The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-12-10

positively refuses to permit memt srs
to accept this scrip.
More Differences Now.
Now the matter Of 20 per cent
reduction in the wage scale, affecting
every employe above and below
ground has to be considered, and
on top of this comes the statement OF
the Mine Owners association that il
will not deal further with the local
union or any person connected with
the Western Federation Of Minees
Conservative men here, not connect
cd with the owners or miners or.
ganizations, are, however, of the oDin.
ion that settlement may yet ,,a at
fected and that an attempt viii be
nade here to organize a new uniol to
re affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor, with which the mlne
owners have already intimated they
will be willing to enter into in agree.
ment
The new scale Of wages announced
today is based on the wages paid at
Tonopah, where the cost Of living is
conceded to be 20 per cent. cheaper
than in Goldfeld TO ocover this point
the Mine Owners association has
agreed to either induce the merchants
here to lower their prices, or else to
open general stores and boarding
houses where prices will be lower
than at present.
The officers of the local miners
union say they place little confidence
in the statements of the Mine Owners
association, and that such statements,
which they characterize as bluffs"
have been issued before, the promises
contained in them not being kept.
Reports of Violence.
Reports of attempts at intimidation,
threats Of violence and even at most
to commit violence are being con
stantly heard tonight, but at union
headquarters these are characterized
as fakes, and instances where per-
sonal encounters have occurred the
evidence obtainable is that the dis
turbances are caused by irresponsible
parties and that the union officials
are endeavoring to prevent disorder
and violence. President Mackinnon of
the Goldfeld Miners union said to-
night that the executive committee
was holding a regular meeting today,
and that it would not do so or take
any official action regarding the re.
duction in wages of miners until TO-
morrow night, the time for holding the
regular monthly meeting Of the execu-.
tive committee. President Mackinnon
directed the miners to pay no atten-
tion to statements issued by the Mine
Owners association.
eve are playing a waiting game"
said Mr.. Mackinnon "The owners
have precipitated fight, have in
duced Governor Sparks to ask for
troops have determined to drive the
Western Federation of Miners out of
the camp, and have decided to reduce
wages. All the trouble that may re-
suit from these unwarranted actions
the mine owners alone will be respon-
sible for"
The troops are patrolling the ground
around the Consolidated and other
prominent mines Of the camp, as also
are large number Of deputy con-
stables sworn in by Constable Inman.
It was learned tonight that an at
tempt will be made tomorrow morning
to start work on the Mohawk COM
bination lease. No underground work
will be attempted, but Manager Sic
bert states that he will work the
pumps, beginning at Z o'clock tomor-
row morning, and that he has men
enough to handle the work. He has
made no request for deputies or troops
to guard the property or protect the
WOrkmen.