The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-08-31

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Labor, Greeting:
In order that you may be fully in
formed in regard to the true situa-
ton in different places throughout
the metalliferous mining industry
where strikes are now in progress,
we hereby submit this brief state
ment of facts:
First-The Butte Miners Union
No. /, Western Federation of Miners,
chartered in 1898, was destroyed
through |. w. w. influences in June,
1914. Shortly after that the Union
was reorganized under the same num-
Der and affiliated with the Central
Council of the Butte and the State
Federation of Labor, where it is
still represented. Since its reor-
ganization, with the assistance of the
International, local union men and
such prominent advocates as Moth
err" Jones, John Walker and James
Lord, all of whom have addressed
meetings in Butte, every effort has
been exerted to induce the miners
to return to the bona fide labor
movement, but continuous cam
paign of Misrepresentation, carried
| on by those who remained in Butte
and took part in the destruction OF
the Miners Union in 1914, has
prevented any real progress. At
times. when it seemed that the re-
organization of the miners was as
sured, this l. w. w. influence, ably
assisted by destructive element OF
other unions in the city, became ac-
tive and practically annulled the ad-
vantage gained.
This was the situation on June 3,
1917. when a disastrous fire occur
red in one of the large mines of
the district, and many men lost their
lives. On the day of the funeral
the mines were closed to give tn"
miners an opportunity to attend, and
the |. w. w. element grasped the OPP
portunity, with having made any de-
mands on the companies or even ask
ing for a conference, to call all the
miners of Buttee on strike, which in
time they practically succeeded in
doing. This continued for short
time, when approximately six thou
sand of the underground workers,
realizing that the leaders of the
II. w. w. were taking advantage of
the sorrow and misery of the dread
full disaster to establish its organi-
cation in Butte, returned to work
and at last recognized the fact that
they had nothing to gain by follow
ing the l. w. W. leaders. More than
two thousand have returned to the
Butte Miners Union No. l, the bona
fide local of the International Union
of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers.
The miners who have returned are
working under satisfactory agree
ment with a substantial increase in
wages, which has also been accepted
by thousands of organized smelter-
Butte mines, the Engineers Union,
and metal trades, and yet the strike
of the so-called metal mine workers
union" under the control and man.
agement of the I. w. W., goes on,
and they have sent out circular ap-
peals and personal representatives to
solicit funds, but when questioned
as to their organization they deny
connection with the |. w. W., but
claim to be independent. All of
Montana knows that hundreds of
the floating followers of the |. w. W.
have been called to Butte to help
swell the ranks, and that the rec
ognized leaders of the I. w. W., in
Guiding members of the executive
board, have hurried to Butte to act
as their chief advisers and that their
local leaders are men who have been
identified with the I. w. W. for
many years past.
Summing up the Butte situation,
so that bona fide labor may know
and protect themselves accordingly,
there were approximately 10000
miners employed at Butte when the
strike was declared; more than
5000 are now working, as we'll as
the smeltermen in Anaconda and
Great Falls, the engineers, fire
men, pumpmen and metal trades.
All of the above have signed a two
year agreement with the companies.
Approximately 5000 miners have left
Butte, leaving in the neighborhood of
$500 who are recognized as fol-
lowers of the Campbell union of the
|. w. w. and who still claim to be