The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-04-26
TROUBLE AT RED LODGE NOT
FINALLY SETTLED.
WORKING UNDER A TRUCE
Matter in Dispute Referred to Execu-
tive Board of United Mine
Workers.

Although the miners are at work
no settlement has been arrived at be-
tween the Northwestern Improvement
company and the union concerning the
dispute over the appointment of a.
check weighman at Red Lodge, which
resulted in the recent strike. tenn
porary or tentative agreement was
reached at Helena last week at con-
ference held between General Manager
Horn and the representatives of the
Miners union, in consequence OF .
which the men will continue opera
tions, while the matter at issue will
be left for decision to- the national
executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America The latter body
is to put it's Interpretation on the
disputed sections of the agreement
made last year by the company and
the union in regard to the right of the
men to strike.
The matter of the appointment OF
Smethurst, whose election by the
union as check weighman caused the
strike, is to be held in allegiance.
Smethurst is not to be employed in
the capacity to which he was elected,
nevertheless he is to be paid wages
at the rate of $1OO month by the
company from April 10 until the case
is decided or until the existing agree
ment between the company and the
union expires, September 80, 1904,
this regardless of what the decision
of the executive board may be.
1t will be remembered that the
company objected to the election OF
Smethurst on the ground that he was
not at the time of his selection an
employe of the company, holding this
to be in violation of the agreement
between the union and the company.
Upon its refusal to- recognize him the
men struck and remained out until
the tentative agreement now in force
was reached.
AS Told by Horn.
General Manager Horn says there
has never been any disposition on the
part of the company to ignore or vio-
late the law which gives the miners
the right to select check weighman.
All that it has insisted upon is the
close observance of the law, which
says that any miners employed by
or engaged in working for any mine
owners, operator or lessee of any mine
in this state, shall have the privilege,
if they desire, OF employing, at their
own expense, check ,Weighman,'
etc. Mr.. Horn Interpreters the law
as meaning that only actual miners
shall have that privilege, those who
have real interest in the weight OF
the coal mined because paid for their
labor en- the basis OF the tonnage
weight of the coal mined by them.
In the case in dispute men who are
not miners, but who are employed in
the various capacities OF teamsters,
firemen, engineers, etc., voted for
Smethurst, as many of them belong
to the union at Red Lodge. In this re-
spect he claims the miners violated
the law, and not the company He
also maintains that one-sixth of the
miners employed by the company are
not members of the union. These, he
says, were not consulted as regards
the election of Smethurst, as no meet
ing of miners was, held, out simply
one of the union and the latter decided
upon the man who was to be check
weighmaster. Furthermore, he says,
men, unionists, not in the employ OF
the company, voted at tie election.
AS the union has accepted the terms
of the temporary agreement and has
bound itself not to strike or quit work
until the executive board renders its
decision the mines will continue 10 be
operated and the danger of a coal
famine is averted. September 80 the
Did agreement expires, when confer
ences will probably be held between
the miners and representatives OF the
company for the purpose OF making
another for the ensuing year.
Rooms For Rent.