The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-26

tation was practiced by the contractor
to obtain it, and the proposition was sup
plemented by the covenant just men,
toned.
eff prices quoted, material to be fur
nished and the responsibility OF the bid
ders were anywhere near equal, the pref
erence would unhesitatingly have been
given to organized labor, so far as I
am concerned. but where neither prices
nor designs were anywhere near equal.
and no suggestion was made, or knowl-
edge had, by any member of the board
that any firm or company bidding dis
eliminated against union labor it could
not be expected, it seems to me, that
any other course could have been pur-
sud than that to award the contract as
we did. and especially after knowledge
of the facts stated in the foregoing let
ter.
IF there be any who after a full
knowledge of the facts, deem it wise or
eXpedient to purchase state supplies from
employers of union labor exclusively,
under the circumstances Of this case. and
without reference to price. quality or
suitability Of material, think the argu-
ment. whatever it may be, ought in all
fairness to be addressed to the legisla-
ture. instead of the state furnishing
board"
In view of the weight of public sem
timent in this state and the many laws
favorable to union labor, it is strange,
perhaps, that the contract with the Gin,
cinnati house was made without full
previous inquiry as to it's standing in the
labor market. The governors argument
that criticism of the contract is unjust
because 'the labor representatives dill
not themselves ascertain the facts AMI
file an early protest is no defense of his
vote on the question of annulment. It
was the duty of the board to conduct the
investigation. This state administration
was elected largely because of the
pledges OF eternal friendship to labor
which the platform and the candidates
made. None made those pledges with
more dramatic force and deeper ap-
parent conviction than the Hon. ]. X.
Toole. Two members OF the board con-
WINGED Of their error, voted to annul the
contract. The governor voted to let it
stand.
1t is a democratic row. No republi-
can shares in the odium OF the charge
made by organized labor of a willing
ness to patronize labor's enemies. The
executive is not without defenders in his
present attitude, but the labor men who
did so much to elect him are not among
them.
1t must seem to the average citizen
that the digrified course of Governor
Toole, if convinced of the perfect justice
of his act, would have been to let the
record of it stand in it's own defense.
The governor of a great state should be
so confident of his own rectitude and so
sure of the confidence of the people that
there should be no occasion for the
issuance of stump speech, protesting
his friendship for labor while voting
directly against its plain behests. If he
was right, and knows he was right, there
was no need Of any plea in abatement
from him. If he was wrong, and is con-
WINGED of his fault, he should have voted
with the rest Of the board to annul the
contract. and thus justify the confidence
of the men who voted him into Office las.
fall as the uncompromising enemy of
1.-THE capitalistic class"