The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-06-25
Wreck of the Butte Miners Union
and Rocks Upon Which 1t Split

To Mr.. Lowneys statement the eN-
ecutive committee of the new organi-
cation made the fslowing reply
owing to certain unwarranted and
untruthful statements which have been
given to the Butte press by Executive
Board Member Lowney. we deem II
advisable and a duty which we owe
the miners and the general public to
correct the erroneous impressions
therein concerning the events which
have TRANSFERRED in miners union af~
fairs in Butte during the past week.
For two years past the affairs Of
the local miners union have been con
Quoted in manner which, when con
templated, has brought blush OF
shame to the cheek of every sincere
honest and intelligent miner in the
camp. -convicts, holdup men am
general disreputable characters in
general have been received with opei
arms by the officials in control Of ,ht
union. These characters have pee
allowed to browbeat and even dep orf
with the aid of officials themselve
those miners who have objected to tn
high handed manner in which thu
union was run. Miners who had sick
and death benefits due them were not
allowed to collect the same If the ca
price of officers demanded otherwise,
There is strong evidence in the hands
Of the committee that these moneys
went into channels more beneficial to
the controlling clique
"The natural result of these two
years of tyranny was the revolt Wh'cA
occurred Miners Union day, when the
honest and substantial element in the
union, which includes 80 per cent of
the membership, utterly disguised and
wrought up to high pitch of anger
by the arrogance of officials IN the
parade stopped the hypocritical dem
onstration and then proceeded to mako
a long needed housekeeping in their
own hall. The malicious statements
made by Mr.. Lowney that the social
ed insurgents are not union men al
heart should be taken as coming from
one who has not yet fully recovered
his mental poise. Also the attempt to
involve the various operating compan-
les in the trouble should meet with the
condemnation of all who have the well
fare of the community at heart The
miners of Butte have no intention OF
becoming involved in any misunder-
standing with the companies. How
ever, let it be known that there is nc
provision in the contract which pro
yides for the showing of w. f. of M
cards on the HILL
an regard to the Michigan strike
the insurgents were in full sympath!
with their fellow workers in Michigan
In spite of lurking suspicious that al
the money did not reach Michigan NJ
objection was made until the Officials
attempted to continue assessments ar
ter the strike was declared off. When
after the members of the union ha'
voted to pay no more Michigan assess
ments, ]. C. Lowney declared that the,
must pay them regardless of the ac
tion taken. one of the few remainin'
bonds which held the union togethe
was broken. Mr.. LoWney's statemen
in regards to 'Muckie Mcdonald give
half the truth. Mcdonald, who hal
iy, ,it,n q
tempted to address meeting of IN
union IS months ago. His remark
not meeting with the approval o
Dennis Murphy, then president, h
was roughly handled and then eiect"t
from the hall Later a fine Of $50 wa
placed against him and attempts mad
to prevent his working in Butte. Thi
failed, however.
"The attempt of Mr.. Lowney to in
troduce l. w. Wism and second Gold
field into the situation is clearly
tsubterfuge and calculated only to rais'
the senseless prejudice against the in
surgents, and thus blind the public f
the corruption Of his own gang ant
! the high handedness Of his own con
duct. We have nothing to fear from
the consolidation of any or all labo
organizations. On the contrary, We
have been working for that end fol
years However we do not intend t.
ofiliate with any national organiZa
| ton for the time being.
an conclusion. we wish to state tina
we have no grievance with any Graf
,nion in the city. In fact, we feel SURE
hat all union men are with us In ou
efforts to keep a miners union intac
IN Butte, founded on the solid grounf
If honesty, education and determin
alton to advance the true interests o
all workers in Butte