Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-06-27
Darrow'S
Statement
Address to the Jury Outlining Plans
of Defense Orchard Spends Sun.
day Auto Riding in Boise


of the organization and its first at.
torney. If there was anything Grim
inal in appropriating money to pay
attorneys the miners didn't know it.
They formed an industrial organiza-
tion. 1t was to organize the men who
did the work-as benefit for the men
and their families. 1t took some part
in politics. 1t is to be hoped that
the state viii not hang these men for
that. If such could be done, most of
the corporations in the United States
would hang.
The organization tried to help elect
officials and judges that looked at
things from the standpoint Of the man
with the pick and shovel. They tried
to elect Hawley to the senate.
We plead guilty to politics. But
there never was criminal conspiracy
connected with the Western Fedora
tion. We do not claim that these men
never did any wrong. They are not
angels. Angels do not work in mines.
They are the mine owners.
We are not here to apologize for
the w. +. of NJ. 1t has always been
fighting organization and if it dies
it will die fighting. From the first
it met with opposition from the mine
owners association, which was organ.
lied before the w. f. of NJ. was born.
Before the Federation men worked
from ten to fourteen hours in the mine,
and the same time in the smelters,
where the average life is seven years,
where the teeth fell out and the men
became paralytic from the poisonous
gases. They were compelled to buy
whatever they used at the company
store, to employ company doctors and
to be cared for at a company hospital,
the machinery was unsafe and the
smelters vomited forth poison and
death.
The new organization began at once
to correct these evils. II took care of
its widows and orphans. One union,
that of Butte, had paid out more than
a million dollars to the widows and
orphans of its members. Lead City
had done the same. 1t began TO press
legislation for safety appliances and
an eight-hour day. Its activities show
that themembers had associated with
some one besides Orchard. Agitation
was commenced in all states for an
eight-hour law The wages of the
men were rails d. Hospitals, halls
and libraries were established. Some
Of the unions owned the best property
in their town.
All this had happened since Mr..
Hawley had organized them into n
compact mass of men.
The organization met the constant
opposition. 1t was always in trouble.
Organizers going into towns would be
met by the most stubborn resistance
from the owners and bosses Of the
miners. Men were ordered not to at
tend the meetings. In certain camps
the president of the organization could
get nothing to eat at the boarding
house, nor n nights lodging.
The members were arrested on the
slightest charge, ninety -uine out of
one hundred never had the grace Of
a trial so we can't complain in this
case.
The mine owners did everything in
their power to destroy the organiza-
tion. They hired the Pinkerton de-
tective agency with one Mcfarland at
the head. These people were busy
following sleuthing, working and lying
against the members of the union.
Hired detectives were placed in posi-
tions of trust with orders TO cause
strikes and advise violence. They did
this in Telluride and Cripple Creek,
where the Pinkerton men were the
chief factor in the disturbances. A
campaign Of slander and abuse was
commenced against the union men.
Every crime in the west was ascribed
To them. Every illegitimate child
born west Of the Mississippi river was
carried TO Denver and laid on the door
step Of the w. f. Of NJ.
They did establish n magazine. II
has been running ten years. 1t is pos
sible that in that time some foolish
things have crept into il. II would
be different from all other publications
IL they had not. Haywood paid little
attention to the magazine. Meyer gave