New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-03

portunity OF the l. W. W, and the or
gnnizers Of that limb Of anarchy has
tened here to ply their we'll learned
trade OF tanning the flames OF discon-
tent.
The Metal Mine Workers Union,
really, though not nominally, an |. ".
W. organization. was formed. With
intimidation, buttonholing, violent and
seditious speeches its membership was
forced up to 1000.
The International Union Of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers, affiliated
with the American Federation Of Labor.
conservative and steady, became active,
too. but was able to enlist only $500
men. The irritation caused in this free
and-easy heterogeneous community by
the draft law was put to advantage.
The professional Irish, represented
here by the Pearse Connolly Club Of
geographically misplaced Sim Feiners.
were used as frebrands. The Ger
mans and pro-Germans were rallied.
Menace of Violence
For a time it looked as II there might
be great violence, and there was even
a possibility of mob control and spo-
radio revolt like that in Oklahoma, but
the state NOW nationaD troops arrived
and easily maintained order.
The lynching OF Little, the loud
mouthcd I. W. w. agitator, who abused
the army. assailed the government and
insulted the President, tended to make
things quiet with the calm Of fear.
People may think more, but they talk
less now.
Men began to drift back to work
The glistening bayonets OF the soldiers
assured them protection. In little
while so per cent Of the mine workers
were on the job again and mine produc.
ton soon increased TO 90 per cent OF
normal.
Then the Smelter Mems Union in the
great Anaconda smelter became the
tool of the |. w. W. They tore up the
scrap Of paper that represented their
contract with "the company and quit
in body. The electricians, In part, also
yielded to the agitators. violated their
contract and quit work IN the mines
The smelters were forced TO shut down
the mines couldn't run without the
smelters and without the electricians.
So the industrial trouble that seemed
about to end became last week worse
than ever.
How the I. W. W. Work
Having put the mines out of bust
ness the |. W. w. are now seeking TO
overrun and demoralize all the various
trades organizations affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor, hoping
thus TO add to their ever boiling pot OF
trouble among the miners the discon-
tent and chaos OF inexcusable strikes
in all trades.
Carpenters getting IS day are
stirred up TO strike. Plasterers at 80
are told that they are industrial slaves.
Plumbers at So day are persuaded
that they are downtrodden.
As FOR the miners and muckers, they
were getting S5.25 daily for eight
hours when they struck, and had err
joyed three Increases OF pay within a
based on the price OF copper. They
asked for Sc a day, dismissal OF the
state mining inspector, improved SAFETY
conditions in the mines and the abo!i-
ton of the "rustling card"
Congresswoman Jeanette Rankin has
given the rustling card national fame.
1t is simply a system whereby tine
company" issues TO suitable appll-
cants card emitting them to consider
alton when applying for work at the
different mines. To get this card the
applicant has TO give certain informa-
ton about his past and his domestic
relations. The company checks up this
information, and if the applicant IS
not found satisfactory he is refused j
rustling card, which practically means
that there is no place Tor him IN Butte
Men Resent Inquiries
The men resent this inquiry into
their records, with its consequent re-
striction of full freedom Of employ
ment. When man gets employment
he gives UP his card. II he quits or Is
discharged he gets new one, but not
more than two cards are issued to any
one man in a month.
The result is me bosses have con
siderable hold on the men, and 1t S
charged that they frequently abused
their power in most arbitrary and
exasperating manner.
The company says the rustllng card
is the only means by which criminals
and other undesirable men can be kept
out Of the mines and a maximum de-
gree Of steadness Of production main
tanned.
As between the view of the men and
that of the company public opinion OF
Butte, so far as it is voiced, incllnes
to divide about equally.
Butte regards the strike as dismay-
ing local disaster and tries hard to
grin and bear its trial. But the strike
Is more than that. In this hour Of
universal patriotic effort 1t is a ma
tional disgrace that commodity SO
necessary 10 the wnging OF war as cop
per should be so restricted in volume,
Of production by the work of a handful
Of men whose frankly ayowed aim is
the destruction IF society and the
nation.
What are we going to DO about 1t.
about this sore and palsied sinew OF
war?
Maybe Judge Covington, the Presi-
dents special representative, can tell.
Miss Rankin went back 10 Washington
yesterday, after having tried and failed