The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-29
Howley's Speech.


no threats that ! might make would
help the cause of the strikers in the
least, but. gentlemen, state to you as
a cold, indisputable fact that if the
switchmen's strike is not settled within
10 days there will be 10000. instead of
5000. railroad men on strike
With these words George II. Howiey
president of the State Federation of
Labor of Minnesota. and national or
ganizer for the American Federation of
Labor. brought to a climax a cheering,
enthusiastic and dramatic speech before
a mass meeting of Missoula citizens in
the Harnois theatcr last night.
Next week. said Mr.. HowIev. "the
railway department or the American
Federation OF Labor will meet. The re-
ports issued in the past that the rail-
way department was going to call
general strike were incorrect. for 4ai:
such Il time move Of that kind would
have been premature. But this time
the railway department is going to
meet in earnest and 1t will have at its
head a goodsIrishman.. Mike FIannery,
and, mark my words. the general strike
will be Forthcoming unless the rail-
roads have settled their controversy
with the switchmen.
George 3. howley.
Mr.. Howley-he Is. by The way. no
relation to President Hawley of the
Switchmen's cnion--is IA gray-haireu,
stocky, genial-faced Irishman, with q
brogue That is good to hear and with
set tn his jaw which shows his fight
ing blood. He Is a man of influence il.
labor circles. He is strong speaket'
anu a man who has studied the subjae,
on which he spoke last evening from
the first to the last. Ever since the
strike was called lie has been directing
the fight in the Twin cities and at the
head of the lakes. right in the thick of
the affected district and right i'm the
heart of the fight and, though he is not
u .railro0derf and though he associated
himself with the switchmen purely as
aleader. after the strike was started.
he knows the situation from the inside
and. as he says. he "has learned all
about switchnlen. from singers to
boomers !"
The Meeting.
Thomas p Wilburn. 1. member of the
executive committee Of the State Fed
Grafton of Labor acted as chairman
meeting. He introduced James Fro
man. president of the Missoula County
Trades and Labor council. who con-
graduated the Missoula unions in IA
short speech for having affiliated them
selves with the American Federation
of Labor. MIR. Hawley was then in
troduced.
Il come here direct from that grand
..ll
come to help as we'll as may the strik-
ing switchmen and TO cheer them in
their fight. For that reason my re-
marks will be confined solely to them.
In my hand hold the minutes of the
first conference between the railroads
and the strikers. Let ME read from
them. These minutes are signed by the
representatives of both sides and cover
the conference in detail. You have
heard much about rhe unjust demands
of the switchmen.
The first demand of the strikers. as
shown by these minutes. was for
double time on Sundays and for over
time. This demand was not made on
account of the extra pay. as is generally
supposed. 1t was made for the pur-
pose Of eliminating, as much as pos
stbfe. switching on the sabbath. You
know. and know. that lot of work
is done by the railroads on Sunday that
is unnecessary. The strikers realized
that a certain amount of switching had
to be done. but they made this demand
for the purpose of eliminating all that
was not absolutely necessary, SO that
they might spend a little of the Sab
bath i'm their homes.
The answer of the railroad COM
panies TO this demand was No"
The Second Demand.
THE second demand was for a raise
of cents an hour. The papers have
been full of articles declaring that the
switchmen frequently made $3.50 and
SlSe a month The switchmen really
gets 30 cents an hour. For a day of
10 hours 1t means $3.50 and for 81 days
it means 1890. A hodcarrier anywhere