Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1908-04-16
WORKERS ARE UNITED
Organized Labor in Helena Com
mands Respect for Ballot


The Montana News had a series of
lightning change experiences last
week in regard to its makeup. The
type was all set and the makeup was
about 10 proceed when word came to
the office that Comrade James Taylor,
who had headed the city ticket as can
didate for mayor, had been discharged
from his position as stationery engineer
at the Capital Brewery. The foreman
who discharged him told him plainly it
was on account of his politics.
The cause for discharge was so
ridiculous in this state, where there is
a special statute providing expressly
against any such act, that a wave of
universal indignation Immediately rau
through the Helena working class.
Type was set by hand giving a full
account of the whole matter, with plans
to prevent such an outrage against the
honest ballot of the working class.
Special meetings were called of the
Brewers union and the Miners union.
of which Mr.. Taylor is president. A
committee of citizens, some business
men among them, arranged to go to
the brewery management with a pro
test against such inexcusable proceed
ure. The State Federation stepped into
the ease, and some Of its Officers went
to the prospective mayor.
II was discovered that the Capital
Brewery is in the hands of receiver.
and the Union Bank & Trust company
was in charge of its affairs. The man.
ager for the brewery is Mr.. Kaufman
of the bank When the officers of the
bank were seen they Immediately dis
claimed all knowledge OF responsibility
for the affair, and avowed the as
sininity of such procedure. Mr.. Kauf.
man asked TO meet the committees of
the unions, when the matter was salts.
factorily settled.
The strong, hopeful feature from a
working class standpoint about the af-
fair was the instantaneous action and
the solidarity displayed by organized
labor in the matter. The question was
not approached from political stand,
point in the least. Organized working
men of all shades of political affilia.
tiou, and there are few socialists among
them in Helena, united in one common
cause, to protect the inviolability of the
ballot in the hands of American labor.
This manifestation of working class
solidarity was surprise 10 the cap.
italist class. Mr.. Taylor was asked
how the State Federation came to butt
in on the proposition, il the State Fed.
Grafton and the Western Federation
were not at swords point.
"We differ on some points Of union
policy" said Mr.. Taylor, "but we are
all together when it comes to protect
ing our job"
Surprise was also shown at Mr.
Taylor's backing, and the employers
said: "Your vote doesn't show very
much support among the workers -
Taylor's vote was about 800. Taylor s
reply was, "My vote was the vote of
the socialists of Helena II was a
vote for principle. There are not many
socialists in Helena. We wish there
were more. But although the workers
have not yet learned TO unite their
power politically, on the economic field
we stand together to protect our inter
ests. ["
The petty bosses were relying OF
Taylor's vote as an index of his
strength with organized labor il
Helena.
Had the matter not been adjusted
general strikes would have been called