Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-10-29
A BLOW TO MONTANA


Nv W VI N vi Nl ~.
-, :. Kn,srtsfnsd 1i.as Thsrswin Be Dif-
4 ncuIty ID HIoldins t1s Dis Arms %
Idle Miners In Check for Any
Length Of Time.
Butte. Mont, Oct. A.-According q
every indication the Amalgamated
Copper company 10 preparing for
long shutdown, as many Of the pumps
in the big mines have suspended oper-
atoms. The Amalgamated officials are
reticent as to expressing an opinion
as to the probable length OF the sus-
pension, saying 1t may be OF Six or
eight months duration and perhaps
greater period. An effort win DO made
by leading citizens Of the state to have
the supreme court advance the hear
ing on the appeal from Judge Clancy's
decision In the case in the hope that
q reversal Of the Judgment by the
tribunal will induce the Amalgamated
Copper company to resume. Indisna-
ton among the Amalgamated people
10 rife, and they are loud In denounc-
Ing the present state Of AFFAIRS and de-
clare that all business on the part OF
the company will remain at . stand
still until the Boston q Montana re-
ceivership matter 10 finally settled.
r. Augustus Heinze's sensational
statement attacking H. H. Rogers, de-
claring that the present suspension OF
the Amalgamated properties was due
to an attempt on the part Of the Stand
ard oil magnate and his associates TO
affect the prices Of Amalgamated Cop
per stock and also offering positions
to all married men formerly employed
by the Amalgamated company,
doubling the forces in the mines OF
the United Copper company, was fol-
lowed by an official statement yester-
day afternoon by William Scallon'
president Of the Anaconda company
and one OF the leading Amalgamated
officials in this state. INF. Rogers,
declared President Scallon, gave no
order to close the mines and the as
sertion that the suspension OF the
Amalgamated properties is part Of q
stock jobbing scheme is unQualinedly
false"
with the exception Of small crews
manning the pumps. all the mines are
deserted and as soon as the furnaces
can be cleared OF charges and hres
drawn the four smelters Of the Anal
gamated will shut down. This Will
be accomplished some time to-day and
by tonight 1t is expected all opera
lions Of the Amalgamated Copper COM
pany will be at complete standstiu.
Ore shipments have ceased and the
Great Northern and Butte. Anaconda
& Pacific railroads are reducing their
crews. II Ia conservatiyely estimated
by the Amalgamated officials that be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 men are made
idle. This calculation includes all the
men employed by the Amalgamated
company throughout the state Of Mon
tana. I'LL n
These men fear the worst, should
the suspension continue any length
Of time, as the army OF Amalgamated
employees Is the principal sustaining
factor Of Butte's industrial life In
Anaconda the town is practically de-
pendent on the big Washoe plants for
it's existence and the closing Of the
works Is the worst blow In the history
Of that city.
Business men Of Great Falls are al
ready urging that the case Of the Anal
gamated company may speedily be
brought before the supreme court for
consideration, as the closing OF the
electrolytic smelters means body
blow to the business activity of Great
Falls.
Throughout the state generaiiy u
state Of depression is reflected and In
Butte business Is practically paralyzed
with fear Of crash In the event Of o
prolonged close-down. Business men
are cancelling their orders for winter
supplies.
As yet no acts Of violence have beer
reported to the police, though It Il
feared some difficulty win be expert
enced In holding the big army Of idl'
miners in check any length Of time
Last night the principal streets wer'
blocked with miners and Indignant
mutterings could be heard on all sides
Extra police have been sworn in will
orders to prevent the gathering o
large crowds.
Last night 1t was feared that tn
pumps Of the Leonard mine Of the Bos
ton q Montana group would suspend
Should this occur the flooding Of tn
Minnie Healy mine, Thursday awards
to r. Augustus Heinze by Judg
Clancy, Is considered inevitable, a. tn
working Of the two properties connec
and there is no apparent way TO pre-
vent the drainage Of the Leonard b