Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-03-14
in BUTTE
Workes and Corporation Lin.
ing up -Amalgamated Try.
ing to Divide Workers.
specia! Correspondence

ehH Ahb % EAeAAinNS eAN iAhihb hB -
this city for the inevitable struggle
that has been going on for ages be-
tween those who have and those who
have not. The capitalists are preparing
coldly, calculatingly regulating their
moves like an experienced ches play
er, as has always been their wont.
The working class are struggling in
the dark, now swayed in this diree-
tion and now in tbPt as is their won't
also.
The destinies Of the Amalgamated
Copper company are locally in the hands
of a son of a wealthy Michigan min
ing man. lie is a personifeation of
the mailed hand beneath the velvet
glove. He understands the working
class, their divisions their weakness,
their inclination to forget the work
ing class unity of interest and scram-
BILE blindly for craft or trade ben
eft regardless of the interests of the
other workers.
Just now he is eogaged in dividing
the bundles Of sticks, separating the
unions, setting one organization
against the other, playing on their
pride-their cupidity, nattering their
officers, cajoling influential members,
making representations favorable to
the particular labor interest he is
most anxious to control, the miners.
A few days ago a special meeting
was called in the Auditorium. 1t had
been arranl.d that John ID. Ryan
should address this meeting presum-
ably for the purpose Of stampeding
the miners to forget everything but
the bait Of 25-cent raise in wages
and sign an agreement which would
enable the Amalgamated to crush the
smaller unions at it's leisure, after
which il would turn its attention TO
the powerful miners union. The plan
miscarried. A Socialist took the floor
and raised the point that no man un.
der the constitution, could gain ad-
mission to a miners meeting unless he
carried a union card. The point was
sustained by big majority vote and
the company plan fell through. Ryan
did not get his coveted chance to
speak but the man whose point of
orddr excluded him was discharged
the next day. This man was not EN-.
played by the Analgamated by the
way, but was employed by one Of the
smaller companies.
The Amalgamsted just now lie tax.
ing a violent interest in the welfare
Of the miners. IL has declared that
raise in pay win be of no benefit
to them unless the smaller unions are
prevented from raising their wages
on the plea that the miners will have
to pay more 10 live every time the
pay of the rest of the workers is in
creased.
This is sophistry Of course, but tehn
the employer never deals in anything
else. While the building trades were
dormant so far as wage demands are
concerned house rent redoubled. The
unions had nothing TO do with this
The population Of the town has in
creased 25 per cent andthe landlords
took advantage Of the increased de-
mand for houses. The grocers formed
trust as did other dealers and reg
ulated the selling price of goods. When
the exactions OF the dealers drove the
workers to demand raise the dealers ,
associations which are known as the
Business Mems association, the Re.
tail Merchants association, the Hotel
and Restaurant Keepers association,
the Coal Dealers association, Livery
mems association and several other
associations Of middlmen, among them
the master butchers etc, granted the
increase and put il on the selling
price Of the goods bought by the
workers.
Even the undertakers combined and
mand for an increased wage. The
county paupers. SO far as is known
no union demand was responsible for
the last raise. The dealers are doing
a greater amount Of business owing to
the increase in population but refuse
to let go of any OF their profits. The
business mems combinations were res
ponsible In the first place for a de-