The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-11-24
BAIRD BROKE UP
STRIKE, ASSERTS
GBNERALFRASER
Commander of Military Forces
Says Captain of Home
Guard Did It
FRAZIER REVOLUTION OFF
Governor Repudiated When Men
Refuse to Violate Con-
tract With Mines
REVOLUTION OFF

l.
Il. r. Baird Of the North Dakota home
guard settled the strike at Wilton and
procured from the miners there a rep
udiation Of the violation Of their con-
tract with the Washburn Ignite Coal
CO. ordered by President Henry Dren
nan of Billings and ratified by Cover
nor Frazier. Such is the tenor Of a
statement issued Saturday by Adju-
tant General Fraser, commander OF
North Dakota's military forces. The
status of the miners who resumed
work Saturday for the Washburn COM
pany is the same as it was before the
interference Of brennan and Frazier.
Compliments Baird.
"Capt. Baird" says General Fraser,
observes commentator for his ac-
tion and for his fairness to both sides
during the time he has been in charge
of the Wilton mines.
"Under the terms Of the proclama-
ton of Governor Lynn j. Frazier of
November H., it was provided in part
that Whenever the operators and
miners shall come to an agreement
and demonstrate their willingness and
ability to operate the said mines, or
any Of them, in such manner as to
protect the public, control of such
mine or mines shall be relinquished
to the owners thereof
"On Saturday there was delivered
to Capt. L. r. Baird, a member Of the
North Dakota national guard, COM
munication in writing from Adam
Kraft, president, and Irving Mathys,
secretary, of local union No. 1903, at
Wilton, under date Of November 21,
as follows:
"'At a special meeting held this
evening by local union No. 1903, it
was decided to return to work for the
Washburn Ignite Coal Co. Terms
under which we return are as follows:
Our old contract and wage scale to
continue in effect until the negotia-
tions in the central competitive field
are concluded. Any advances granted
in the central competitive field to APP
ply to our wage scale and to be
retroactive to November l, 1919. No
members Of our organization to be
discharged on account of their action
or doings during the period of. the
strike @
"On the same date there was de-
livered to Capt. Baird a letter from
the Washburn Ignite Coal Co., by
w. P. Macomber, it's president, ad-
vising that the Washburn company
accepted the proposals of the local
union and agreed to comply with the
conditions thereof.
Necessity Had Ceased. *,
pursuant to the governors procla-
nation the necessity of military con-
troll had passed, and Capt. L. R. Baird
was directed to deliver to the owners
of the Washburn Ignite Coal Co. all
properties owned by that company
then in his possession, and he and his
subordinates were directed to proceed
to Bismarck"
The actual transfer Of the proper
ties to their rightful owners was not
made until several hours following the
handing down by the supreme court
of an order refusing writ of pro-
hibition prayed by the governor to
prevent Judge Nuessle Of the fourth
judicial district from enforcing his
orders for the return of these proper
ties not later than 2 o'clock Monday.
During the forenoon it was the be-
lief in administrative circles that
Governor Frazier would appeal from
Judge Nuessle's order, thus bringing
the issue squarely before the supreme
court on it's merits. While it is not
so stated, it is now believed, however,
that the governor will take no fur
ther action, one of his agents having
made the statement that mo cause for
action now exists"
Under Original Agreement.
The agreement under which the
Wilton miners resumed work was en-
bodied in their original contracts,
with which they expressed satisfac-
tion up to the time that President
brennan arrived here from Billings
for his series of conferences with
Governor Frazier. These consulta-
tions terminated in direct demand
from brennan, supported by Frazier,
that the operators place in immediate
effect an increase Of 60 percent in
wages, not to be paid the miners
themselves but to be collected by the
mining operators and turned into the
district treasury of the United Mine
Workers at Billings. On advice from
u. S. District Attorney M. A. Hildreth
of Fargo that acceptance Of this pro-
position would be construed as viola
tion of the federal injunction pro-
hibiting the payment of strike bene-
fits, the operators rejected the pro-
posal.
President brennan called strike
Of North Dakota Ignite miners the
following day, in spite of the fact that
their contracts guaranteed their own
ers against strikes until September
80, 1920. These same contracts en-
bodied clause that any advantage
gained by fellow workers in the cen.
trail competitive field during the life
of these contracts would be accorded
them. The miners, who had remained
at work up to this time, obeyed Dren
mans orders and walked out. Three
days later Governor Frazier issued
proclamation declaring that if with
in twenty-four hours the operators
mad not reached. an agreement, with
their men he would seize the mines.
The operators did not yield to Presi-
dent brennan, and Frazier seized the
mines under proclamation Of martial
Continued on Page Two.)