Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-13
Great DAY FOR MINERS
CELEBRATION CLIMAxED BY ANNOUNCEMENT OF AN EIGHT
HOUR DAY IN THIS DISTRICT.
BY CLARK AND HEINzE
OPERA HOUSE WAS AHMED AND THE STRUCTURE WAS SHAKEN
BY THE CHEERS WHICH GREETED
THE NEWS.

The twenty-second anniversary of the
Butte liners Union will be long remem-
bered as the grandest day in the history
of labor in Montana. From that day will
be dated the beginning of the eight hour
movement for underground toilers in this
district, and the movement SO auspic-
iously begun will spread until it is be-
lieved that all the miners in this district
will labor but eight hours each day..
Today that anniversary was celebrated
by the labor organizations of Butte.
There was a monster parade, making an
imposing array of toilers in the mines,
mills, smelters and stores. 1t was the
day in which the laborer was greater
than the prince Inc as the 1000 sturdy
workingmen marched proudly through
the streets to the strains of inspiring mu-
sic. they felt conscious of the dignity OF
their respective vocations. They realiz-
ed that they never had greater cause to
rejoice, exchange congratulations and
celebrate. They were residents of the
greatest mining camp IN earth-a title to
which Butte has laid undisputed claim
for the past ten years. They knew that
the mines were never SO rich as now and
were pouring out their great wealth for
the benefit OF man; that homes were null
tiplying all over the great mining dis
trict, and that labor was well paid, with
out a ripple to disturb the harmony that
exists between employer and employe.
But the browning event of the day was
the official announcement made by the
president of the Miners Union that two
of the large mining companies of the dis
trict had granted their underground en-
ployes an eight hour day without any re-
duction of pay. The announcement was
made at the opera house and was greet
ed with cheers from hi large assem-
blage. AS a member of the Miners Union
said it was the best news ever received
in Butte. for it meant the employment OF
several thousand extra men.
The two companies which granted their
employees an eight hour day are w. A.
Clark and the Montana Ore Purchasing
Co.. The correspondence leading up to
this event is detailed below. With the
Montana Ore Purchasing Co, the eight
hour movement begins today. At Mr..
Clark's mines eight hours will constitute
a days work beginning June Is. The
two companies employ about 1900. men
underground. BY the first of September
it is expected thai the mines o w. A.
Clark and the Montana Ore Purchasing
Co, will be giving employment to at least
2, 800 men.
Just what action will betaken by the
Anaconda, Boston & Montana. Butte &
! Boston and the other active mines of the
district canno be learned. The aglta-
ton for the eight hour day has been SO
quietly conducted that the concession OF
the two mining companies to grant 1t, is
in the nature of a surprise. The other
! companies will probably ask for some
! time to consider the matter. The request
of the miners, it is understood has been
forwarded to the eastern office of the
Boston & Montana. Marcus Daily of the
Anaconda was reported to have arrived
in New York last week, but this report
is denied by his newspaper.
Following the announcement OF the IN
auguration of the eight hour day comes
the statement that the stationary engin-
GERS of the district will make a demand
for IS per day. On the larger hoists OF
the district the engineers also ave an
! eight hour law, enacted some years age
by the legislature. Their compensation
at present is 81 per day. There are over
500 stationary engineers employed in the
! district.