The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-20
BUTTE STRIKE SPREADS
AND TROUBLES FEARED
Electricians Working al
Mines Are Called Out
With Metal Miners.
COMPANIES DECLINE
National Guardsmen Called
to Quarters Following
Strike Extension.

Butte, June 19.-Strikes called by
miners today and by electricians on
the mines of the Butte district spread
today when the members of the Butte
Electrical union No. IS, who Mere
employed by the mining companies,
were called out. This followed a re-
iusai by the mining companies Of de-
mands made earlier today.
The electricians in their demand on
the mining companies declared that
unless the mining companies brought
pressure to bear on the Montana
Power company to grant the demands
of the electricians and the mining
companies also grant the demands
recently made by the newly formed
Metal Mine Workers union, the
electricians employed by the mining
companies would be taken from the
mines.
Guards Are Summoned.
Soon after the electricians were
called out of the mines members Of
the Montana national guard. who were
on the streets and in moving picture
shows, We're called to their quarters.
There are three companies of guards
men In Butte.
The Metal Mine Workers union
held its regular meeting today and an
nounced that 1t had increased it's
membership but the total number of
members was not stated. More men
joined the ranks of the miners who
are keeping away from the mines. The
police reported that the men are be-
ing intimidated by some person call
ing miners wives on the telephone and
stating that II their relatives continue
to work in the mines they will not re-
turn some night.
The calling out OF the electricians
in the mines win not affect the oper-
alton of the mines, unless the equip
ment fails. The electricians who were
called out are the men who look after
the repairs.
Mining companies in the Butte dis
trict announced tonight that the mines
Will work only the day shift begin
ming tomorrow. The men, who report
ed for the night shift, were told to re-
turn to their homes and report for
work in the morning.
John Gillie, general manager Of the
Anaconda Copper Mining company,
said that the plan Of working the day
shift only was for the safety of the
men who desired to work but who
were intimidated by the Metal Mine
Workers union, which had called a
strike on the mines so that they were
afraid to report for work on the night
shift. The mines, 1t was said, could
use on the day side all of the men
who reported for work.
1t was indicated that no strike
breakers will be used by the COM
panies here and that they prefer for
the present to run short handed.
Endorses Electricians' Strike.
The Silver Bow Trades and Labor
council, the central organized labor
body of Butte, tonight endorsed the
strike called by the electrical workers
against the Montana Power company.
The council. however, according to
its secretary, did not endorse the
electrical unions declaration in favor
of the Metal Mine Workers unions
demands.
act with committees of the building
trades council. the metal trades coun-
Gil and the Montana Federation of
Labor, in an effort to organize a
union of the miners under the lead
ership of James Lord, head of the
mining department of the American
Federation of Labor. Mr.. Lord, it was
stated, Is expected to arrive here this
week.