The Washington times., 1903-10-26
COPPER TRUSTS WAR
IN MONTANA SERIOUS
No Telling Where COntrO-
versy Will Now End.
EMPLOYEES MADE HELPLESS
Shut Down of Mines Adds Labor
Problem to Legal Com
plications.

News from Montana of the closing
down OF the great properties Of the
copper trust has attracted the keenest
attention in Washington and throughout
the East The shut downs momentous
bearing on Apialgamated stock is real
ICED. 1t is recognized. too, that the
effects OF 1t may extend to other stocks
and that the market may be seriously
affected. Not only this. but the labor
problem presented by the throwing out
OF employment of 10000 men is a grave
one
The shut down of the Amalgamated
mines and smelters Is by far the most
tragic step yet taken in the merciless
copper war that has been waged in
Montana for years. Late dispatches say
1900 men are already out of work and
that 1000 more will be shortly. No one
knows when relief viii come.
Follows Court Decision.
The closing of the Amalgamated mines
has followed on the heels OF the decision
OF Judge Clancy I'm the noted Minnie
Heaiey mine case. This was a contest
over the ownership of the Minnie Healey
mine between F. Augustus Heinze. the
young copper king OF Montana. and the
Boston and Montana Company, which is
identified with the Amalgamated inter-
ests.
The result was victory for Heinze.
1t had scarcely been announced when
the order came for the shut down OF the
Amalgamated mines and other property.
Expect Courts Action Soon.
All sorts of opinions are given as to
the real reason for the shut down
Temporarily the victory is with Heinze,
but an appeal 70 the supreme court OK
the State will be taken and a reversal.
It is said. may be expected by that
tribunal. It has been suggested that
the closing down Of the properties was
brought about to cause a situation in
the State that would force the supreme
court TO an early decision of the case
There is little doubt from all that can
be learned here. the appeal will be adj
vanced. and that 10 relieve the present
drastic situation. there will be an early
decision
Heinze and his friends charge that the
shut down is unnecessary, that there is
nothing In the decision OF Judge Clancy
TO require 1t. and that the step has been
taken for the purpose Of depressing
Amalgamated stocks. which Thomas w
Lawson and others, IL Is charged have
been selling In the hopes of buying at
reduced prices.
The Amalgamated people, however.
make vigorous denials OF any attempts
ri stOckjobbing
Ex-senator Carriers Views.
Ex-senator Carter OF Montana. who
Is in the city, said yesterday the shut
down OF the mines was serious in the
extreme.
1t Is difficult to tell how long it will
last said he. 1T is not caused by
stock jobbing or desire 10 influence the
stock market, or anything of the kind.
The trouble is simply the elimination
OF a long series OF suits between the
Afnalgamated interests and Heinze.
The Amalgamated interests have been
harassed for years In the litigation and
they feel now that they want 20 see the
thing settled finally. The Heinze people
have been winning in much OF the nti-
cation in the lower courts, only to be
promptly reversed in the supreme court.
thus making the litigation a sort OF end
less chain.
The closing OF the mines will have
little political effect except to cut down
the vote. There is nothing in the pres
ent litigation 10 bring IL to the Fed
srai Supreme Court