The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-01-03
BUTTE LABOR LEADERS ARE
CHARGED WITH VIOLATING
INJUNCTION.
PECULIAR DEFENSE
Foster and Woodmancy, the TWO
Men Taken From Work on the Bell
Telephone company's New Build
ing in Butte, Tell Their story In
court-Woodmancy Union Miner.

Helena, Dec. 31.-Four Butte Ia
BORING men, Joseph Shannon, prest
dent Of the state union Of the West
ern Federation Of Miners; William
Quits; r. s. Scott, business agent Of
the Workingmen's union, and A. =.
Edwards, business agent of the Butte
Building Trades council, appeared in
the federal court this morning to
show cause why they should not be
punished for contempt, 1t being al
legged by the Rocky Mountain Bell
Telephone company that the men VIC
lated the injunction issued in October
by Judge Hunt, restraining certain
PERSONS from interfering In any way
with the operations Of the company.
The most important points were
ELECTED this morning on cross-exami-
nation Of Woodmancy and Foster,
two Of the alleged deported men,
when what Is believed will be the
line OF defense to the charge Of con
temptuous disorder was disclosed.
Member Of Miners Union.
It was brought out that Wood
NANCY was a member Of the Butte
Miners union. He was behind in his
dues and testified he had decided to
drop out Of the union, but further
questioning by MI. Meyer showed he
lad told no one Of his intention until
Mr.. Shannon came to the building
and asked him to come up to the
miners hall that evening and bring
his card along.
Woodmancy admitted that his
check was made out by Walter II.
Briggs, as foreman or superintendent
Of the Utah Fire Prooang company.
! Tie stated he was drawing $3.50 a
Cay. He said he wal q common labor
er on the building, but admitted he
cid some rough carpenter work. The
union scale for carpenters in Butte
lie Sc. woodmancy said he did not
know he was employed by the Rocky
Mountain Bell Telephone company
when they asked II you did not
know 1t was an unfair job. did you
know whether they referred to the
Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone com.
pany or to the fact that the Utah Fire
PROBING company q employing car
penters at $3.50 q day, when the
union scale was $6?" he was asked,
Did Not Know Il Unfair.
The witness did not know to what
the union committee referred when
it called upon him. Woodmancy said
he did not know that the building was
declared unfair until carpenters were
put to work at $3.50 q day.
Glen Foster testified OF cross-ex'
animation that he went to work on
the building through an advertise
ment he saw in the paper. He did
rot know whether the advertisement
asked for carpenters or for workmen.
MI. Meyer tried to draw from the
witness the fact that when Shannon
came to the building he asked II he
Toster) belonged to the union and
had, a miners card. Foster at first
testified the questions put ~ Shan.
non were not 50 specific, but when
shown his afidavit, which contained
this statement, said he guessed the
ahldavit was correst.
Both Woodmancy and Foster testi-
fed that the committee which waited
upon them and Of which Shannon was
q member, handled Woodmancy
roughly at first. Shannon was singled
out particularly and the witness de.
c.ared he was aggressive and bull.
doing. The committee which took
E'oodmancy to the hall used no more
violence than was necessary to make
him come along, the Witness stated
IN reply to questions.
THREE THOUSAND