Omaha daily bee., 1914-06-15
DYNAMITE FEDERATION SAFE
W. F. M. Members in Fierce Riot in
Butte Streets.
UNION DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF


Mako Appeal for Mob 60 Dis
perse ana IL Thrown out
Of window.
BUTTE. Mont. June 14-A crowd of
federation miners surrounded by police
started 20 pun the safe OF the Western
Federation down Main street In an at
tempt to save It from rioters tonight
-Four hundred rioters later took the
safe from the federation members, put II
on a wagon, and carted Il 10 the flat be-
low the city and dynamlted Il after driv-
ing the sheriff and his deputies from the
ground A wagon load Of policemen stood
off at a distance while the safe was being
dynamited.
BUTTE. Mont. June 14--Butte tonight
is virtually under armed rule with It's
saloons that have not been closed in years
except on election days locked tight and
with every hardware store cleared OF all
ifs arms and ammunition by the police as
the result OF the series OF riots during
the day-miners' union day-the thirty
fourth anniversary OF the establishment
Of the union IN this camp. The miners
union with upwards OF 1900 members is
divided against ttself
More than 1900 men have refused 70
recognise the union further and under
the leadership OF agitators OF the In
dustrial Workers Of the World, the
socedors from the big organization this
morning attacked the miners parade COM
posed OF more than half the labor bodies
Of the city.
knocked from Horses.
President Bert Riley Of the union and
Pared Marshal Michael Conway were
knocked from their horses by a voiley OF
stones from the rioters. Other officers
Of the union were chased from the line
of march and took refuge in the sheriffs
office at the court house.
Tho parade broken up and the speak
ing exercises IN the theater abandoned
because OF the stormy street scenes, the
rioters moved on the union hall in the
center Of the city. Every piece OF furni-
tLre in the building was demolished ana
thrown into the streets.
piano was thrown down stairway.
the books. records and two safes OF
the union were thrown out The ballot
boxes containing the $500 votes cast nt
the recent election OF union officers,
which had not yet been counted. were
destroyed and their contents eniptied
into the street.
Acting Mayor Thrown out.
Alderman Frank Curran. acting mayor
OF the city, q socialist, went 20 tho union
hall to appeal 10 the rioters to diaperse
and was thrown from second story
window to the pavement He was taken
70 the hospital severely injured. The
mob did not cease It's work of destruc-
ton until even tho carpets in the oie
assembly hall OF the union had been torn
frorn the floor and thrown into the
street.
crowd OF 10000 persons Witnessed the
demonstration Police and the sheriffs
deputies were powerless. Sheriff Dris-
o coll went TO the miners union hall. but
soon returned 20 his office. whom word
came 70 him that union officers had
taken refuge there and were about to be
attacked by another section OF the crowd.
Chief Of Police Murray during the midst
Of the turmoil sent out a score Of
officers 70 close ali saloons Half
dosen saloon keepers. who refused 10
obey. were taken 70 jail. A warning was
sent 70 the hardware stores to secret all
csded TO call off a boxing bout Bched-
uled for this evening.
ORIGIN Of Trouble.
Tonight the disgruntled faction OF the
miners held a meeting in the auditorium
TO take steps toward the formation OF q
new miners union under the Industrial
Workers Of the World organization. The
trouble had its origin over the dissatis-
faction Of the miners with heavy special
assessments levied against them by
officers OF the Western Federation OF
Miners and the local officials as bene-
fits for the Michigan copper mine strik-
era. some OF the miners were said TO be
paying as high as 8 TO tie a month In
assessments. More than 100000 had been
sent from Butte 70 Michigan. Although
the strike there has been called Off. the
assessment continued. Men failing to pay
the assessments were disfranchiseo at rhe
recent union election.
The climax came yesterday morning
when the men employed at the Specu-
iator mine Of the North Butte company
refused 70 exhibit their union cards to
she ak walking delegates OF the union
sent there 20 inspect them.
Cali out Night shift.
The union officials informed the mine
management that the men would not be
allowed 70 20 to work. The men marched
down from Butte Hin and last night
called out the night shirt Men from the
Butte and Chief Superior mines also
5oined the movement.
Today all mines were closed for the
holiday. All mining companies here hold
contracts with the mlners' union and the
managers insisted tonight that these con
traets must be enforced and that thes
would look 70 the regular union 10 FUR
nish the men for the mines. The SO