Montana labor news., 1938-03-31
REPEAL PLAN ONE
A Story Without a Parallel in
Western Mining.

I fell for that old noise, '"They
can't beat you out of the state COM
pensation," and like most others in
the game, I thought since l had OBJ
tanned a hospital ticket, had reported
to a doctor, and was under the care
and advice of this said doctor, I was
in the clear as far as reporting in
jury was concerned.
I am not a racketeer, and like
many others thought my injury only
trivial and that the pain would leave
me as quickly as it came on. I did
not seek compensation at the out
set. However, since my injury was
not a trivial one as l thought and
has turned out to be a major injury.
am justly entitled to compensa-
ton for permanent total disability
Previous to meeting with injury, ]
had worked underground as a miner
for over 30 years. l do not think in
that 30 years I had worked 10 shifts
outside of the trade.
My case is one of permanent total
disability, paralysis, an ankyloseo
back, with three ~vertabraes gone
I was refused admittance to Murray
Hospital, railroaded to Galen and nc
compensation history.
The injury occurred while work
ing in the 1920 raise at the Steward
mine, in June, 1929, which raise hao
caved and was in a state of repair
10 floors from sill. We were using
cap posts, blocks we're hung on the
10Th floor, making it necessary tc
boost these timbers from the 18th
floor on up. 1t was while lifting
these timbers, l put as I thought g
kink in my side. This pain was SC
severe I found after coming out Of
raise for lunch, l was unable to sit
and had to eat my lunch standing
However, when | was up and going
this pain became less severe. These
pains persisted for a couple of days
On June the 14th, on my way tc
town, l decided l would get a hospi-
tai ticket, go to the hospital and
have a doctor check the pain. Going
to Steward mine, l met Dick Jen-
nings, the timekeeper. On asking
for a hospital ticket, he asked my
reason for seeking same. I replied
| had been boosting timbers and hao
put a kink in my side; that it both
cred me SO l was unable to sit
Dick Curran, the night foreman, see
ing me receive the hospital ticket
asked my reason for doing so and
was told the same story. From there
went to the Murray Hospital
where | met DR.. ]. S. Swoboda, ar
inferno at the time, telling him the
identical same story. He suggested
| may have strained the tendons OF
my back. He said, l do not like tc
strap you. l replied that it would
be of no use, as l was working in q
hot raise up 10 floors and that the
strapping would be off before I got
to my place of work. Not strapping
me, he gave me a small bottle OF
liniment to rub on my back and
some tablets to take. l did not lay
off, neither did the doctor tell me
to do so. However, two or three
days later my partner and myself
decided to quit the 1920 raise at the
Steward. From there I went to the
st. Lawrence where I worked two
shifts. Coming off shift on a Sat
urday night, my back was bothering
me a great deal. The following
Monday night, my wife opposed my
going to work. My last shift under
ground after 30 years ended on OF
about June 20 or 81, 1929, about
nine years and nine months ago
Since then l have put five years or
my back, and three and one-hall
years a bed pan patient.
If my case had been properly
diagnosed and l had been giver
proper hospital care, l would not b.
in the fix l now find myself.
When you get injured while
working for the A. c. M. Company
this is what you are up against
First the company Or contract doc
tor, J.. S. Swoboda; second, claim
department, Jerry Shea; third, labol
commissioner, W, j. Mahon; fourth
legal department, ]. V. Dwyer
James Finlen, Jr. Then again you
are met with this-Jerry Shea will
say, 1--WE have no record of you.
case" The doctor-no injury. TIL,
labor commissioner, W. j. Mahon-
who will say, IF it is an injury no
met with while working for the A
c. M. Company.
WILLIAMS.