them in their operations. Judge j.
NJ. Hinkle thought the matter should
be freely and openly discussed first and
get the ideas of all i'm regard to the
nuisance. No n disputes that the
nuisance is a bad one. But the ques-
ton has two sides to IL. II not only af-
fects the health of the people. but also
affects the financial interests of many
w~orkingmen and of many business men
In consequence. He would like to hear
discussed the matter of how to get rid
of this smoke with as little injury as
possible. Captain Brannigan withdrew
his motion.
Prof. John f. Firch said he knew
the smoke is a big nuisance and has
been so for years. The smoke question
Is agitated periodically but never has
anything been done about IL. The only
feasible way of stopping the smoke Is
to close down the smelters. That would
throw several hundred men out Of en-
ployment. In fairness the employees thus
thrown out OF work should be paid by
popular subscription so that they will
not suffer. Professor Firch said he has
a smoke messiah who is willing to come
here and whose plan is a complete sue
cess. 1t has been tried on the ores of
this district already. The present
nuisance will not last long. About Jan.
] there will be a breeze to carry away
the smoke as heretofore. Meantime,
of course, the only immediate relief is
to close dow the smelters. But Cor
permanent relief. a committee should
be appointed to devise some plan.
Col. Tom Boyle said that he is not
radical. He would not say close down
the smelters, nor would he say he
and let them confer with the smelter
committees should be appointed, one of
the citizens and one of the aldermen.
and lie THEM confer with the smelter
men. 1t has been said that Butte Is
the wickedest city in the world. Some
times he thought when he tasted this
smoke that he was already in the next
world. He wanted committees appoint
ed that would be composed of workers.
a man whose little child Is affected
would not give up that child for all
the smelters in the world.
T. j. Mcguire, a smelter employee, ex.
planned a water process of ~conquering
the smoke, which idea came to him
when working in the Anaconda smelt-
ers. and he had experimental sufficient
ly TO satisfy himself that he could
do II.
Ex-Governor j. +. Richards said he
was disappointed in the meeting. At
the beginning he had noticed a num-
Der of mining and smelter men here 10
consult with the citizens I'm n friendly
wav. But where are our representative
citizens tonight? Whysare they not
here to consult in regard to this mat
ter. to see what Is the best for the good
of the town.? He honored the mining
men n the smelter men for their
presence and their evident desire to do
the fair thing. But where arc the citi-
zens? He hoped that there would be
no attempt to strike a blow at Butte's
great industry. There are plenty of
towns in Montana that would give
everything they have for Butte's
smoke. He admitted that there ara
frail women and children who are hurt