American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-06-18
MINERS Of BUTTE
WAR OVER UNION
MONTANA MINING CAMP IS PUT
UNDER ARMED RULE AS A
RESULT OF RfoTiNG.
seeeders From Miners Union Attack
Members During Sarsde and Carry
Fight to Union Hail Where
They Demoiish Furniture.

Butte, Mont.-Thia city WAS on Sat
urday virtually under armed rule,
with lis saloons, that have not been
closed IN years. except on election
days. locked tight and with every
hardware store cleared OF all its arms
and ammunition by the police. as the
result OF the series OF riots during
the dsy-Miners' Union day-the thir-
~ty-fourth anniversary OF the estab-
ishment OF the union In this camp.
This Miners union, with upward OF
1000 members, IL divided against IL
self.
More than two thousand men have
refused 10 recognize the union furth-
er. and under the leadership OF agitat-
ors OF the Industrial Workers OF the
World. the seceders from he big
organization Saturday morning attack
ed the miners union parade. composed
oil more han half the labor bodies OF
The city
President Bert Riley OF the union
the Parade Marshal Michael Conway
were knocked from their horses by a
volley OF stones from the rioters.
Other officers OF the union we're chas-
ed from the line OF march and took
refuge Ia the sheriff's office at the
courthouse.
The parade was broken up and the
speaking exercises III the theater
abandoned because OF the stormy
street Genes. the rioters moved on
the union hall In the center OF the
city. Every piece OF furniture in the
building was demolished and thrown
into the streets. A piano was thrown
down a stairway. the books. records
and two safes OF the union were
thrown out. The ballot boxes contain
Ing the $500 votes cast at the recent
election OF union officers. which had
not yet been counted, we're destroyed
and their contents emptied into the
street.
Alderman Frank Curran, acting
mayor OF the city. a Socialist. went to-
the union hall to appeal to the rioters
20 dispense and was thrown from a
second story window to the pave
ment. lie was taken e the hospital
severely injured. The mob did not
cease is work OF destruction until
even the carpets In the big assembly
hall of the union had been torn from
the fioor and thrown into the street.
A crowd of 10000 persons witness.
ed the demonstration. Police and the
sheriffs deputies were powerless.
sheriff Driscoll went to the Miners
union hall. but soon returned to his
office In the cOur house when word
came 10 him that union officers had
taken refuge there aud were about
TO be attacked by another section OF
the crowd
Chief OF Police Murphy. during the
midst OF the turmoil, sent on, a pa
troll OF officers To close the saloon.
Half a dozen saloonkeepers who refus-
ed to obey were taken to Jail. A warn
ing was sent TO the hardware stores
TO secrete all guns aud ammunition.
II was also decided to call off a box
ing bout scheduled for Saturday even
ing.
At 2 o'clock Sunday morning the
residence of Patty Six Toes" Casey.
an official OF the union and a leader
OF the conservatives. was dynamited.
Casey and his wife and three chill
dren we're In the house. but one were
injured. The windows were blown out
and a porch blown off.
IL Is also said that an attempt was
made at about the same hour to dy'
Mantle the home OF Bert Riley. presi.
dont of the Miners union, who lives
far out In the suburbs.
Order had practically been restored
on Sunday. Early in the afternoon a
Grove took two prisoners out OF the
city jail and later tooe possession of an
aerial ire truck. which attempted to
move through the crowd ON a falls
alarm. The rioters climbed into the
machine. but. being unable to run H.
gave Il back TO the firemen. after
cautioning them not to attempt again
60 run through the crowd in the
street.
A delegation visited the three news
D offices and demanded that nc
further mention be made derogatory
10 the /. w. w. and that the words
mob and rioters not appear N
any newspaper story.