The Anaconda standard., 1899-03-25
A STRIKE AT BELT.
Enough Men Reported to Work the
Mines All Day.

hAO"S' NAoh AAtpeIteh 70 NoTk the
Mines All Day.
Special Dispatch to the Standard
Belt, March 24.-An attempt was
made here this morning to inaugurate
strike among the miners employed in
the mines of the Anaconda company
The attempt was only partially sue
cessful. While good many employees
were induced to remain away, enough
men reported for duty this morning to
enable the mine to work all day. The
causes which have led up to the present
trouble, as nearly as can be learned. are
as follows:
Upon the completion of the new
washer and lighting up of the 100 coke
ovens, it became necessary to secure
all of the bottom layer of coal known
as mining or coSing coal in order to
supply the demand of the ovens. Men
operating the machines were instructed
to cut the coal higher SO as to include
all of this bottom coal. The men OBJ
jected to this without an increase in
the rate of pay, claiming it increased
the compensation of the loader al the
expense of the machine runners. APP
plication was then made to them to
divide the labor by allowing all the
men equal turns at running the ma
chimes and at loading. This was not
satisfactory, and on the 18th instant,
machine men and their helpers to the
number of 100 walked out of the mine
at noon. They We're Immediately dis
charged and new men We're secured to
fill their places. Since that time a con-
siderable amount of agitation has been
going on and a good many rumorS tell
ing of coming trouble have been cir
culated. Meetings were held at various
times. finally resulting in mass meet
ing at the opera house on Wednesday
evening. of the men employed in the
mine. The report from this meeting
was to the effect that the leaders had
| agreed to stand by the machine men.
At the meeting on Thursday night a
strike was ordered to go into effect at
o'clock Friday morning.
Long before the o'clock whistle
blew this morning the men who had
voted for the strike had committees
placed on every road and path or foot
way leading to the mine when the men
began to leave their homes with their
caps and dinner pals. They were told
there was no work; that a strike had
been declared and that they had bet
ter return to their homes and remain
there until it was over. More than one
| hundred men declined to listen to them
and went about their work in the usual
way. Probably one-half of those who
turned back were ignorant as to the
real reason why they were told to do
so.
| Manager White and Superintendent
Kinney took a trip through town talk
| ing to the men, and 100 of them re-
| ported for duty. The leaders and driv-
| ers who We're out in sympathy with
| the machine men have no grievances
| of their own. They are perfectly well
| satisfied with the wages paid. and it
| is safe to say that not so of the total
of 500 or 600 who are affected We're in
| favor of the strike. 1t is said that the
| majority of those who voted for the
| strike and those who have been most
| diligent in their efforts to bring the
| trouble to such climax are men who
are not needed in the employ of the
| camp.
At noon to-day the Anaconda officers
| posted notices to the effect that the
| mines will work tomorrow and that
| all the employees failing to report for
duty at o'clock in the morning will
be discharged. 1T is the general opin-
ion that more than two-thirds of the
men will return and that the mines Will
continue to work without further inter
ruption. Great concern and much un-
easness is felt by the citizens, who are
using their influence to bear in their
efforts to persuade the men to return
to work. Another meeting is being
| held tonight, and it is hoped favora BILE
| action will be taken and that the men
| will return to work in body.