United labor bulletin., 1914-07-11
MOYER IS HOPEFUL
OFBUTTE OUTCOME
". F. N. President Returns
From Montana District
Independent Miners Union Of Seceders
Fails to Enthuse Over I. W. W. Pro-
Gram: Mayor Duncan Kills Assailant

President Charles H. Meyer of the
Western Federation of Miners. returned
to headquarters in Denver Wednesday
from Montana, where for the past two
weeks he has been the central figure
about whom the ]. w. w. rioters have
stormed in an attempt to disrupt Butte
Miners Union No. I, during which the
Miners' Union hall at Butte was dynn-
mited. two men were killed and . mur-
derous assault WAS made ON Meyer and
other union officials.
THE situation Is still very serious in
Butte by reason of threats and intimi.
dation of the sabotagers and direct
actionists Of the l. w. W. wrrckcrs."
said Meyer to the Bulletin. However.
a conference was held in Helena by rep
resentatiyes Of international unions
affiliated with the American Federation
of Labor, which | attended. and steps
taken to strnighten out the trouble
The WeAtern Federation has the coop
Grafton Of every legitimate labor body
and the men who seeded from No.
and Joined the /. w. W. independent
miners union are rapidly realizing that
without support Of the organized labor
movement they will soon suffer a re-
duction of pay and longer hours, and
that Butte. instead of being the best
organized closed taop Industrial center
viii revert TO open shop conditions with
the consequent evils to those who toll
Another conference OF these information
al representatives is being held this
week In Butte. from which good result.
are expected to come"
L w. ". Meeting . Failure.
last Saturday. July I, Muckie Nc
Donald. president Of the new independ-
<ss.S - II Lr- -
lowers In the Auditorium, With . seat
ing capecity Of 1000. Il waa nnnouncrd
tkat u new cons4itufiou vas 10 b
adopted and The new big union gotten
fully under way. Only about i00 of
the 5000 claimed to have been enrolled
responded. and Mcdonald was 20 die
appointed that he refused to proceed
with business and adjoarned the meet
ing until July 10. Later Joe Bradley.
vice-President Of the independents and
a disciple Of Vincent 81. John. I. W. w.
patron aaint, gathered about thirty Of
his followers and they broke down the
door 70 the Auditorium and proceeded
10 hold meeting. Bradley Rad the
the meeting adjourned.
Provides Fer Direct Actisa.
This new constitution l. q strange
tooor oocumeut. II declares aRAtnnt
contracts, grievance eommittecs and all
other means adopted by labor unious
for protecting the men. No dues are as
scssed and the initiation fee IL placed
nt 50 cents. In case of trouble between
cmploye and employer II IL to BE- 70.
santed at once by "mcn on the Job"
which 10 the doctrine Of direct action
and sabotage preached by the I. w. w. !
A committee Of Western Federation
iaembers called on the mine manage
ments, who declared their purpose to
live up to the existing contracts and
not recognize the new union Of seceders.
Otherwise tina copper companies have
not shown their hand In the present
trouble.
All membership lists and books Of the |
union having been destroyed by the
rioters, President Meyer instructed that
new roster for registration Of mem.
bers be opened, and 20 far about 500 |
have signed. showing fcalty To the old |
organization. Likewise the ballots cast
for international officers were DESTROYED
and Butte Union IL therefore not repre-.
scnted in the votes sent to head
quarters TO be canvasscd at the forth
coming convention.
Mayor Lewis J. Duncan, serving his
Continued on Pags SIX,