The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-25
IT'S LIKE THE UTAH Law
There Has Been No Disturbance at Any
Of the Mining Properties. but Several
OF the Shelters, Including Those in
the Trust Have Not Met the Terms OF
the Law and tho Recent Ruling OF the
State Supreme Court Has Caused a
Halt.

Denver, July 23.-Every effort made
so far to bring about an agreement be-
tween the management of the smelter
trust and the employees has failed. The
men refuse to consider any offer that
Is not based upon an eight-hour work.
ing day. The trust ignores the eight
hour question and is attempting to re-
open its smelters without making con-
cessions or trying to arrive at an un-
derstanding with the men.
The Globe smelter has been selected
as the one at which an attempt to
break the Smeltermen's union will be
made. On account of it's being sur
rounded by a high stockade and a small
fortress as to location, it is looked upon
by the trust as well situated should any
attempt at interference be made, but
the lack of necessity for such prepara-
tions was well shown at Friday nights
meeting of the union. Nearly 1000 men
were crowded into Elyria town hall,
and while they were absolutely a unit
as to refusing to go to work upon any
thing but an eight-hour basis, the feel
ing manifested toward the manage
ment of the trust was entirely friendly.
The men, however, felt that the trust
people had broken faith in attempting
ton toward settlement.
In addition to the decision to stand
by the eight-hour demand the meeting
determined to adopt defensive plans.
These were put into effect yesterday.
The smelter was surrounded by guard
lines and every man going to or from
the smelter was interrupted and an at
tempt made by argument to get them
to stop work. These attempts were in
most cases successful.
All the men except the guards were
warned to keep away from the smelt-
ers and to refrain from everything hav-
ing even the appearance of violence.
These instructions have been followed
to the letter. No rioting has occurred,
and at the same time the efforts of the
trust to open the smelter without first
agreeing with the Smeltermens union
has proved a failure.
Ready for trouble in case necessity
should arise, attachments of the Colo
RADIO national guard are stationed in
both armories in Denver. So far no
occasion for calling them out has arisen
and their presence at the armories is
not generally known.
The state board of arbitration met
Saturday and will continue its sessions
this week.
The Law of It.
In the last session of the
Colorado legislature the most i'm
portant bill passed, judging from its
immediate effects. was the Moore eight
hour bill. This bill is a copy, word for
word and comma for comma, of a law
now in force in Utah. 1t was intro
duced by Representative Frank A.
Moore of Fremont county, and prohib-
tied operators of all classes of mining
property, smelters and other ore re-
duction works from employing work
men in shifts exceeding eight hours
fIJI
lows:
BE 1t enacted by the general assembly
of the state of Colorado
Section 1.-The period of employment of
workingmen in all underground mines or
workings shall be eight hours per day, ex-
cept in cases of emergency where life or
property is in imminent danger.
Sec. 2-The period of employment of
workingmen in smelters and in all other
institutions for the reduction and refining
OF ores or metals shall be eight hours per
day, except in cases of emergency where
life or property is in imminent danger.
Sec. S-Any person, body or corporate,
agent, manager or employer. who shall
violate any of the provisions of sections
] and 2 of this act shall be deemed guilty
of misdemeanor, and upon conviction
shall be punished by fine of not less
than $50 or more than $500. or by imprison
ment for not more than six months or by
both fine and Imprisonment"
As the bill did not carry an emer-
gency clause it did not become effective
until 80 days after becoming a law. 1t
went through the house with a rush.
In the senate, where are represented
larger property interests, 1t met with
sturdy and protracted opposition There
an attempt was made so to modify the
measure as to except from its provis-
ions coal producing properties, but this
amendment was voted down and the
measure finally passed by good ma
jority. The fight was continued before
Governor Thomas, but he resisted pres
sure and attached his signature to the
bill March II, 1899. 1t went into effect
June Is.
In the meantime, the American Smelt-
ing and Refining company, commonly
known as the smelter trust, had &C
quired control of all the principal smelt-
ers of Colorado except two. The ex-
ceptions were the Argo of Denver, of
which Former United States Senator
N. p. Hill is the principal owner, and
the Philadelphia of Pueblo. owned by
the Guggenheims.
II became evident from the first that
a bitter struggle was impending and
that the battle would be fought out
between the smelter trust and the
Smeltermen's union AS far as the
working of the mines was concerned.
the enactment of the eight-hour law
of the camps of the state were working
on an eight-hour basis before the pas
sage Of the law. and in the others the
change from nine - eight hours was
made without fricti.i'
Where Troubia Came In.
with smelters and other reduction
plants. however, the effect of the law
was demoralizing The operators for
the most part insisted that they could
NOT continue in business and pay the
workmen the same amount for eight
hours work that had hitherto been paid
for 10, II and Il hours. The men on
the other hand, contended that the
amounts they had been receiving were
not more than living wages. that they
could not take less for a days work
and that the elght-hour law must be
june /, at all the trust smelters in