The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-04-30
SUCH rs TIL 'ATEMENT MADE
BY sEcRE \ Y SMITH OF
WESTERN. LABOR UNION.
CONSIDER OUTLOOK CHEERFUL
Walkout of Teamsters Will Affect ONLY
One or Two Lines and Will Not
Cripple Any Industries in the City
Condition Said to Indicate satisfac-
tory Settlement Of All Differences.

ofiicials from both the Western Labor
Union and the Workingmen's Union ara
indignant at the reports that have been
printed concerning the possibility OF n
general strike and make light of tho
matter as being of little consequence.
no matter what the result of the nego-
tiations now pending.
1t IL unfortunate that the peopla
should think that these little differences
between the teamsters and their en,-
ployers viii be serious" said Clarence
smith, secretary OF the Western Labor
Union. at his headquarters In the Gold
berg block this morning.
This strike talk is bad and as n mat
ter of fact there can be no consequences
tnat VIII at all affect the industries of
the camp, even should the employers
fefuse TO accede to the demands OF tho
men.
Situation Made Plain.
Let me explain to YOU the situation:
Ihere are two so-cnlled strikes
threatening, one of them by the Team.
stcrs union.
AS matter of fact, the great ma
Jority of the teamsters are satisfied with
their hours and wages and those who
are not-constituting about one-ffth OF
the whole number--are confined entirely
10 the lumber and coal yards of the
city.
IF they go out, 1t may cause a tenn
porary annoyance to people who are
building just now and perhaps IL win
not be easy TO get all the coal you want
right away, but as far as as It's Interfere
ing with the other business, the men
III the mines or In the smelters, you
may quote me as assuring the people
that there VIII be nothing OF the kind
Workingmen's Union Satisfied
'Thc other affair~-the demand Of the
WorklnBmen's union for an eight hour
day at rate of $3-is equally inslgni-
ncant from the fact that almost every
man In the city. top workers at mines In
particular, have already secured that
concession
The Worklngmen's Union has made
That formal demand and, wishing to
| make II universal set the date OF May
! as time to require all employers to
comply but II does not seem to be gem
orally known that the employers OF
Butte have almost unanimously COM
piled with the requirement already.
The lcemen have secured their demand
from their employers and there is no
further possibility OF trouble from that
quarter.
Brewers Are at Peace.
At a conference between the brow
ers and the beer drivers, who have
an organization entirely distinct from
the teamsters, yesterday afternoon, In
the Office OF the Centennial brewery.
the drivers presented The contract which
they had In force for the past year and
which calls for an elght-hour day at
n rate of So.
AS far as could be learned there liz
no disposition on the part Of the brew-
ers TO change this contract for the COM
ing year but In accordance with n clause
IN the constitution of the association
or state brewers recently formed In this
city, 1t Will be necessary TO forward the
terms OF the contract for their indorse-
ment and ratification.
Eighty Teamsters May Strike.
There was nothing new In the situa-
ton OF the other teamsters today and
as the mater now stands, the teamsters
employed In the coal and lumber yards
VIII quit work tomorrow, unless n set
tlement Is arrived at In the meantime.
There are about 20 men employed by
the dealers In hay and grain who will
also be affected, but 1t Is believed that
Of the 400 men employed driving teams
In the city not more than 80 will be
involved