“Dagos are cheaper than props.”
-Mother Jone quoting a Mine Manager
Hellraisers Journal, Wednesday June 20, 1917
Butte, Montana – Metal Miners Organize and Strike
From the Phoenix Arizona Republican of June 17, 1917:
NEW UNION CLAIMS 1600 MEMBERS
—–(Republican A. P. Leased Wire)
BUTTE, Mont., June 16.-Sixteen hundred miners it was announced today, are members of the Metal Mine Workers’ Union which is about a week old. The union’s speakers, at an open air meeting attended by more than 3000 miners, appealed to the miners to continue to keep away from the mines. The union’s officials said more than 3000 miners are on strike for an increase in wages and improved working conditions.
No disturbances were reported to the police today, but several arrests were made for distributing without a license, circulars issued by the union attacking the local newspapers and urging all miners to join the union.
The mining companies reported all the mines working but with reduced forces.
———-
[Photograph added.]
From The Salt Lake Tribune of June 18, 1917:
LABOR TROUBLE IN BUTTE IS
NOT SERIOUS AS YET
—–
New Union Being Formed by Leaders of
Industrial Workers of the World,
It is Claimed.
——RECENT DISASTER GAVE AN OPENING
—–
Electricians May Strike in Effort to
Tie Up Montana Power Company;
Employers Are Ready.
—–
BUTTE, Mont., June 17.-There were no evident signs in Butte today that a strike had been called on the Butte mining companies by the Metal Mine Workers’ union, which was organized last week. The new union held its daily meeting, perfecting its organization and enrolling members. A number less than 2000 miners was claimed by the officers as members of the union.
The union named additional men to picket the mines and endeavor to induce miners to refrain from work.
A new development in the labor situation in Butte was expected to take place when the electrical workers are scheduled to quit work in response to a strike order against the Montana Power company the concern which supplies Butte industries with light and power. The electricians who are expected to strike are the construction and repair men. The Employers’ association has issued a statement, saying it was ready to combat the strikers as they had refused to arbitrate.
Trouble Three Years Old.
The trouble in the Butte mining field began three years ago when the Butte local of the Western Federation of Miners revolted from the parent organization because of alleged arbitrary actions of the Western Federation. The union hall was destroyed at the time and the Montana national guard was called to Butte for duty. A union not connected with an international organization was formed, but it did not prosper and the mines have been running open shop.
The mine disaster of ten days ago, according to labor leaders, presented an opportunity for the organization of a union and as a consequence men, said by the mine owners to be Industrial Workers of the World, organized a union know as the Metal Mine Workers’ union. Members of the union deny that their leaders are members of the Industrial Workers.
Demands Refused.
The demands of the new union when presented to the employing companies were refused and since then the new union has been attempting to cause the mines to shout down. The leaders of the union said more than 3000 miners have struck out of about 15,000 employed in the district.
The demands include a wage scale of $6 daily (the present wage is $4.75), improved working conditions and recognition of the union.
The Silver Bow Trades and Labor Council, the central labor body for Butte, has begun a movement to organize the miners into a union that will affiliate with the American Federation of Labor and has sent for executive committee members of the federation to come to Butte.
Statement Issued.
The Metal Mine Workers’ union tonight issued a communication to the public and members of organized labor which says that for three years, there has been no union of miners in Butte and “we were finally driven to the conclusion that if we were to have an organization we must develop it ourselves.”
After asserting that the union members are opposed by the Anaconda Copper Mining company, the statement continues:
Experience has taught the miners of Butte that the police force, the county authorities and, in short, almost every official agency, would be used in an attempt to extinguish the spark of resistance, but the conditions finally became so acute that in desperation we organized.
Everything we buy is exorbitantly high, therefore our wages are not sufficient to provide us with the necessaries of life.
In the mines conditions are fearful. Bulkheads of solid concrete block a great number of emergency exits, and in most mines there are no exits on the lower levels.
The communication charges that the companies have instituted a “rustling card system,” and that “a man dare not express his opinion upon any subject for fear he will be refused a rustling card.”
The communication closes by stating the union’s demands.
[Photograph added.]
———-
Butte Metal Miners Issue Demands
—–
June 10, 1917
Following the horrific mine-fire disaster of June 8th in which many of those who perished were trapped behind solid concrete bulkheads where the management had failed (miners being cheaper than manholes) to install proper escape hatches, the miners began a spontaneous walk-out at the Elm Orlu Mine on June 11th. The next day the miners gathered together to form the Metal Mine Workers’ Union-Independent. The following demands were issued:
1. Recognition of the Metal Mine Workers Union by all the mining Companies of the Butte District in its official capacity.
2. The unconditional abolition of the Rustling Card system, and to reinstate all blacklisted miners.
3. A minimum wage of $6.00 per day for all men employed underground regardless of the price of Copper, as well as all surface men to receive an increase in wages in proportion to raise in miners’ wages.
4. The mines to be examined at least once each month by a committee, half to be selected by this Union and half by the Company, the object being to avoid, as far as possible, fires and many other accidents.
5. That all men starting in mines shall be shown exits to all other mines so that they shall be able to escape in cases of fires or all other accidents.
6. All members getting seven or fifteen days lay off to be given a hearing before a Committee, three to be appointed by this Union, and an equal number to be selected by the Company. If the offense claimed is not proven, the miner or group of miners shall be immediately put to work, and paid in full for all the time lost.
7. That all bulkheads must be guarded FOR THE SAFETY OF THE MINERS by having manholes built into the concrete bulkheads.
Signed:
William Stoddard
John Doran
Dan Shovlin
Joe Little
Tom Campbell
SOURCES
The Arizona Republican
(Phoenix, Arizona)
-June 17, 1917
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020558/1917-06-17/ed-1/seq-2/
The Salt Lake Tribune
(Salt Lake City, Utah)
-June 18, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/289738119/
The Gibraltar:
Socialism and Labor in Butte, Montana, 1895-1920
-by Jerry W. Calvert
Montana Historical Society Press, 1988
(search: “metal mine workers union independent)
Note: demands are from page 105.
https://books.google.com/books?id=fMUEAQAAIAAJ
IMAGES
Butte Copper Mine, Drawing, ISR, Aug 1914
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=7Ko9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA95
Metal Miners, Butte MT, Mining Artifacts, date unknown
http://www.miningartifacts.org/MontanaMines.html
Speculator MnDs, Burned Alive, Wichita Dly Egl, June 10, 1917
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64411144/
See also:
Granite Mountain-Speculator Mine Fire of 1917
https://weneverforget.org/tag/granite-mountain-speculator-mine-fire-of-1917/
International Socialist Review of Aug 1914
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=7Ko9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA67
“The Revolt at Butte” by William D. Haywood
(& for more, search book with: butte)
https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=7Ko9AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=GBS.PA89