Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-02-20
UNION MEN
ENTERTAIN
INTERESTING MEETING OF LEW
IsToWN BRANCH OF MON.
TANA FEDERATION.

LeWlstOWn Union No. OF the Mon
tana Federation of Labor held it's first
public meeting of the year at it's hall
Friday evening last and the session
proved most interesting one. There
was large attendance OF union men
and their wives, and the invitation
extended to the public brought out
many who are not allied with any Ia
Dor organization.
In the absence of President Bak.
er, George Nolte, of the teamsters'
union, presided, and after a piano solo
by Prof. LeConte, Prof. E. E. Race
gave a fine violin solo, this number
pleasing the audience greatly.
Address by Roy e. Ayers.
Roy E. Ayers was the first speaker
of the evening. and he spoke at some
length upon the future of the country
and the conditions that the next gen.
GRAFTON of workingmen would be called
upon to face. He paid especial at
tention to Chinese immigration, de-
c!aring himself in favor Of the strict
est exclusion. AS to the Japanese,
Mr.. Ayers did not think they were
menace, as the present conditions
III Japan and Manchuria would keep
them busy at home. Mr. Ayers believ-
ed that the emigration from southern
Europe should be restricted. The
character of many of the people com
ing from that section almost preclud-
ed them from being good Americans
II. L. DekaIb Speaks.
The finest address of the evening
was delivered by City Attorney H.
l. DeKalb, who spoke on the subject
OF "Unionism." Mr.. DeKalb traced
the union movement from the time of
the first strike recorded in American
history, when the shipbuilders of Phil
adelphia, shortly after 1900, struck
for a shorter work day than 16 hours,
the time they were then working. The
fight was for IA hours, and they won,
and the contest for better conditions
had been going on ever since. If any
one wanted to know if the unions had
accomplished anything to benefit their
members, that fact alone was a suffi-
cient answer-the cutting down of
the hours of labor from 16 to hours
within the century. UniOnism, in its
best sense, was proper and legitimate.
The basic principle of it was the
same as that which led to the union
of states. The union, however, to be
of permanent good, must be organiz-
ed for honest and legitimate purposes.
Ii 1t made fight, it should have right
upon its side always. Sometimes un-
ions had gone too far and employed
wrong methods, but these were the
exceptions, and today, through the in
fluence of the unions labor had taken
On new dignity throughout the world.
The man who works was respected
by all, and the badge of labor was
everywhere badge of honor. Mr..
DeKalb referred to the Golden Rule
as the highest rule of human action,
and strongly urged conservatism
among union men. Following that
rule and that policy. with harmony
in their own ranks, they would ad-
vance their cause and receive from
capital the treatment they were en-
titled to.
J. A. Orchard Talks.
J. A. Orchard, former member of
the Butte carpenters union, and now
deputy supreme president OF the Fra
ternal Brotherhood, was the last
speaker He gave some incidents
within his own experiences showing
the benefit of labor unions. and en-
tertained the audience with number
OF humorous stories.
Following the addresses, refresh
ments were served by the ladies' and
the social session was voted the most
successful and pleasant ever held by
the LewistOwn union.