Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-02-11
STRIKE At BUTTE
TIES Up TRAFFIC
Of Street LINES
Twelve thousand Men Now
Idle Either on Strike or From
Fear of Violence on Part of.
Strikers.
icy MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE

|
/ Butte, Mont. Feb. 10.--Twelve
! thousand miners are idle here tonight,
| either as the result of last week s
strike of Independent union orRaniZa-
tons as a protest against IA reduction
of one dollar a day in wages and the
"rustling card system, or through
fear of intimidation by the striking
element The situation is under con
troll of military forces commanded by
Major A. M. Jones
Operation of street car service in
Butte was halted early in the day
when crowds Of strikers surrounded
the barns, and according to the mill
tarv authorities, threatened violence
if the cars Were sent on their runs.
Two companies of the forty-fourth
infantry regulars, guarded the APP
proaches to the mines today and pre-
vented strike pickets from gaining
access to the workings where other
miners were at work
DISCHARGED Soldiers Lectured.
Discharged soldiers who still wore
their uniforms and who associated
with those attempting to do picket
duty were singled out and order ell to
remove their uniforms or cease par
ticipating in the attempted picketng
of the mines. A number were taken
into custody temporarily and lectred
by Major Jones on the subject of re-
spect to the United States uniform.
For about two hours early today
the troops were kept busy patrolling
the streets leading to the mines
Many gatherings of strikers were
broken IN and on one occasion, when
an individual showed reluctance In
obeying the order to "move on" the
bav"net was called into play
Many strikers gathered today IN
Finander hall where speeches. said
to have been inflammatory, We're de-
liVered. Eater singing was INDUCED
in under the leadership of woman
said to be of Finnish birth The
songs were rendered in the German
tongue and the military stopped 1t
and ordered the assemblage from the
hall. The woman was taken into Gus
todY. Later the meeting was allowed
TO resume.
Worl<men Fear Violence.
Although the streets were cleared
of pickets, only few men went to
work, according to John Gillie, man
ager of mines for the Anaconda Cop
per Mining company. Gllie said this
was due partly to the lack of street
car service and partly to fear of vio-
lence. Transfers of the Anaconda
company's hardware department did
not resume work because, according
10 Mr.. Gillie, thew had been warned
that violence would follow if they did.
mo demands for anything have
hoen presented to the companies.
Gillie said. THE men who have been
at work have not struck--they sim
ply are being prevented from going
to work through intimidation. AL
though they realize they have the
protection of the soldiers. the fear
they NAV be attacked at their homes
or elsewhere when this protection is
not available has kept them away
We are willing to operate some OF
the mines in order to take care of
these men with families and deserv-
ing soldiers who have been discharged
NJ there is no necessity of working
the mines at all a this time because
of the present surplus of copper in
the country"
Gllie declared the strike here was
engineered by the radical element
composed principally of foreigners.
and it was to have been conducted in
connection with the Seattle strike.
Strike leaders said the strike was
against the recent cut in wages of 81
a day and against the "rustling card
system. The strike is being conduct
ed, according to the publications of
the strikers, by the Soldiers. Sailor
and Workers council. This council,
according to the secretary of the Me-
tai Mine Workers Union 0ndepend-
entD is composed of representatives
from fifteen labor unions, discharged
soldiers and sailors. Industrial Work.
ers of the World, the Pearse-C Connolly
club Tan Irish patriotic socity), So
cialists and others.