The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-06-14
NO STRIKE ON At BUTTE
NO DISPUTE OVER WAGES
A FEW !. w. W. AciTAToRs At.
TEMPT TO CREATE TRou.
BILE, BUT FAIL.


- Butte were closed down on ac-
count OF general strike at
tsacted much interest in this
city last Monday Subsequent news,
however, shows that the strike was
merely another outbreak of the /. w.
w. agitators. few of whom ever work
long enough to enable them to strike.
The Anaconda Standard of yesterday
gives the following account of the af-
/ fair:
Strike First.
1.-THE Metal Mine Workers union
was organized yesterday afternoon at
Finlander hail. and after appointing a
grievance committee of 10 men and a
committee on constitution and by
laws, of similar number. the crowd
proceeded to call strike Immediately
at all the mines of Butte without
waiting for the committee to formu-
late the grievances or to get into COM
munication with the management Of
the mines Their motto was strike
first and settle afterward."
1.-THE Finlanders, together with the
old leaders in the l. w. w. movement
in Butte. predominated at the meet
ing.
Want ~ Per Day.
"A number of men who left Arizona
recently and came to Butte were also
| in the audience. The whole affair
was cunningly planned by the leaders.
The foremost demand throughout the
meeting was that the srustling card
system be abolished. Nearly all want
ed an increase in wages too, but there
was wide divergence between what
they wanted In this line. 1t ranged
from IS a day to 81 a day. Some want
ed 6-hour day, and others wanted
two men to a machine. These de-
mands were voiced at frequent inter-
walls throughout the meeting and while
efforts were being made to organize.
"All present were asked to enroll
their names as members. A commit
tee was named to get the names, and
this committee secured between 800
and 400 names
Bona Eide Frowns On II.
M. M Donoghue, president of the
Montana Federation of Labor, said
the labor bodies of Butte which have
membership in the Silver Bow Trades
and Labor council will not support the
organization effected yesterday at
Finlander hail.
Position Of Companies.
In view of the attempt of profess
sional disturbers and agitators to TO-
ment trouble in the mines, state
ment was issued by the principal
attitude toward their employees is
clearly defined. The statement was
signed by the Anaconda Copper Min.
ing company, Butte & Superior Min
ing company, East Butte Copper Min
ing company, Elm Orlu Mining COM
pany, Tuolumne Copper Mining COM
pany Davis DAILY Mining company
and Butte & Detroit Mining company.
The Statement.
In view of the agitation which has
sprung up in Butte in the past few
days, coupled with direct efforts to
prevent the operation of the Butte
mines, the operators have deemed 1t
best to make brief statement of their
position.
"The attack upon Butte's industries
is being engineered in the main by the
same element which was responsible
for Butte's serious trouble in 1914. 1t
Is well known that recently there has
been large influx into Butte of In
dustrial Workers of the World and
other unpatriotic and seditious persons
whose one aim is to paralyze our in
dustries and particularly those upon
which the government is depending for
its arms and munitions. This element
forms but a small proportion of our
but is attempting to pur-
sue its usual vicious methods of in
and violence. Their at
tempts to riot on registration day |
plainly indicated their motives. Mel |
Their this element nor any organization |
made or controlled by 1t will receive I
any consideration or recognition by
the mine operators of Butte.
mo grievance Of the workers in the
Butte mines has been brought to the
attention of the operators and we be-
ieve that none exists. The wages
paid in Butte are on the average the
highest paid anywhere in the world. In
/ few OF the southern districts where
he labor Is classified, a small proper
ion Of those employed receive higher
wages than the Butte underground
workers. but the average is much
over. The working conditions in .
Butte are better than the average, and I
compare favorably with those of any &
ther camp The same may be said {
4 living conditions. which are very [
much superior to those of many of the
amps for which the extravagant wage
laims are made.
This disturbing element by threats
destroy the property, fire the mines
nd do violence to employees who wish a
work has caused a number of men d
} remain home. This detection SO far n