The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-07-25
LABOR AND BUSINESS INTERESTS,

The statement of the Boston News
Bureau, alleging on the authority of a
New York dispatch that the leading
mining properties of Butte would soon
be in the hands of receivers, was re-.
garded in Butte among both working
men and business men as piece Of idle
and mischievous gossip. However, the
Boston paper may have had some au,
thority for its story, silly as it then ap.
peared. If the Bureau knew what it
was talking about. it should tell all the
truth, so that the business men of Butte:
the workingmen who have homes here,
and the real estate owners, who are
erecting costly buildings all over thu
city, may know what to expect.
These three classes of people have been
very jubilant of late, not only because
they believed the mines would all be kept
open, with increasing pay rolls, but that
in the fiat east Of Butte a dozen other
big concerns would soon be doing bust
ness. The people of Butte would like to
see, and the Inter Mountain would like
to record, the inauguration of score Of
new mining enterprises-the more the
better. The ground is being explored
over an area of several square miles.
Franklin Farrell was already making
plans for great company, larger even
than the original Parrot was. Repre-
Sentatiyes of other eastern capitalists
were busy all over the new district bond
ing and buying claims, sinking shafts
and trying to trace out the eastern ex-
tensions of the great veins which
traverse the hill north Of Butte. The
prospect was improving every day and
money was ready for investment, thus
giving heart to those Of our citizens who,
regardless Of their occupation, were in
terested in the growth of Butte and the
security of their property, whether it
was a mechanics house with a mort
gage on it, or miners home which rep.
resented all his savings, or a business
block to accommodate the expanding
activities of the community.
But change may be expected if
capital is to be notified that it is not
wanted, and will not be protected, it
mines giving employment to thousands
OF men are to be placed in the hands Of
inexperienced men having no interest in
their safe development. and If property
values, pay rolls and business generally
are to be menaced by men whom the
Boston newspapers sometimes quote in
hostile threats.
It is not that the eastern capitalists
whose money is in Butte need any de-
Tense of their interests, or that on their
account the people are concerned. They
are wealthy outside of their Montana
interests, and If driven from this state
they can be assured of a welcome in
any other state, and can afford to rest
few years without going broke or
hungry. The people Of Montana, as
American citizens, are naturally de-
sirous that those men should have a
square deal under the law and be &C.
corded such rights as every other man
is entitled to, yet the present public feel
ing is that the labor and business inter-
ests are the chief sufferers from a policy
of hostility to capital. 1t is the nier-
chant the mechanic, the laborer and
the miner who have the kick coming
the rich can take care of themselves II
is on behalf of the masses, whose homes
and occupation are here, whose prop.
They are the men to be affected by the
threats against capital and the discour-
agement of new enterprises in the local
mining field. They are really the CHIEF
parties in interest because their all j:
at stake, while the "trust magnates
with their money, or kept out with thei
new enterprises, readily find other op
portunities for investment. Under prone
conditions there should be and would b
$4,000 miners in Butte, instead of 10. OOC
Instead of three mining concerns here
The ore is here, the water power is ada
cent. The copper market is high, thank
to the very men whom it is proposed :
despoil of their property. and every con
dition essential to the support of 100. oC
people IN the greatest labor, bushes
and mining center in the world is pres
ent
All the people want is protection
equality. peace, confidence and goo
will
They are tired Of agitation and unce,
tainty. They desire to work and pros
per. To them it makes no differenc
whether the money invested here
trust" money or not, SO long as 1t
developing the district. paying goo
wages and gives assurance of steady oc
cupation to the sons Of toll, that the
may prepare themselves for future prof
abilities and feel secure in the enjoy
nent of life and liberty.