The Western news., 1904-10-26
st rike. All mail and passenger trains

st rike. All mail and passenger trains
were allowe to run as usual.
After the strike had been on for sew.
, eral days request was made on Gov.
X. 3. Smith by some of the city and
county officials that troops be sent to
: Great Falls to guard the property of
the railroad company and to quell any
disturbances that might ar Sc.
In other words, the company,
through the city and county officials,
wanted to bulldoze the men into CIV
ing up the strike by using bayonets
and bullets furnished by the state.
At this time Mr.. A. G. Gormley was
county attorney of Cascade county
Gov. Smith made personal exa,nin
alton of the conditions in Great Falls
before granting the request for troops.
At an open meeting MIR. Gormley ex-
planned the situation, showing that
there was no necessity for soldiers ard
that the strikers were peaceable and
orderly.
The officials who made the request,
though present at the meeting, were
silent aud had no word of explanation
or comment. When the governor saw
and heard the conditions that pre-
vailed, he refused to furnish any
troops, only requesting the men to re-
frain from lawless acts. About this
time the attorney for the railroad co,n-
pany posted notices stating that any
Of their old employees who were on
strike, found on the depot grounds or
track would be arrested and prosecuted
according to Jaw.
Mr.. Gormley again took decided
stand and notified the company that
there was no law in Montana that pro-
hibited any law-abiding citizen from
being on the depot grounds and that
he would discharge any and all per-
sons arrested for that alone, unless
guilty of some breach of the peace or
other offense. In the meantime, the
company had started two oach-loads
of scabs and Pinkerton thugs from St.
Paul to take the places of, and intimi-
date the strikers.
Mr.. Gormley heard of this, and he
met the general superintendent and
attorney of the railroad company in
| conference and was told that these
men were being brought into the state
| to operate'and protect the property of
the company.
Mr.. Gormley called their attention
to the law in regard to bringing any
armed force into the state, especially
Pinkerton and Thiel thugs, and told
the superintendent not to bring these
men into Cascade county. The super
intendent used every att mpt to|
threaten and bulldoze, but without
any effect, and he was finally advised
by the compdny's attorney to follow
Mr.. Gormley's instructions.
When the Pinkertons arrived, they
were unloaded near the Marias River,
bout 60 miles east of Great Falls, in
Choteau county, and were kept in
tents at that place for several days,
finally being taken back to st. Paul. !
Through the efforts of Governor Smith
and Mr.. Gormley, in conjunction with
citizens committee, the strike was
finally settled in favor of the men,
and all were reinstated.
Now, brothers, as labor organiza-
II on, we do not wish to engage in any
partisan politics, but we deem it only
ia ir and just that at this time we bear
| witness to you, as union men, of the
position which Mr.. Gormley, now a
candidate for congress, took in our
time of serious trouble.
We believe that such man can be
trusted in any capacity and that it is
our duty to acquaint you with the high
regard in which he is held by the rail
road union men of Cascade county,
re gardless of party affiliation.
The foregoing was presented to the
o. r. c. and B. of r. T. at regular
meetings and the undersigned officials
were unanimously instructed to certify
that the statements therein contained
are true and correct accounts of mat
ters pertaining to our strike of May,
1900, together with Mr.. Gormley's
action at that time.
Great Falls, Mont, Oct. 16, 1904.
E. H. Guisness, C, C. of o. r. C.
Otto Bjornstaad, Secy of o. r. c.
BLACK Eagle Division No. 1861
E. G. Sawyer, Master B. of r. T.
M. L. Coombs, Secty B. of r. T.
Sun River Lodge No. 4O5.)