The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-03-18
DO NOT INVITE LAB0RERS
MIR. Woodbridge Explains Efforts Of
Those Who Encourage lmmigra-
ton Into State.

against the efforts now making to Sc
cure settlers for this and other north
western states has evoked a reply
from w. NJ. Woodbridge of Hilsdale,
Mont. The circular was signed by
Dan Mcdonald, president of the union,
and to him Mr.. Woodbridge addresses
himself. After calling attention to
the fact that in the circular gotten up
by the people Of his county, who are
assisting the movement, particular
stress is laid upon the statement that
small farmers rather than working
men are invited to come out and make
homes, Mr.. Woodbridge urges Mr.. Nc
Donald to make a tour with him
through the territory which it is
sought to populate and see for himself
the inducements it offers to home
seekers. He then says:
I have myself been a laboring man
all my lifetime, principally a railroad
worker, from the capacity of a track
man, telegraph operator, station agent
and up. In Is years experience, I
have learned above all other things TO
place very little reliance in anv posi-
ton where my tenure of Office depend
ed upon the will Of another. and it
was this consideration which indu-
enced me to resign a good position
as station agent upon the Rocky Noun
tain division of the Northern Pacific
railway and move to this valley. To-
eating myself a home and improving
it to such an extent as to place NV
self and family beyond the power Of
any official. I also wish to saw that
during those years l was a union man,
as my former associates will testify.
and l owe my present posi- ion TO the
fact that in attempting to improve my
W land, which l could not do alone,
l sought a united COLONY, encouraging
all working for the same purpose, and
was able to accomplish it.
will cause YOU to meet dozens Of
former ~wage-earners throughout the
northern part Of this state who were
forced out of employment by corpora
lions, strikes or hard times, who had
not a dollar at their command when
they were turned out, and who today
possess farms and homes of their own.
placing themselves and dependent
families entirely beyond want. and
many possessing fortunes. These
men, as a rule, will tell you it was a
blessing the day they were obliged
to depend entirely upon their W re-
sources. 1t obliged them to have con-
fdence in their own efforts. These
are ex-coal miners from San Coulee,
miners from Butte, railroad men from
various railroads., engineers from
hosting works and railroads, tele-
graph operators and station gen S,
and about every class or labor repre-
sented in this state. These men went
out upon the land which you repre-
sent as worthless and carved them
homes.
No n realizes the responsibility
upon n engaged in this par
tlcular line OF WORK more Cnan / 90
would feel more reluctant about
any one to make a change
there II | were not confident that was
IN the right. During the past two
years in this section of the state
there has been a scarcity of labor at
certain times of the year, and I have
been censured for not encouraging
more working people. During the de-
Velopment Of this valley the price of
has steadily advanced as the de-
mand for labor occasioned by the
rapid development Of the valley has
increased. ,
Another thing: The ordinary labor
sr or mechanic is almost worthless
lpon farms Or stock farms. For this
reason we have been obliged to
discourage this class, and encourage
he young farmer of the casts st +
There is not a month of the year in
which | am not approached either
personally or by mail to suggest a
in which from FIVE to a dozen &
vage-earnefs could be put ir q posi-
ion to helD themselves, and as George
!. Maxwell and dozens Of other noted t
throughout the entire I
United States have said, the greatest {
'roblem of the present day is the 1
ask of getting the Idle labor Of the S
v~ercrowded cites into the country 6
encouraee them to create a home {
Or themselves, thus reducing the !
lumber of w~age-earners, also using S
very effort possible to discourage s
1e farm boy or laborer from enter {
lg the ranks of other class labors t
mechanics, and during this present ]
inter II bac hnnn NV p1eocuro To {