Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-05
UNION men OF
THE TWIN CITIES
IN BIG STRIKE
Governor Refuses to Comply
With the Request of Sec
retary of War-"Continu-
Gus Convention" On.

st. Paul, Minn.. Dec. b.--Ten
thousand union men from the
Twin Cities packed the Municipal
auditorium as the continuous
convention" of union men met to-
day. The continuous convention
affects $4,000 union men in the
Twin Cities and is expected to viz
tually tie up all industries employ
Ing union labor excepting newspa-
pers.
Thousands Of union men who
quit their Jobs today to remain out
until the demands of union street
car men, who were discarded be-
cause they wore union buttons, are
met. were not able to get into the
auditorium.
-7ws
st. Paul, Mimi, Dec. 5.-Twenty nine
thousand union men in st. Paul and
Minneapolis were scheduled today TO
meet at the municipal auditorium and
remain In Continuous convention" un-
til demands Of union street car men
for permission to wear their union
buttons are recognized.
While labor sympathizers were
planning this meeting 5000 armed
guards patrolled the downtown streets
and the state capitol.
The continuous convention Is, y
effect, a general strike of every in
dustry in the twin cities Labor lead.
ers prior to the meeting, said that tbs
tie up would be general. Only few
tn
ployers. Newspapers are permitted tt
continue publication. without interfer
ence Of the typographical union.
Trouble that threatened to reach )
climax today started 10 days ago, wher
1000 members of the recently organ
lied street car mems union were dis
missed because they wore union but
tons. Less than two months befor'
they had struck for higher wages ant
recognition. of their union.
ALL ovERsBUTToNS.
The Minnesota public safety com
mission, a war board, arbitrated thu
difficulty. ordering that the union b.
recognized but that neither union but
tons nor the non union buttons fur
nished by the company to employc
who did not affiliate with the union b.
worn. Union men refused to abide b.
this order.
In an attempt to prevent genera
strike Secretary Baker intervened TO
the men, ordering the public safet
commission to lescind its button orde
and to re-open the case. The commits
sion for two hours last night debate
whether 1t would comply with tn
Washington order and then adJourne
until today without taking action.
Resolutions prepared for presenta
| ton to the Continuous convention" to
day put organized labor on record a
eager for federal arbitration. ask tn
removal of C. w. Ames and Judge
| F.. McGee of the public safety com
mission. censure Governor Burnauis
for his attitude, declare the publ
safety commission button order Is
blow at organized labor and deman
! that union laborers ''be protected /
their constitutional right to wear un
ion buttons"
Saloons were closed today. Official
feared that Intoxicated hoodlums migf
seize upon the strike situation as a
excuse for lawlessness. Saloon keep
ers and brewers voluntarily closed til
| saloons.
BAKER TURNED DOWN.
Governor Burnquist early toda
wired Secretary of War Baker reject
ing the federal officials request ths
the public safety commissions butto
order be rescinded and that the matte
be reopened.
The Governor told Baker that thel
Is no vital issue involved and reiterate
his intention OF leaving the matter
the hands Of the public safety commits
sion. of which ne In a member.
When we need federal assistance.
shall not hesitate to call upon you
4 the governor wired.
Almost 1000 more home guards wei
today ordered into service. FRIEND
! OF THE STREET CAR CORPoRi
4 fIoN TODAY rNTIMATED THA
4 GERMAN PROPAGAND1sTS CAUf
ED THE STRIKE.
AN ORDERLY MEETING.
4 Order marked the swarming to tl