Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-12-01
Crisis Resulting From Copper
War. Interesting Times
Coming
Helm zE's COUP
Causes Leading Up to Shut Down
OfAmalgamated Copper Com
pany Mines

HELENA, Mont. Dec. 1.-The ex,
traordinary session Of the Montana
legislature which convened today in
pursuance Of the call issued three
weeks ago by Governor Toolc is likely
to be the arena for gladiatorial COM
bat as fierce and as intensely inter-
esting as the session several years ago
which witnessed the titanic struggle
between Copper King William A.
Clarke and Marcus DAILY for seat in
the United States senate. In the pres
ent instance the results are far
more momentous than in the case Of
the struggle for the senatorship. The
future welfare and prosperity of one
entire and portions of three other
states may be said to depend upon the
action OF the session. Arrayed against
one another in the gigantic fight is f.
Augustus Heinze. Of the Montana Ore
Purchasing company, backed by the
independent copper men Of three
states, and the Standard Oil company,
as represented by the Amalgamated
Copper company.
The aim Of the session is to pass a
law whereby mining cases may be
taken from one court to another when
the judge in the initial court is shown
to be prejudiced. Other legislation Of
like character has been promised A
socalled Fair Trial bill. of the char
acter now proposed, was passed by the
last legislature, but was decided by the
supreme court to be unconstitutional
on technical grounds.
The present situation is due to a
coup executed by F. Augustus Heinze,
President of the United copper COM
paly and the arch enemy of the Anal
gahated interests. One Of his lieu
tenants, a young man named John Mac.
Ginns. was the owner Of few shares
OF the Boston and Montana Copper
company. He secured decision from
district Judge Clancy restraining the
Boston and Montana company from
paving dividends to the Amalgamated,
A
on the ground that il is contrary to the
laws OF Montana for one corporation to
own stock In another corporation.
Futhermoreson application. he secured
a decision from Judge Clancy in which
the latter said he might at any time ap
point receiver for the Boston and
Montana company. BY these decisions
the Amalgamated was badly hampered.
and. the Fair Triar' bill being nulli-
fled by the supreme court, ii could not
secure the transfer Of the matter to
another court.
After vainly bringing pressure 10
bear upon the governor to call a
special session Of the legislature, the
Amalgamated shut down its mines,
throwing 10000 men out Of work Gen.
eral Manager Scallon announcing that
under the laws OF Montana the com.
pany could not secure justice. and that
II would be useless to operate ths
mines until assurance Of fair treat.
ment was given He also said that the
mines should be re-opened whenever
the governor should issue cali for 4
special session OF the Legislature Ia
pass remedial legislation. True &c his
promise General Manager Scallo,
ordered every mine and smel'er re-
opened on the day Governor Toole Is
sued HIS call for the special session.
Now, In slang phrase. ut Is Up tG'
the legislature to frame. in Response
to popular demand. change Of venue
or change Of Judge bill by which ,
litigant may evade going before pre-
JUDGED Judge. and bill changing th'
practice SO that the supreme cour
may review findings OF fact, rendere,
by q trial Judge, as well as conclusion
of law.
Such legislation will not be enacte,
without . bitter struggle. It is to b
q battle to the death between the Am
aleamated on one side and the Heinz,
forces and adherents Of the Unite,
Copper company on the other. To on
side or the other II will be a Waterloo