Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-13
AGlTAT0RS ARE
NOT WANTED IN
BUTTE DISTRICT
I. w. WIS. and other Dis
gruntled Men Stirring up
Trouble, Operators Say.
No Grievance Of Miners is
Known-Unpatriotic Men
Cause of Trouble.

ing statement last night was issued
by the Butte mine operators to their
employees and to the public:
I'm view Of the agitation which has
sprung up in Butte in the past few
prevent the operation Of the Butte
mines. the operators have deemed it
best to make q brief statement Of
their position.
The attack upon Butte's industries
Ia being engineered in the main by the
same element which was responsible
Tor Butte's serious trouble in 1914. It
10 we'll known that recently there has
been q large influx into Butte Of I. w.
WIS and other unpatriotic and sedi-
tious persons whose one aim is to par
alyze u industries. and particularly
those upon which the government il
dependent for its arms and munitions.
This element forms but a small pro.
portion of u population, but is at
tempting to pursue its usual vicious
methods of intimidation and violence.
Their attempts to riot on registration
day plainly indicate their motives.
Neither this element, nor any organ
tzatton made or controlled by 1t will
receive any confederation or recogni-
ton by the mine operators Of Butte.
N grievance Of the workers In the
Butte mines has been brought to the
attention Of the operators. and We be-
paid in Butte are on the average the
highest paid anywhere in the world.
In q few Of the southern districts,
whore he labor IL classified, a small
proportion Of those employed receive
higher wages than the Butte UNDER
ground workers. but the average is
much lower. The working conditions
IN RYYttA ASA hAtkAa tA~- A. >-~---.
n compare favorably with those OF
any other camp. The same may be
said of living conditions, which are
very u superior to those Of many
Of he camps for which the extrava-
giant wage claims are made.
This disturbing element, by
threats to destroy the property, fire
the mines and do violence to en-
ployes h wish work. has caused a
number Of men to remain home. This
detection 90 far has not been serious
and cannot be. as the mine operators
and h people Of Butte generally,
are determined MOTTO permit a repeti-
tion Of our former experience.
THE mine operators intend to rive
their employees the opportunity which
the great bulk Of them desire, to con-
tinue at their work. Every possible
measure Of protection will be given
to the employees by the operators and
by governmental authorities. and
there should be no anxiety or fear on
their part Of injury while going or
coming or attending their work,
The Butte mines will continue to
be operated. The miners OF Butte
VIII 10 permit a comparatively small
band Of cowardly agitators and. non
workers to deprive them Of their live
;iiihood and drive them from their
homes, but such protection az they
REQUIRE will be furnished them,
"(signedr: Anaconda Copper Min
ing company. Butte and Superior Min
Ing company. East Butte Copper Min
ing Il. :, company. Elm orlu Mining com
company, Davis-Daly Mining com.
papy. Butte and Detroit Mining COM
pany."
NJ. M. Donoshue. president of the
Montana Federation Of Labor, last
night r~epudiated the new oreaniza-
ton, declaring that 1t was ian organ
ization with the stamp Of the I. ". W.
and that organized labor in Butte
use Of Carpenter Onion hall to the
element organizing the union was de-
MED by the ohlcials Of the Silver Bow
Trades and Labor Assembly. the cen.
trail labor body Of Butte.
In q circular issued late this after
noon the new unionists declared that
q strike at the mines was in progress.
A summary Of the companies shows
that comparatively few mon went out.
Today. June IS. a day which for
merly was celebrated when a miners
union existed in Butte. leaders Of the
new organization stated that q parade
would be held. This may precipitate
trouble as the authorities have forbid-
don any demonstration.
In circulars. which carried no sig
natures. but were headed: "Metal
Mine Workers Bulletin" it was n
nounced: Strike declared" by Gun
ion. committee in charge"