Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-07-04

w. w. Rush was the engineer who
was carrying the train over the Flor
ence and Cripple Creek road on the
night of the alleged attempted wreck.
He testified in the trial of the strike
committee in Cripple Creek that d. C.
Scott gave him information that the
wrecking was going to be attempted,
and asked if he knew of good place
on the road to wreck train. 1t was
at this point that few spikes were
found to be removed.
The witness was healthy, hearty,
frank, young worker. The jury watch
ed his face most intently while he was
giving his evidence. The very state
ments of these men who do things car
ry vital might. They represent the
primal necessity of that conscious and
useful activity that makes life pos
sible. The human mind turns with in
stinctive love and confidence to the
worker that maintains its existence.
1t is this basic dependence on the
grapple with the material need that is
the substructure of the whole social
list position.
This grandeur and power of labor
shall illumine the earth-life and make
it glorious.
This witness did splendid work for
defense. He showed there was moth
ing to the "wreck" but shamming
put up by the employers to lay a trap
for the union.
Ed. Boyce, the first president of the
Federation, was called for the defense.
Boyce is a character that is revered
and loved throughout the ranks Of
western unionism. He is a man Of
grand and noble impulses one to
whom the well-being Of the working
class was a perpetual aspiration. His
mind is broad and deep, and he
brought the strength of his great abil-
ity to bear upon the problems of labor,
with which he was thrown. He has
been for many years the personal
friend of Debs who Justly appreciate 4
his rare and beautiful nature. He
held an interest in the fabulously
wealthy Hercules mine-the one in
which Orchard was compelled to sell
his share-and is to-day near the mil.
lionaire mark; and there is no one who
knows him, but rejoices at his good
fortune.
1t was in Boise Jail, held there on
account Of the labor troubles of 1899
in the Coeur d'Alenes, that he with
other labor men first formed the West.
eFn Federation. He also replied to
Mr.. Darrowthat he had been sentenced
one other time to Boise, for two years
to the state senate.
Mr.. Hawley was the council of the
union men that advocated the forma-
tion of central body of the Rocky
Mountain miners. He said the mine
owners had set the example. Mr.. Boyce
said the latter were organized in 1890
at Helena.
On the 18th Of May in 1898, the first
general convention Of the miners was
called at Butte, made up from the del
egates Of the western country. The
purpose Of the new organization was to
prevent a reduction of wages, the abo.
lition Of the company boardin house
and store, and securing of safety appli
ances in the mines, and obtaining le'
gislation favorable to the working
class. The Western Federation had al
ways been in politics. Mr.. Boyce
stated that IL had always been his sd
vice that the working men make bust
ness of politics, but he was sorry to
say his advice had not been needed
very much.
Mr.. Boyce's statement of the condi
tions prevailing of the miners befor,
the formation of the central body
carried home to every hearer the nee
essity Of the working class taking ac
tive measures to protect itself. He
said he had been fred in Wardnei
because he would not board where he
was ordered TO. The men had no voic,
in selecting a physician that they pait
dollar amonth to. A days work il
the mines was from ten to twelv,
hours. The bunk houses were unf
for human beings to five In.
Twelve hours was a days work il
the smelters under most unhealthy con
ditions. The fumes from the furnaces
produced, paralysis Of the hands, the