The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-31
lABOES COME IN BUTTE.

men who work with their muscles as
we'll as their minds for a living. AS
every man who is entitled to his own re-
sense laboring man, the day and its
ceremonies should be devoted to general
and be the occasion of
sober reflection and good resolutions. No
man is Independent Of labor. No man
can afford to disregard its rights or be-
little it's dignity. This is particularly
true in Butte, which has been created
by labor, which has prospered through
labor and whose future is dependent on
the continued friendly relations between
capital and labor. Butte is union
town, and it is so because union labor
has been sensible. conservative and pa
triotic. Other places have experienced
labor troubles which have impoverished
the toilers, injured business and fright
ened away capital: but Butte has kept
set-backs caused by the interruption Of
wage distribution. The reason Is that
our labor organizations have been just
and fair and peaceful in their methods,
and found the employing class in the
same mood. Butte is not without its
toriety, to create dissension and strife,
but they have never controlled the labor
organizations in opposition to the die
tates Of common sense and devotion to
the principles of law and order. The
modern working man knows his rights
andis satisfied with their just recognition.
He does his own thinking. He knows
what is best for himself and his family.
He is a good citizen, he understands the
responsibilities of citizenship. He appre-
ciates the difference between right and
wrong, and expects to succeed only by
being right. Therefore, in the labor
councils while there may be much dis
cussion, the result is generally triumph
of justice and sound sense. Largely this
result Is brought about by the independ-
ence and individuality Of the members
of the various organizations. They are
quick to discern the difference in the
methods and manners Of the demagogue
and the true friend of labor, the one
talking for his own benefit, the other for
that of his associates. 1t is easy to
separate the wheat from the chaff-to
listen to the man who looks ahead, in
stead of the man who talks without fore
sight and good faith.
The intelligence of the man who tolls is
his best protection. It is the man who
reads, and ponders what he reads, who is
the safe counsellor. In the opinion Of the
Inter Mountain, the public library is the
chief safeguard of the wage earners OF
Butte. The statistics of the librarian
show that the great minds Of all the
ages are made to do service in broaden
ing the intellects Of thousands Of the
men who work in the mines and
smelters and workshops of Butte. His
tory, philosophy, science and law, as
crystallized in books all play an i'm
portant part in shaping the destinies Of
labor, in teaching men their rights and
In giving them the benefits of past hu-
man experience for their better guidance
in the future. Charles X. Larabie, who
founded the Butte library. builded ever
wiser than he knew when he placed
10000 books at the service Of the people
OF Butte. That library has been utilized
to an extent he little dreamed of, ant
its fruits are to be found in the intelli
gence and conservatism which guide tn
deliberations Of the labor lodges Of thi
community. Demagogues and politicians
of the baser sort, and newspapers tina
distort the truth and seek to array elias
against class and interest against in
terest by specious argument and falls
conclusion, are held in proper contemp
and illuminate in vain so long as homes
men, with good hearts and clear minds
are listened to in the council chamber
of labor. Ignorance is the deadlies
enemy of the toiler for it is the paren
Of violence, lawlessness, intemperancs
and every unworthy passion. 1t is onl
the ignorant man who follows bad ad
demagogue. who believes the state
ments of vicious and corrupt press, an
who invites an Illiad Of woes of his ow
begetting. 1t is the ignorant man wh
sells his vote and then complains of tn
laws injustice. 1t is only the ignorar
man who cannot comprehend that wit
q free ballot, inteliigently cast, he ma
redress every grievance. correct ever
wrong and insure all the blessings
good government, and that. after al
good government is the best protectio
to the liberties Of every man.
So long as the labor organizations r
main, as at present, under the contr
Of men who do their own reading ar
thinking and advocate reasonable r
forms and preach the gospel OF sot