The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-10-24
AMALGAMATED COMPANY AT
WAR WITH NOBODY.
ASKS NO SPECIAL FAvORS
Desires to Be Allowed to Pursue Its
Business Without Unjust
Attacks.

Iuuy submitted TO me c1tlZenS OF
Butte and the people of Montana, in
view of the attacks which are being
made upon the Amalgamated COM
pany, and the reports which have been
spread concerning its alleged designs:
The policy which we are, and have
been e%ndeavoring to pursue, is n of
a%ppeasment, of concilliation and OF
good will, wherever possible. The
Amalgamated is not a political organi-
Zation. 1t has no quarrel with the
democratic party; it has no quarrel
with the republican party, nor any
other legitimate political organization.
Its purposes are industrial. It's aims
and desire are that it be allowed to
pursue it's business without unjust
attacks. 1t is its privilege to protect
it's property and it's rights. 1t must
and will stand for their protection.
Our companies constitute the larg-
est industrial interests Inc enter
prises in the state. Our Industrial
policies have for their object the de-
velopment of the II of the
state; our companies have invested
millions of dollars in Montana. We
are entitled to fair treatment. We
are entitled to the right guaranteed
by the constitution CT Montana, that
right and justice shall be administer
ed without sale, denial or delay" We
ask for no special favors and for no
privileges not accorded to all, but we
are entitled to the anne rights as ev-
cry other citizen and corporation. We
ask for nothing more; we should be
given nothing less.
With regard to labor, our record
speaks for itself. 1t should not be
necessary to notice the malicious re-
ports put in circulation by evilly dis
posed people for the purpose CT filling
the peoples minds with apprehension
and dread.
The eight-hour system was put into
effect by us without any reduction of
wages, without even a suggestion Of a
n NNoA1 W 1SooC "oSSS' IL Noo puI
into effect without questioning it's
validity. 1t went into operation in
the mines on February /, 1901, three
months before the law itself took eff
feet. is introduction in the smelt-
ers commenced at the same time and
gradually proceeded to completion be-
fore the law became effective.
have already publicly declared the
settled policy Of the A~malgamated on
this question. 1t has been determined
definitely and finally SO tar as our
companies are concerned. The eight
hour system will forever remain in
force. 1t is Of no interest to us wheth-
er the law be constitutional or not.
1t is of no interest to US whether the
law shall remain on the statute book
or not. The action we took was not
decided upon lightly, nor without full
consideration. The rule would not
be changed even if the law were held
unconstitutional or were repealed.
We have no intention or desire to
have the law repealed, or to have it's
validity questioned. We are commit
ted tc it. The political parties are all
committed to it. 1t is now on the
statute books. Let it remain there
forever.
In other departments than the
mines II smelters the hours have
been reduced. This has been done
in the case of the engineers and fire
men, and in many branches of outside
labor, a notable instance being that
of the men employed in the saw mills
and lumber camps. The number CT
employees who have been benefited
by these reductions amounts to many
hundreds.
We are eve ready to resist coercion
or unjust aggression. On the other
hand, we have shown ourselves equal
ly disposed to make such concessions
as a safe and conservative, yet pro.
gressive, policy would permit. We
have no desire to increase the hours
of labor. In no instance have we at
tempted to do so. In every case where
there has been a change, it has been
In the nature of a reduction of the
working hours. We have no desire
to reduce wages. In nc case have we
reduced them, and in some cases we
have increased them. 1t is no part of
our policy to disturb conditions or
to disrupt the relations between our.
selves and our employees.
These companies and these inter,
ests are here to stay. They will be
here as long as the mines hold out.
It is with them that the vast majority
of the workingmen of Butte will have
10 deal in the future. as in the past.