The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-03

SAS /;
o be done to relieve the tension now
and avert the depression that
low threatens to be the distinguishing
mark of the summer in business and
Industrial circles. Whether right or
wong, the belief exists among many
that the laboring men, the real pro-
ducers, are allowing themselves to be
guided and directed by men who are
not of their own kind; that they are
accepting the counsel and advice OF
men who are what are usually deslg-
mated as professional laboring men,"
and 'agitators," men who have no real
interests in the welfare and prosperity
of the community and who have but
little more interest in the ones whom
they are seeking to lead and advise.
Such men are to be found in all COM
munities, men who are continually
provoking trouble between employer
and employee and who remain as long
as they are able to carry out their
propensity for mischief. The first to
advocate that which is likely to result
in trouble and hardship, they are also
the first to desert those VINO by fol-
lowing their advice are made to suffer
the most and then leave for some other
field where they may indulge in their
evil and %pernicious practices. 1t was
men of that class who caused the
trouble which a few years ago turned
northern Idaho into a v%eritable hot
bed Of murder and anarchy, necessitat-
ing the intervention of the federal
authorities and the establishment of
martial law. Having succeeded in get
ting their dupes embroiled with the
law and making outlaws n criminals
of many, those same agitators fled
and sought asylum and safety in this
and other states, leaving their vic
tins to get out the best way they
| could.
Those who hold to the belief that
the agitators and professional labor
ing men" are at the bottom of the an
noying and unfortunate conditions ex-
listing here at pres ent are OF the Opln-
ion that if the rem who make their
homes here and who have material in
terests involved were to drop their
advisors and rely upon their w judg'
ment and good sense the difficulty
could be speedily adjusted and the
season which started with so many
promises might yet be made to enc
wlth every one of those promises full
nlied and every man desiring it EN-
ployed anu good feeling and harmony
prevailing between all, instead of thu
feeling of bitterness and enmity more
or less pronounced which is beginnin:
to manifest itself in various direc
lions. The business men and employ
ers do not object to unions and hav'
no fault to find with any CRAFTSMAN
who sees fit to affiliate with an OF
g%anization having for it's object tn
advancement of his interests and tn
) Improvement of his condition. The
do, however, believe that organize
: lions, like individuals, should be amer
able to reason and judgment and max
their actions conform to the sam
I rul IS and methods that apply to il
y dividuals under certain circumstance
and conditions. Some months ago tn
3 printers of the city met and organize
u a union, working under a charte
t from the International Topographic
{ union. When the decision to orga
y ize had been reached the employer
y were notified and the scale decide
l upon was submitted to them and tt
: two interests met in consultation al
y conference. Suggestions were MAJ
> and received by both sides and the I
le suit was that the union started wi
81 the recognition and support of eve
e. employing printer in the city n tt
employers are among its stronge
8 friends. The printers did not seek
Il arbitrary methods to enforce SON
= thing which they thought they shou
nav {, DuI SOuSAC III q i 1SoooAAdt
81 and just to accomplish the
purpose. Furthermore, they appoint
y a committee to act as intermedia
III between the union and the employe
III and all questions of wages, hours a
he other matters affecting the union a
VA it's rules are submitted by this co
en mittee to the employers and by the
ss plication of reason and manifestati
Gu of the proper spirit of fairness a
Cancellation all difficulties are aft
en tually and amicably adjusted. 7
0e' same might be done by other lal
organizations without detriment
I'LL injury to themselves or any Of the
dividuals composing them. The Ty
I'LL graphical union is undoubtedly the