The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1928-11-01
FAIRGRIEVE REAL
FRIEND OF LABOR
AT ALL TIMES

Having been connected with the
labor movement for about so years
and in Montana for about 40 years
and during that time I served as
president of the Montana Federation
of Labor for eight years; president
of district No. 81, U. NJ. W. A., one
year, and very often during my resi-
dence here | have served the miners
and other labor organizations in minor
positions. Am now candidate for the
office of representative to the legisla-
ture, therefore | take this opportunity
of drawing your attention to some of
the work in behalf of the miners and
other classes of laborers which | have
been instrumental in having enacted
into laws.
Lest We Forget
Through my efforts the law Great
ing the office of state coal mine in
spector was passed.
The law making two thousand
pounds 10000 a legal ton of coal
mined in Montana. Prior to 1901 the
miners were required to mine long
ton of two thousand two hundred forty
(2,240) pounds.
| assisted in having passed the law
making eight hours a days work in
all mines, mills and smelters.
In 1908, as president of the Montana
Federation of Labor, | assisted in
having passed the constitutional
submitting to the voters
the proposition of making this part
of the constitution of the state. This
was adopted at the 1904
election.
In the 1905 session of the legislative
assembly | had laws introduced, put
ting this amendment into effect, which
covered all mines, mills, smelters, fac
tories and any and all underground
undertakings, also an eight-hour day
for all state, county, city and town
work, or on contracts let thereon, in
law prohibiting the employ
ment of children under 16 years Of
age from being employed on any work
defined in these laws.
Again in 1905 l assisted in drafting
the constitutional amendment, provid-
ing for the initiative and referendum
This passed both houses and was sub
mitted at the next general election and
adopted by the voters. In the 1907
session l had bills introduced, putting
this amendment into effect; also at
that time | had a measure drafted
and presented to the assembly, giving
cities and towns the same power of
initiative and referendum, which also
passed at that session.
In 1910, during my time as presi-
dent of district No. 27, U. M. w. A.,
| wrote and coded all of the coal min
ing laws and had them introduced in
the 1911 session of the legislature.
This act passed this session, and no
change has been made in this code
until the last session when some
changes were made in the ventilation
and blasting sections.
In the sessions of 1921 and 1925,
of which | was a member of the COM
nittee on "Workmen's Compensation"
In both of these sessions the repre-
sentatives from Carbon county sup
ported the increase of compensation
for working men injured in their oc-
and in the session of 1925
this committee reported out the bill
which increased the weekly compen-
sation from $12 per week to S15 per
week, adding thereto the increased
Heath indemnity of $1,000; increasing
he total disability benefit in the same
do not want to be thought OF as
an egotist, because others have assist
ID me in this work, all of which |
A 7 ' , L.