Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday May 3, 1899
From Butte, Montana: W. F. of M. President Boyce on Idaho Trouble
From The Butte Miner of May 1, 1899:
THE MINERS SIDE OF IT
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President Boyce of the Federation
Makes a Statement.
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ORIGIN OF COEUR D’ALENE TROUBLE
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It Dates Back to 1887 When an Attempt Was Made
to Reduce Wages in That District-
Present Demand on Bunker Hill Did
Not Come From Miners Union Men.
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The Butte Miner April 30, 1899 —–
Butte, Mont., April 30, 1899.
To the Miner: Dear Sir-Having read your editorial in today’s Miner-“The Coeur d’Alene Affair,” the spirit of fairness contained in the article prompts me to inform you on the true status of the situation in the Coeur d’Alenes, as you have been misinformed through the Associated Press dispatches or some other unreliable source:
Previous to October, 1887, all mines operating in the Coeur d’Alene district paid underground men $3.50 per day; at this time the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Minning company reduced miners to $3 per day and other laborers in the mines to $2.50 per day. This reduction caused the employes to go on strike and organize a miners’ union, since then known as Wardner Miners’ union. During those pioneer days in the Coeur d’Alenes laboring men were not plentiful and in order to operate the mines the company was forced to restore miners’ wages to $3.50 per day, and other laborers in the mines to $3.00 per day. This wages schedule continued to 1890, when a demand was made upon this company to pay the same wages to underground men as was being paid by all other companies in the district-namely, $3.50 per day. To this the Bunker Hill and Sullivan company objected and another strike ensued. After two weeks’ suspension the company agreed to pay the prevailing wages of the district.
Peace and tranquility reigned in the district until 1892, when the Mine Owners’ Industrial Protective association reduced wages in all the district from $3.50 per day to $3 and $2.50 per day. This is the reduction which caused the great strike with which the world is familiar.
Gradually the mining companies consented to pay the former wages-$3.50 per day-till every mine in the entire district was paying it.
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