Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-10-08
LABOR COUNCIL
FOR FERGUSON
PREDICTED THAT HE WILL GET
ENDORSEMENT AT MEET
ING ON 18TH.
COUNCIL WAS OPPOSED
TO FUSION IN POLITICS.
State Committee Cat-Hop May Locate
Ferguson Somewhere on Fusion
Ticket.

line montana TRADES dIlu IhpoA
meets in this city on the 18TH INST. II
is an organization that corresponds with
the Western Labor union and the Amer
ican Federation of Labor, and composed
of representatives of trades unions affili-
ated with these national bodies. Its prl-
NAL purpose was to promote a unity of
purpose along the lines of defense In case
of a struggle between capital and labor;
also to secure legislation which would
ameliorate labor conditions from the la
Dor standpoint.
Within the past year, however, the am
bilious leaders in the council have di-
verified the objects of. the organization
from it's original purpose. Taking advan-
tage of the political disturbances in the
state, the executive officers conceived the
idea of a labor party acting independent
Of the others, and risking the chances of
it's success upon a referendum vote of the
unions affiliated with the body. AS
nearly all belonged to the Western Labor
union, of which Dan Mcdonald Is presi-
dent, a majority of such unions ratified
the plan to organize a party on their
own hook. Hence, the labor party of
Montana.
At it's last session in Helena this state
council was pronounced against fusion.
1t declared in unequivocal and forcible
language that "all corporations and mil
l%ionaries looked alike" and the slogan
went forth that the labor party was out
for principle, and it woul rather go
down to glorious defeat than abandon
principle. That declaration was ratified
at the recent state convention in Helena,
when a majority of the delegates rejected
the fusion proposals presented by the
bank democracy.
Since then the promoters OF fusion have
been busy persuading it's opponents to
change their minds, and have carried on
an active campaign for electing enough
delegates to this proposed convention to
stampede it for the bank democracy. Dan
Mcdonald says there will be no doubt of
the unanimous ratification of Ferguson's
nomination at the convention on the 18th.
but there are other labor leaders who say
that Dan is a prophet only in name and
a poor namesake of the biblical character
who bearded the lions in their den.
Among the unions that will be repre-
sented at this convention are some that
are restrained by their laws with inter-
derence in politics. The Typographical
union is one of these. so is the Cigar
Makers union, both reputed to be the
Dralnlesf in trade organizations. AL
though Adrian M. Jones, foreman of the
Miner, and an operator in the same Of
nee, MI. Van Eman, were elected as del
egates yesterda to this state trade coun-
Gil, their environments will have no in
huence on their action. It is learned
that at a meeting Of the Silver Bow
Trades Assembly last night, the two fu-
slon candidates got a narrow majority,
Elections to take place in local unions
may yet change the complexion of the
convention.
ferguson, however, is very pop,,la r
with the rank and file of wage earners
IN Montana trade unions. He was presi-
uent or the state trades organization for
TOUR years. If the delegates are pledred
In advance that the state committee will
put up no cat-hop before election bv
placing him in a position OF
Importance on the state tiyket of the
'oank democracy, there is little doubt
That the motion for his ratification will
secure a majority of the votes of the con
vention.
Dan Mcdonald, just returned from
Helena. where with the secretary OF the
state labor committee he filed on Sat,r-
Jay the nominations "a by the labor
party. Dan says with some junction. hat
a change may be lawfully made within
eight days of election,