The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-05
STRIKES AND L0CKOUTS
Special Agent Dewey Has Fin
ished His Work.
BUTTE LABOR CONDITIONS
Remarkably Free From Disturbances
Praise for the Conservative Attitude
OF the Labor Observation-Disclosures
ana Smeltermen Best Paid,

pr the United states department of la
Dor, who has been in Butte for two
weeks gathering data for his depart
nent on the subject of strikes and lock-
outs during the five years ending July
| last, has completed his labors here
and leaves this morning for Anaconda,
and expects to reach Helena before the
end of the week. In conversation with
reporter for the Standard yesterday
regarding his work here, Mr.. Dewey
said:
For city which has the reputation
Of being practically owned and oper-
ated by labor organizations. Butte has
been remarkably free from labor dis
turbanees during the period of time
covered by this investigation. Wages
here are comparatively high, especially
in what is termed unskilled labor; and
yet they are none too high when cost
of living is taken into consideration,
In the building trades, in which the
wage scale is highest, the season Is so
short as to bring the earnings for the
year below that paid in most of the
eastern cities, where the season is long
er. Take, for example, the trade of
plasterer One of the best workmen in
that trade, and man who is said to
stand well with both employers and
Journeymen, showed me his time book
for the last season, and he had worked
little less than four months Of actual
working time. The number of days
worked multiplied by his daily wage of
". still gave him a very small income
with which to support his family of wife
and four children for IL months. What
is true of the plasterers is true of stone
masons, bricklayers and, to greater
or less degree, with all branches of the
building trades. Mine and smelter la
Dor is the best paid for IL months in the
year, and attribute the unusual pros
perity of the city of Butte to the fact
that so much money is paid out month
ly to the masses of the laborers, Inv
stead of low wages to the many and
high wages to the few, which is the
plan in most centers of industry"
Outside of the matter of wages, what
do you find of interest in labor circles
here?' was asked.
Indeed, there is much of interest to
a man who has made any study of
either the social or industrial prob
lems," was the reply. "Of course, / am
new to the peculiar conditions sur
rounding labor in this section of the
country, but l am greatly impressed
with the conservatism of the labor or
CARNATIONS, when their power to control
is taken into consideration. So far as
have been able to discover, there has
not been any question raised as to the
wages to be paid on the hours worked,
except in the matter of the difference
between the carpenters and one of the
large mining corporations two years ago.
The only troubles seem to have arisen
from violation or Interpretation of the
rules of the various unions regarding
the detail of employment. Workmen,
as rule. jealously guard the rights of
each other, and sometimes seem to be
overjealous in their Interpretation of
what is right and just If / were to be
governed in my judgment by the tales
told me by some people who have had
differences with their workmen, l would
be Obliged to admit some very arbitrary
acts on the part of the labor organlza-
tons in Butte. The fine imposed upon
Curtis and Largey by the carpenters for
importing hardwood finishing lumber
from distance instead of buying 1t in
Butte. where there is no such material
native to the community, would seem to
be an injustice to the employers. But
the journeymen defend their position On
the ground of self-interest, and after all
it is self-interest which governs most
people in their conduct of their every
day life. / am satisfied, however, that
building operations have been greatly
retarded in this city during the past
three years by the fear of trouble il
work were undertaken Individual cap
italists as well as builders have told
me so, which is, of course, my only
means of knowing"
How have the representatives of the
unions received your inquiry? Have
they shown a willingness to aid you ii
getting the facts you sought?
Generally speaking, yes. At first
there was a disposition to fear that the
inquiry was intended to in some way
injure them. But after they understood
that it was the regular five-year in
quiry and that it is published without
comment by the department, the rep
resentative men were all right and aid
ed me materially. This was especially
true of MessTs. Boyce and Maher Of
the miners, Mr.. Mcdonald of the Trades
Assembly, Mr. Sheehan of the plaster
ers and Mr.. McNally of the carpenters.
Others were also courteous and very
obliging. There We're individual excep-
TONS but they do not represent the ma
jority.'
WAS the data you sought easy to
get at?" was asked.
Not just as we wanted it. Compar-
atively few labor organizations keep
accurate records of strikes and lock-
outs. They are able to tell about the
date of the strike and approximately
how many persons were involved, but
no exact information was to be had
here. have recommended that such
book be kept in future, and some sec
retaries have promised to do so. l shall
also recommend to the department that
such book be supplied local labor or
ganiza tions by the government,
through the medium of the national or
international organization, with a view
to having the very same character of
information kept in all cases"
rs it not practically impossible to
compute wage loss in the event of
strike or lockout" inquired the report
er.
Eyes and no." replied Mr.. Dewey. IF
an establishment employing one hun
bred men is closed for ten days, the ten
days pay roll would be an apparent
loss to the men. But If that establish
ment was accustomed to frequent shut
downs for want of work or for other
reasons. then the seasons employment
may not have been shortened a single
day by the strike or lockout. All of
these conditions are taken into consid-
Grafton by the agent in making these
computations. The same is true of the