The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-31
A DANGEROUS COUNSELLOR.

adoption of his policy of force and
lawlessness in the Occur d'Alenes a
few years ago, Edward Boyce, presi-
len of the Western Federation OF
Miners, would be slow to advocate
a continuance Of that policy as the
proper and only means of securing
an equitable adjustment of difficulties
that may arise between employees and
employers. But it appears that he
learned nothing from the awful ex-
%perience through which his organiza-
ton passed in those times and is still
the same extremist and unreasonable
advocate of and ~expedients
which long ago have been renowned
by the more successful and conser-
vative leaders of labor throughout the
country. He still breaches the doc
trine of hate by the employe for the
employer and counsels force, instead
of arbitration and Cancellation and
seeks to play on the passions and
%prejudices of those who have entrust-
ed him with leadership and who look
to him for guidance and counsel in
times OF trouble and tension.
In his address to the annual con-
yention of the federation, which
opened at Denver a few days ago,
Royce declared that the strike lis the
only successful method which organ
lied labor has pursued up to the pres
ent time in it's efforts to secure JUS
tice from employers" Judging from
. the disastrous results which followed
the strike that he led in the Occur
d'Alenes in an effort to secure what
he and the miners considered justice
from the employers, the weapon then
employed and continued use OF which
he advocates is not always success
full and not the best to use. Acting
on his advice and following his in
structions, the miners struck, what
followed is history of too recent date
to need recital here in order to make
it understood to the reader. Murder,
riot and lawlessness in their worst
forms followed speedily in the wake
of what was supposed would be a
peaceable walkout and resistance to
conditions considered unjust and op'
~pressive. Property was DESTROYED
and human life taken with a reckless
ness and indifference that character
lied the perpetrators of the outra= es
as savages. Law and order were de
fled and the civil authorities rem
dered helpless to such a degree thai
the military arm of the federal gov
eminent had to be invoked to safe
guard life and property. Miners
blind followers of Boyce, were arrest
ed by the score and incarcerated il
the "bull pen" and for months sui
jected to all the rjgcr and .%severit,
that fall to the lot of the militar
prisoner. The name of the state Q
Idaho became disgraced and its pe<
pie were regarded away from noAl
as little better, if any than outlaw
and cutthroats. For a period extent
ing over two years those condition
obtained and the country in whic
the trouble was located became almo:
bankrupt. A few months g mil
tary law was abolished, but as far {
the strikers were concerned the
were not much the gamers. The
could secure work only under conc
lions imposed by the mine owne
- - e .o oyoo%irp or1 c
we're that compliance Herewith W;
considered so odious that rather thu
accept, most of them left and we
elsewhere in search of empioymel
It must also be remembered that t
object for which the strike was inau
urated was ont accomplished aid W
barren as to real results which col
be considered as of gain to the str
ers.
Mr.. Boyce is strangely and narke
" at variance with President Mitche
President Gompers and Preside
Arthur, each of whom is at the he
of a large and powerful labor orga
cation. Individually and collective
they are opposed to the weapon viii
Mr.. Boyce: advocates in times of
Dor trouble. They also repudiate
doctrine of hatred and d~issenticn.
Boyee declares that "the laborer b
no interest in common with the n
lionaire. for they are as directly
posed as the north and south pol
and the possibility Of harmonious
lations between them is as remote
the possibility of the American col
nent changing geographical positi
with that. Of Europe" Newspal
readers viii instantly recognize a.
fnrence hetEeep President, BoZce g