University of Montana
ScholarWorks at University of Montana
Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers
Graduate School
1967
Butte labor strikes and company retaliation during
World War I
Arnon Gutfeld
The University of Montana
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Gutfeld, Arnon, "Butte labor strikes and company retaliation during World War I" (1967). Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers.
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I
THE BUTTE LABOR STRIKES AMD
COMPANY RETALIATION DURING WORLD WAR I
SY
A rn o n G u t f e l d
B-A
U n i v e r s i t y o f M ontana
P r e s e n t e d i n p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f t h e r e q u ir e m e n t s f o r t h e d e g r e e o f
M a s te r o f A r t s
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA
1967
A p p ro v e d b y :
C h a irm a n , B o a rd o f E x a m in e rs
D e a ^ G r a d u a te S c h o o l
MAY 2 9 1967
D a te
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER
7
PAGE
INTRODUCTION .............................
1
I.
PRELUDE TO A S T R I K E .......................................................
h
II.
THE METAL MINE WORKER'S UNION JUNE-JULY 1917
ik
PRELUDE TO VIOLENCE
.......................................................
25
THE MURDER OF LITTLE .......................................................
3g
THE REIGN OF HYSTERIA
..................................................
46
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................
73
BIBLIOGRAPHY ..........................................................................
76
III.
TV.
V.
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INTRODUCTION
V i o l e n c e , s t r i k e s , a n d h y s t e r i a d o m in a te d t h e M ontana s c e n e d u r i n g
W o rld W ar I .
The m in e o w n e rs c l a s h e d w i t h t h e d i v i d e d l a b o r
p r o l o n g e d m i n e r s ’ s t r i k e to o k
fo rc e .
A
p l a c e a t B u t t e . One p a r t o f t h i s s t u d y c o n ­
s i s t s o f t h e r e a s o n s f o r t h e s t r i k e , a n d i n c l u d e s t h e u n io n s a n d i d e a l o g i e s t h a t a t t e m p t e d t o l e a d i t a n d t h e m an n er i n w h ic h t h e s t r i k e w as
c o n d u c te d .
The c o n d u c t o f t h e m in in g c o m p a n ie s i n a t t e m p t i n g t o b r e a k t h e
s t r i k e b ro u g h t i n t o fo c u s t h e i r t a c t i c s and s t r a t e g y .
seem ed t o b e u n c o n n e c te d w e re
in r e a lity
e f f e c t on l a t e r e v e n ts i n th e
s t a t e and in th e n a tio n .
E v e n ts w h ic h
in te rre la te d .
T hey
h a d a m a rk e d
T h is
s tu d y w i l l
a tte m p t t o c o r r e l a t e th e s e e v e n ts .
On J u n e 8 , 1 9 1 7 , a d i s a s t r o u s f i r e
s p o n ta n e o u s s t r i k e e n s u e d .
th is s trik e .
o c c u r r e d a t a B u t t e m in e .
A
The m in in g c o m p a n ie s a t t e m p t e d t o b r e a k
One r e s u l t o f t h e s e a t t e m p t s w as w i d e - s p r e a d h y s t e r i a i n
M o n ta n a .
On A u g u s t 1 , 19 I T , a v i o l e n t I n d u s t r i a l W o rk e rs o f t h e W o rld l e a d e r
w as l y n c h e d a t B u t t e .
T h is i n t e n s i f i e d t h e h y s t e r i a ,
c i t i z e n s f e a r e d r e t a l i a t i o n b y t h e I.W .W .
tro o p s p a t r o l l e d th e s t r e e t s o f B u tte .
tfeny M ontana
m id -A u g u s t, 1 9 1 7 , f e d e r a l
A p r e s s c a m p a ig n , a p a r t o f t h e
c o m p a n ie s ’ a t t e m p t t o b r e a k t h e s t r i k e , t o o k p l a c e .
c i t i z e n s w e re t r i e d a n d a c c u s e d o f s e d i t i o n .
Some M ontana
When t h e f e d e r a l c o u r t
f a i l e d t o c o n v i c t t h e a c c u s e d , t h e G o v e rn o r o f M ontana c a l l e d a S p e c i a l
S e s s io n o f th e L e g i s l a t u r e .
T h is L e g i s l a t u r e p a s s e d s w e e p in g a n t i ­
s e d i t i o n l a w s , w h ic h a t t e m p t e d t o c u r b t h e f r e e e x p r e s s i o n o f i d e a s .
T he S p e c i a l S e s s i o n d e m o n s t r a t e d t h e " p a t r i o t i c " f e r v o r w h ic h s w e p t
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2
M o n tan a b y Im p e a c h in g J u d g e C h a r l e s L . Crum, j u d g e o f t h e F i f t e e n t h
J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f M o n ta n a .
He w as c o n v i c t e d f o r s t a t e m e n t s h e h a d
m ade p r i o r t o t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e a n t i - s e d i t i o n A c t s .
One o f t h e a c t s
becam e t h e b a s i s f o r t h e F e d e r a l S e d i t i o n A c t o f I 9 1 8 .
The a t t e m p t s
t o g u a r a n t e e t h e l o y a l t y o f M o n tan an s d i d n o t s t o p t h e r e .
T hey c u l ­
m in a te d i n t h e i n q u i s i t i o n o f U .S . D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y B u r to n K . W h e e le r
b e f o r e t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e i n J u n e , I 9 1 8 .
W h e e le r r e f u s e d
t o b e sta m p e d e d i n t o w h o l e s a le p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h o s e who w e re c o n s i d e r e d
t r a i t o r s by t h e " p a t r i o t s " o f M o n ta n a .
D u rin g t h i s p e r i o d h e g a i n e d
a w id e b a s e o f p o l i t i c a l s u p p o r t , e s p e c i a l l y among l a b o r a n d a g r i ­
c u l t u r a l o rg a n iz a tio n s .
He p o s e d a t h r e a t t o t h e p o l i t i c a l d o m in a n c e
o f M ontana by t h e A n aconda C o p p e r M in in g Com pany.
The Company w is h e d t o
d e s t r o y h i s p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r b e f o r e h e c o u ld becom e t o o s t r o n g a
p o l i t i c a l f o r c e i n M o n ta n a .
The e v e n t s o f 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 h a d a n im m e d ia te
e f f e c t on t h e S e n a t o r i a l e l e c t i o n s i n M ontana i n I 9 1 8 .
T hey a l s o i n f l u ­
e n c e d t h e c a r e e r s o f many o f t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a f f a i r s
i n M o n tan a d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d .
The W orld War I e r a i n M o n tan a h a s a l r e a d y r e c e i v e d some a t t e n t i o n .
A s t u d y h a d b e e n m ade o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n p a s s e d b y t h e S p e c i a l S e s s i o n i n
M o n tan a a n d t h e i n f l u e n c e i t h a d on t h e p a s s a g e o f F e d e r a l l e g i s l a t i o n .
The c a r e e r s o f t h e m a jo r p o l i t i c a l p e r s o n a l i t i e s o f t h e p e r i o d i n M o n ta n a ,
s u c h a s W h e e le r , J e a n n e t t e R a n k in , a n d Thomas J . W alsh h a d b e e n w r i t t e n .
T h is s t u d y c o n c e n t r a t e s o n t h e m i n e r s '
s t r i k e in B u tte d u rin g 1917
a n d 1918 a n d t h e M in in g C o m p a n ie s' r e a c t i o n t o i t .
B u tte , th e m ost p ro ­
d u c t i v e m in in g d i s t r i c t i n t h e c o u n t r y , w as d o m in a te d by t h e A n a co n d a
Com pany, t h e l a r g e s t c o p p e r m in in g com pany i n t h e w o r l d .
T h is Company
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3
w as t h e d o m in a n t f o r c e i n M o n ta n a 's e c o n o m ic s a n d p o l i t i c s .
a t B u tte h ad l a r g e r r a m i f i c a t i o n s .
M o n tan a a n d t h e n a t i o n .
The e v e n t s
T h e s e e v e n t s h a d a g r e a t e f f e c t on
The lu m b e r , c a t t l e , a n d w h e a t i n d u s t r i e s w e re
i m p o r t a n t t o M o n ta n a , b u t t h e ec o n o m ic a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w er c o n c e n t r a t e d
i n th e v .B u tte d i s t r i c t o v e rs h a d o w e d i n im p o r ta n c e a l l o t h e r M o n tan a i n ­
d u s trie s .
M o n ta n a 's l e g i s l a t u r e a n d p r e s s w e re l a r g e l y c o n t r o l l e d b y
t h e m in in g i n t e r e s t s o f B u t t e .
T he B u t t e v o t e d e t e r m in e d t h e o u tco m e
o f many o f M o n ta n a 's e l e c t i o n s .
T h is s t u d y a t t e m p t s t o c o n n e c t v a r i o u s e v e n t s o f t h e p e r i o d a n d
l i n k th e m t o s u b s e q u e n t o c c u r r e n c e s a n d p o i n t t o t h e i r i n f l u e n c e s o n
e v e n ts a n d p e r s o n a l i t i e s .
An e m p h a s is h a s b e e n p u t on t h e u s e o f p r im a r y
m a t e r i a l s s u c h a s t h e M ontana n e w sp a p e rs a n d h i t h e r t o u n u s e d U .S .
D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e a n d D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r d o c u m e n ts .
T hough t h e p e r i o d h a s b e e n s t u d i e d b e f o r e t h e h i s t o r i c a l k n o w le d g e
r e m a in s c o n f u s e d a n d a p p a r e n t l y c h a o t i c b e c a u s e o f t h e i s o l a t i o n o f t h e
s tu d ie s .
T h is s t u d y a t t e m p t s t o show t h e c o n n e c t i o n among a s e r i e s o f
c o m p le x b u t i n t i m a t e l y r e l a t e d e v e n t s .
In o r d e r t o g a in u n d e r s ta n d in g
o f t h e p e r i o d , t h e r e l a t e d e v e n t s c o u ld n o t b e s t u d i e d o u t o f c o n t e x t .
O th e r s t u d i e s h a v e r e p r e s e n t e d t h e a t t i t u d e s o f t h e p o l i t i c a l
p e r s o n a l i t i e s and o r g a n iz a tio n s in v o lv e d .
R a n k in , W a ls h , o r t h e I.W .W . h a s b e e n d o n e .
T he p e r i o d a s s e e n b y W h e e le r ,
T h is s tu d y v ie w s t h e s i t u a t i o n ,
i n m o st p a r t s , fro m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f t h e d i v i d e d l a b o r f o r c e .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER I
PRELUDE TO A STRIKE
The f i r s t a t t e m p t t o e s t a b l i s h a m i n e r s ' u n i o n o c c u r r e d a t B u t t e
as e a rly as 1866.
On J u n e 1 3 , I 8 7 8 , a t h r e a t b y m in e o w n e rs t o r e d u c e
w ag es fro m $ 3*50 t o $ 3 -0 0 p e r d a y r e s u l t e d i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ,o f t h e
B u t te W o rk in g m e n 's U n io n .
T h is b o d y c h a n g e d i t s name t o t h e M in e rs
U n io n o f B u t t e C i t y i n I 88 I , a n d i n M a rc h , I 8 8 5 , i t becam e t h e B u t t e
M in e r s ' U n io n .
T h is o r g a n i z a t i o n so o n becam e t h e l a r g e s t a n d m o st
fam ous m i n e r s ' u n io n i n t h e W e s t.
The u n io n s u c c e e d e d i n s e c u r i n g f o r
i t s m em bers a minimum w age o f $ 3 -5 0 p e r d a y T h e
B u t t e M i n e r s ' U n io n
w as a b l e t o c a p i t a l i z e o n t h e b i t t e r f e u d b e tw e e n M arcus D a ly a n d W illia m
A. C l a r k , tw o o f t h e C o p p e r K i n g s .
As t h e b a t t l e b e tw e e n t h e s e tw o
ty c o o n s h ap p en ed i n t h e p o l i t i c a l a r e n a , th e m in e rs ' v o te and s u p p o rt
becam e o b j e c t s t o b e s o u g h t o u t a n d b o u g h t.
2
V e rn o n J e n s e n H e r i t a g e o f C o n f l i c t , L a b o r R e l a t i o n s
t h e HonF e r o u s R k t a l I n d u s t r y Up t o 1 9 3 0 , ( I t h a c a , 1 9 5 0 ) i s t h e f i n e s t , a n d m o s t
c o m p re h e n s iv e s t u d y on l a b o r i n t h e N o r th w e s t u n t i l I 9 3 0 . I t i s i n d i s ­
p e n s a b l e a s a r e f e r e n c e w o rk o n a l l s e c t i o n s o f t h e t h e s i s d e a l i n g w i t h
t h e War o f t h e C o p p e r K in g s (S e e f o o t n o t e o n N um ber 2.) d i s c u s s t h e p e r i o d
i n d e s c r i b i n g t h e b a c k g r o u n d f o r t h e War o f t h e C o p p er K in g s .
2
The m a t e r i a l a v a i l a b l e o n t h e W a r ,o f t h e C o p p er K in g s a n d t h e
l e a d i n g f i g u r e s i n i t i s a b u n d a n t, th o u g h i n many c a s e s i t i s t r i t e ,
p o o r, and r e p e t i t i o u s .
F o r r e s t L . F o o r , The S e n a t o r i a l A s p i r a t i o n s
o f W illia m A. C l a r k , ( U n p u b l i s h e d P h.D d i s s e r t a t i o n . U n i v e r s i t y o f
C a l i f o r n i a , 1 9 ^ 1 ) p r e s e n t s a n o b j e c t i v e view o f W illia m A. C l a r k a n d
h is tim e s .
K. R o ss T o o le ,M h rc u s D a ly : A s t u d y o f B u s in e s s i n P o l i t i c s ,
( U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s . U n i v e r s i t y o f M o n ta n a , 1 9 4 8 ) th o u g h b i a s e d
i n f a v o r o f D a ly i s t h e m o s t c o m p re h e n s iv e w o rk o n D a ly .
T o o le , M o n tan a :
An Uncommon L a n d , (N orm an, O klahom a, 1 9 5 9 ) d e a l s a d e q u a t e l y w i t h t h e
w h o le p e r i o d a n d r e l a t e s t h e g ro w th o f B u t t e 's c o p p e r i n d u s t r y t o n a t i o n a l
a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l e v e n t s t h u s p o i n t i n g t o t h e a c h ie v e m e n ts o f t h e c o p p e r
k i n g s o f B u t t e , a t h e s i s w h ic h w as n o t s t r e s s e d e l s e w h e r e . F o r p r o D a ly w o rk s s e e C h r i s t o p h e r P . C o n n o lly , The D e v il L e a r n s t o V o te (New
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
5
U n l i k e l a b o r u n io n s n a t i o n a l l y i n t h e l 8 8 0 ' s , t h e U n io n a t B u t t e
w as b l e s s e d w i t h a s i t u a t i o n w h ic h p e r m i t t e d i t t o g a i n i n w e a l t h a n d
p re s tig e .
L a t e r , w hen t h e U n io n w as c h a l l e n g e d b y a u n i t e d f o r c e o f
e m p lo y e r s , i t h a d l i t t l e
e x p e rie n c e i n d e fe n d in g i t s e l f .
d a y s w e re t h e r e a s o n s o f i t s
I n t h e 1890 ' s ,
In th e e a rly
su b eq u en t f a i l u r e and d e s tr u c tio n .
a s m in in g becam e a n e n t e r p r i s e r e q u i r i n g l a r g e
i n v e s t m e n t s , m in e r s f e l t t h e p r e s s u r e fro m t h e new , r i s i n g c o r p o r a t e
p o w e rs .
The m in e r s a t t e m p t e d t o c o u n t e r t h i s p ro b le m w i t h t h e e s t a b l i s h ­
m en t o f a r e g i o n a l u n i o n .
T hey r e a l i z e d t h a t a l o c a l u n io n w o u ld be
h e lp le s s a g a in s t a la rg e c o rp o ra tio n .
to fa c e th e c h a lle n g e s to g e th e r .
The m in e r s s t r o v e t o u n i t e a n d
The l o c a l u n i o n s t u r n e d t o t h e m o st
fam ous an d r i c h e s t m in in g u n io n f o r l e a d e r s h i p .
M in e rs fro m C o lo r a d o ,
S o u th D a k o ta , I d a h o , U ta h an d M ontana m e t a t B u t t e .
On
June 16, I 893,
t h e W e s te r n F e d e r a t i o n o f M in e rs w as f o u n d e d , a n d B u t te r e c e i v e d C h a r t e r
Number O ne.
The F e d e r a t i o n s g o a l s w e re f a i r c o m p e n s a tio n a n d s a f e r
2
( c o n t i n u e d ) Y o rk , 1 9 3 8 ) a n d C o n n o lly ," T h e S t o r y o f If c n ta n a " M cC lu re
M a g a z in e V olum es 2 7 -2 8 ( 1906 - I 9 0 7 ) .
C .B . G la s s c o c k , The War o f t h e
C o p p er K in g s (New Y o rk , 1 9 3 5 ) i s a f i n e a c c o u n t o f t h e p e r i o d b e tw e e n
1872 a n d 1910 a t B u t t e . A b i t t e r a t t a c k o n D a ly , C la r k a n d -t h e A m al­
g a m a te d i s t h e e s s e n c e o f J e r r e C. M urphy A C o m ic a l H i s t o r y o f M ontana
(S a n D ie g o , 1 9 1 2 ) . M urphy h a t e d w h a t c o r p o r a t e po w er d id t o B u t t e an d
M o n tan a a n d p e r c e p t i v e l y a n d e m o t i o n a l l y d e s c r i b e d t h e s u b j u g a t i o n o f
M ontana t o t h e com pany. K. R o ss T o o le "T he G e n e s is o f t h e C la r k - D a ly
F u ed " M o n tan a M a g a z in e o f H i s t o r y ( A p r i l , 1 9 5 1 ) i s e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s f o r t h e w a r, a n d t h e e l i m i n a t i o n
o f much o f t h e m yth s u r r o u n d i n g t h e o r i g i n o f t h e f e u d . K. R o ss T o o le
"When B ig Money Came t o B u t t e , " P a c i f i c N o rth w e s t Q u a r t e r l y ( J a n u a r y ,
1 9 5 3 ) t e l l s o f t h e m ovem ent o f e a s t e r n m oney w h ic h r e s u l t e d i n t h e
t r a n s f e r o f p o l i t i c a l pow er E a s tw a r d . J o s e p h K in s e y H ow ard, M ontana
H ig h W ide a n d Handsom e (New H av en , 1 9 4 3 ) i s a n ti- c o m p a n y , h i g h l y
e m o t i o n a l , a n d h a s many e r r o r s .
The s t u d y w as w r i t t e n b y a man who
knew an d u n d e r s t o o d M o n tan a.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s f o r i t s m e m b e rs.
D aese a im s w e re t o b e s e c u r e d
th ro u g h e d u c a tio n , c o o p e r a tio n , an d l o b b i e s .
3
B ecause o f i n t e r n a l
s t r i f e a n d p o o r l e a d e r s h i p t h e W .F.M . p r o v e d t o b e a n i n e f f e c t i v e o r ­
g a n iz a tio n .
B u t t e money f i n a n c e d t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , b u t a l s o s u p p l i e d
m o st o f t h e d i s s e n s i o n w h ic h m ade t h e F e d e r a t i o n i n e f f e c t i v e .
I n 1899 t h e S ta n d a r d O i l Company e n t e r e d B u t t e .
h o l d i n g co m p an y . The A m algam ated C o p p er C om pany.
I t o rg a n iz e d a
A m algam ated b a t t l e d
a sh re w d m in in g e n g i n e e r a n d s p e c u l a t o r , F r e d e r i c k A. " F r i t z " H e in z e w ho,
b y c o n t r o l l i n g a ju d g e a n d e f f e c t i v e l y u s i n g t h e f e d e r a l "A pex l a w , "
w as a b l e t o r o b t h e A m algam ated o f th o u s a n d s o f d o l l a r s p e r d a y .
copper " tr u s t"
r e t a l i a t e d by c l o s i n g a l l M o n tan a o p e r a t i o n s .
4
The
T h is
r e s u l t e d i n u n em p lo y m en t f o r f o u r - f i f t h s o f a l l M ontana w a g e - e a r n e r s .
The c o r p o r a t i o n dem anded a n d o b t a i n e d a s p e c i a l s e s s i o n o f t h e M o n tan a
L e g is la tu re .
T h is L e g i s l a t u r e p a s s e d a b i l l w h ic h t e r m in a t e d H e in z e * s
i n f l u e n c e a n d p o w er a t B u t t e .
I n 19 O6 , H e in z e s o l d h i s p r o p e r t i e s t o
A m alg am ated a n d t h e l o n g War o f t h e C o p p e r K in g s was o v e r . ^
^V ern o n H. J e n s e n , H e r i t a g e o f C o n f l i c t : L a b o r R e l a t i o n s i n t h e
N o n - f e r r o u s M e ta l I n d u s t r y Up t o 1930 ( I t h a c a , 1 9 5 0 ) , 55• H e r e a f t e r
c i t e d a s J e n s e n , H e rita g e p f C o n f l i c t .
^An 1892 f e d e r a l m in in g la w p r o v i d e d t h a t a c la im c o n s t i t u t e d s u r ­
f a c e a r e a 15 OO f e e t l o n g a n d 600 f e e t w id e i n w h ic h a v e i n came t o i t s
a p e x ; a n a r e a o f t h e p r e s c r i b e d s i z e w h ic h c o n t a i n e d t h e s u r f a c e o u t ­
c r o p p in g o f a p re s u m a b ly c o n t i n u o u s o r e b o d y .
The l o c a t o r c o u l d f o l l o w
t h i s v e i n a n y d i s t a n c e u n d e r g r o u n d a s l o n g a s h e re m a in e d w i t h i n t h e
1500 f o o t l e n g t h o f h i s c l a i m ; t h e r e w as no r e s t r i c t i o n o n t h e l a t e r a l
v a r ia t io n s o f th e v e in s u n d e rg ro u n d .
5
M ost w o rk s d e a l i n g w i t h t h e W ar o f t h e C o p p e r K in g s d i s c u s s t h i s
p e r i o d t o o . F o r t h e s t r u g g l e o f l a b o r a g a i n s t m anagem ent Je n s e n * s
H e rita g e o f C o n f l i c t i s e s s e n t i a l .
The b e s t w o rk on H e in z e i s S a r a h
M c N e llis * ^ % ie L i f e o f F . A u g u s tu s H e in z e ," u n p u b l i s h e d M a s t e r ’ s t h e s i s
( U n i v e r s i t y o f M o n ta n a , 1 9 ^ 7 )*
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
7
The A m alg am a te d , u s e d i t s v a s t ec o n o m ic p o w e rs , t o c r e a t e a p r e ­
c e d e n t f o r c o e r c i n g t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f t h e S t a t e o f M ontana i n t o a c t i o n
b e n e f i c i a l t o t h e m in in g i n t e r e s t s .
The d e p a r t u r e o f H e in z e b r o u g h t t o
a n e n d t h e " g o ld e n e r a " o f l a b o r a t B u t t e .
The " G i b r a l t a r o f U n io n is m ,"
w h ic h c la im e d t o b e t h e " s t r o n g e s t u n io n tow n o n e a r t h , " a n d p o s s e s s e d
t h e m o s t e f f e c t i v e " c l o s e d sh o p " i n t h e n a t i o n w as s o o n a n " o p e n sh o p "
to w n .
B e f o r e 1903 t h e s t o r y o f l a b o r r e l a t i o n s a t B u t t e c o u l d b e
su m m a riz e d : m in e o w n e rs c l a s h e d , w h ic h r e s u l t e d i n g a i n s f o r l a b o r .
A f te r w a r d s t h e p o s i t i o n s c h a n g e d .
L a b o r f o u g h t a g a i n s t i t s e l f a n d w as
f a c e d w i t h t h e p o w e r f u l , u n i t e d m in e o w n e rs .
New t e r m s a p p e a r e d i n t h e
v o c a b u la r y o f t h e B u t te m in e r w h ic h i n d i c a t e d t h e s h i f t i n p o w e r.
H is
u n io n w as l e d b y men who w o re t h e " c o p p e r c o l l a r , " w h ic h s i g n i f i e d t h a t
t h e y w e re c o m p a n y - c o n t r o l l e d .
I n 1912 t h e Company ( a s A m algam ated a n d
A n aconda a r e known t o M o n ta n a n s) i n i t i a t e d t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " s y s te m ,
a m e th o d b y w h ic h i t e f f e c t i v e l y c o n t r o l l e d em p lo y m en t a t B u t t e .
The
" r u s t l i n g c a r d " i n e f f e c t w as a p e r m i t t o w o rk , w i t h o u t w h ic h o n e c o u l d
n o t b e e m p lo y ed i n t h e B u t te M in e s .
The l a c k o f e f f e c t i v e o p p o s i t i o n t o
t h i s s y s te m s y m b o liz e d t h e im p o te n c e
o f t h e " s t r o n g e s t u n io n o n e a r t h . "
The Company a n d t h e I n d u s t r i a l W o rk e rs o f t h e W o rld co m b in ed t o d e s t r o y
t h e B u t t e M in e r ’ s U n io n i n 1 9 1 ^ .^
T he m i n e r s ’ f r u s t r a t i o n a n d a n g e r w e re m a n i f e s t e d by a r i o t on
Ju n e 1 3 ,
19lh, a d a y on w h ic h t h e f o u n d in g o f t h e B u t t e M in ers* U n io n
w as c e l e b r a t e d .
H a ll w as g u t t e d .
T he t r a d i t i o n a l p a r a d e w as d i s p e r s e d , an d t h e U n io n
The v i o l e n c e c o n t i n u e d , a n d o n J u n e 2 3 , a m e e t i n g o f
t h e B u t t e M in e r s ’ U n io n w as b r o k e n u p .
In th e exchange o f g u n fire t h a t
6
J e n s e n , H e r i t a g e o f C o n f l i c t , 335<
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
8
o c c u r r e d , a n i n n o c e n t p a s s e r b y w as k i l l e d , s e v e r a l p e o p le w e re w o u n d e d ,
a n d t h e U n io n H a ll w as d y n a m ite d a n d c o m p l e t e l y d e m o lis h e d .
B u t t e w as
p u t u n d e r m a r t i a l la w , and t h e S t a t e M i l i t i a p a t r o l l e d th e s t r e e t s .
I.W .W .-in s p ire d
s trik e fa ile d .
U n io n ism i n B u t t e w a s d e a d .
An
A n aco n d a
g a i n e d g r e a t pow er a n d c o n t r o l i n t h e s t a t e o f M o n tan a t h r o u g h a com pany
c o n t r o l l e d p r e s s , b r i b i n g o f l e g i s l a t o r s , u ltim a tu m s w h ic h u s e d a l l t h e
e c o n o m ic a n d p o l i t i c a l p o w e rs o f t h e Com pany, r u t h l e s s d e s t r u c t i o n o f
o p p o s itio n , e f f e c t i v e c o n tr o l o f th e la b o r f o r c e and i t s le a d e r s and
c o n tro l o f p o l i ti c a l o rg a n iz a tio n s .
A l l t h e s e co m b in ed t o d e s t r o y t h e
" c lo s e d shop" a t B u tte .
T h e re seem ed t o b e a d i r e c t c o r r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e g ro w th o f
c o r p o r a t e pow er a n d t h e d e c l i n e o f l a b o r i n f l u e n c e b e tw e e n 1903 a n d
1917.
The i n e f f e c t i v e u n i o n s , w h ic h a f t e r 19 1 4 w e re m o s tly Company
c o n t r o l l e d , w e re s t i l l e d , w h i l e t h e m in e r s d i d n o t f o r g e t t h e i r d a y s
7
o f s t r e n g t h a n d h o p ed f o r t h e r e t u r n o f t h e i r " g o ld e n e r a . "
t o 1 9 1 7 , t h e c h a n g e s w e re c o m p le te .
B u tte w e n t
Prom 1912
fr o m " c l o s e d s h o p " t o
" o p e n s h o p ; " t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " r e p l a c e d t h e u n io n c a r d ; c o l l e c t i v e
b a r g a i n i n g c h a n g e d t o i n d i v i d u a l b a r g a i n i n g ; t r a d e a g r e e m e n ts w e re n o t
r e p l a c e d ; m u tu a l n e e d and good w i l l t u r n e d t o r i o t i n g aitad m i l i t i a w h ic h
g u ard ed th e s t r e e t s ; h a te an d m is tr u s t r e p la c e d c o o p e ra tio n and a f f e c Q
t i o n ; 1 7 ,5 0 0 u n io n m in e r s becam e 1 6 ,0 0 0 u n o r g a n iz e d m i n e r s .
On J u n e 8 , 1 9 1 7 , a f i r e b r o k e o u t i n t h e S p e c u l a t o r m in e , owned
? 8 e e Norma S m ith , The R i s e a n d F a l l c f t h e B u t t e M in e r s ' U n io n
U n p u b lis h e d M a s t e r 's t h e s i s ( ^ b n t a n a S t a t e C o l l e g e , 196 I ) ,
a l s o s e e M o n ta n a , F i r s t B i e n n i a l R e p o r t o f t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r a n d
I n d u s t r y 1 9 1 4 -1 9 1
( H e le n a , 1 9 1 5 )*
J e n s e n , H e rita g e o f C o n f l i c t . F o r
a n A n a co n d a Company v ie w o f t h e e v e n t s s e e L . 0 . E v an s s p e e c h t o t h e
M is s o u la C ham ber o f Commerce A ug. 2 9 , 1 9 1 7 ( n . p . , n . d . )
1878 - 1 9 1 4 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
9
b y t h e N o r th B u t t e Compsiny.
T he f i r e
s t a r t e d when a c a b l e w as i g n i t e d
b y a c a r b i d e lam p c a r r i e d b y M ine F o re m a n , E r n e s t H. S a l l a u . W ith in
m om ents t h e m in e w as a n i n f e r n o , a n d o n e o f t h e g r e a t e s t h o l o c a u s t s i n
m in in g h i s t o r y to o k p l a c e .
The f la m e s s p r e a d th r o u g h t h e v e n t i l a t i o n
s h a f t s , a n d k i l l e d n u m ero u s m in e r s w i t h i n m i n u t e s .
R e sc u e w o rk s c o n t i n ­
u e d f o r d a y s , a s b o d i e s , c h a r r e d b e y o n d r e c o g n i t i o n , r e p e a t e d l y w e re
b ro u g h t to th e s u r f a c e .
The r e s c u e c re w s f o u n d some o f t h e d e a d p i l e d
a g a i n s t t h e s o l i d c e m e n t.b u l k h e a d s , t h e i r f i n g e r s w o rn t o t h e k n u c k l e s
in an a tte m p t to re a c h s a f e t y .
S t a t e la w s p e c i f i e d t h a t a l l b u lk h e a d s
i n t h e m in e s h a d t o h a v e i r o n d o o r s w h ic h c o u l d b e o p e n e d .
T h is law
w as n o t o b s e r v e d a t B u t t e , a s t h e k n u c k l e s o f t h e t r a p p e d m in e r s t e s t i ­
^
fie d .
T he B u t t e l a b o r f o r c e e x h i b i t e d s o l i d a r i t y
e ffo rts .
in th e f r a n t ic re s c u e
Ifeny l e g e n d s em e rg e d fro m t h e d i s a s t e r .
Manus D u g g an , a
t w e n t y - y e a r - o l d m i n e r , a d d e d h i s name t o t h e l i s t o f t h e c o p p e r camp
im m o r ta ls b y s a v i n g t w e n t y - s i x m en, a l t h o u g h h e w as k i l l e d .
c o u n t o f t h e d e a d w as 1 6 4 .
The f i n a l
9
8U .S .
D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e , R e c o rd G roup 6 0 , R e c o rd s o f t h e
D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e , G L a sse r P i l e . W a s h in g to n , D .C ., N a t i o n a l A r c h i v e s ,
1 9 6 4 . % rw el D a v is " S u rv e y o f C o p p e r C o n d i ti o n s i n M o n ta n a ," M arch 1 9 1 8 ,
C o m m iss io n e r o f C o n c i l i a t i o n , L a b o r D e p a rtm e n t F i l e No. 3 3 /1 7 0 3 , H e re ­
a f t e r c i t e d a s D .J . G la s s e r P i l e .
^ U . S . B u re a u o f M in es B u l l e t i n s l 88 a n d 2 0 4 b y D a n ie l H a r r i n g t o n
d e a l w i t h t h e f i r e a n d s a f e t y c o n d i t i o n s a t t h e B u t t e m in e s . T hey c o n t a i n
eye w itn e s s r e p o r ts o f th e f i r e .
M o n ta n a , T h i r d B i e n n i a l R e p o r t o f t h e
D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r a n d I n d u s t r y 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 ( H e le n a , 1 9 1 9 ) d e s c r i b e s t h e
f i r e a n d h a s many p e n e t r a t i n g com m ents o n t h e B u t te l a b o r p r o b le m s d u r i n g
W o rld War I .
J e n s e n , H e r i t a g e o f C o n f l i c t a n d P e rlm a n arid T a f t L a b o r
M ov em ents, v o lu m e IV o f H i s t o r y of~~Labor i n t h e U n ite d S t a t e s , d i s c u s s
th e f i r e and i t s im p lic a tio n s e x te n s iv e ly .
Some r e p o r t s s t a t e t h a t t h e
num ber o f d e a d w as 1 6 2 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
10
A s p o n ta n e o u s s t r i k e e r u p t e d .
The t r a g e d y r e s u l t e d i n a ca m p a ig n
f o r s a f e r w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s , b e t t e r w a g e s , a n d a n i n d e p e n d e n t u n i o n .
F o r e le v e n y e a r s th e B u tte l a b o r f o r c e had b een l o s i n g pow er i n an
a p a t h e t i c m a n n e r.
The d i s a s t e r a t t h e S p e c u l a t o r c a u s e d t h e b i t t e r n e s s
o f t h e m in e r s t o e m e rg e .
The S t a t e C o m m issio n e r o f L a b o r a n d I n d u s t r y
s ta te d :
T h e re w e re a num ber o f c o n t r i b u t o r y c a u s e s
to t h e s t r i k e
s u c h a s t h e r u s t l i n g c a r d s y s te m , t h e m o u n tin g c o s t o f
l i v i n g , ^ d a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e I n d u s t r i a l W o rk ers o f t h e
W o rld , s u p p o s e d ly d u e t o German p r o p a g a n d a . The r e a l
c a u s e o f t h e s t r i k e w as t h e S p e c u l a t o r m in e d i s a s t e r on
J u n e 8 . B u t t e , f o r som e t i m e h a d b e e n a v o lc a n o o n t h e
p o in t o f e r r u p tio n and th e heavy t o l l o f l i f e in S p e c u la to r
c a t a s t r o p h e p ro v e d t o b e t h e f l a m i n g t o r c h . 10
One o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h h o p e d t o l e a d t h e B u t t e m in e r s w as t h e
I n d u s t r i a l W o rk ers o f t h e W o rld .
On J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 0 5 ^ W illia m D. Haywood
t h e n S e c r e t a r y o f t h e W e s te rn F e d e r a t i o n o f M in e rs to o k t h e p o d iu m a t
B r a n d 's H a ll i n C h ic a g o an d d e c l a r e d :
T h is i s t h e C o n t i n e n t a l C o n g re s s o f t h e w o rk in g c l a s s .
We a r e h e r e t o c o n f e d e r a t e t h e w o r k e r s o f t h i s c o u n t r y
i n t o a w o r k in g c l a s s m ovem ent t h a t s h a l l h a v e f o r i t s
p u r p o s e t h e e m a n c i p a t io n o f t h e w o r k i n g - c l a s s fro m t h e
s la v e bondage o f c a p i t a li s m .. . .
The aim s an d o b j e c t s
o f t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a l l b e t o p u t t h e w o r k in g c l a s s i n p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e e c o n o m ic p o w e r, t h e m eans o f
l i f e , i n c o n t r o l o f t h e m a c h in e ry o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d
d i s t r i b u t i o n , w ith o u t re g a r d t o c a p i t a l i s t m a s te rs .
. . . t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n w i l l b e fo r m e d , b a s e d an d fo u n d e d
o n t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e , h a v in g i n v i e w . . . b u t one o b j e c t ,
an d o n e p u r p o s e , a n d t h a t i s t o b r i n g t h e w o rk e rs o f
t h i s c o u n try i n t o th e p o s s e s s io n o f t h e f u l l v a lu e o f
t h e p r o d u c t o f t h e i r t o i l . 11
10
M c n ta n a , T h i r d B i e n n i a l R e p o r t o f t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r a n d
I n d u s t r y , 1 9 1 7 - 1 9 1 0 .( H e l e n a , 1 9 1 9 / , 1 7 -1 8 • H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s L a b o r
and I n d u s tr y R e p o r t.
^ ^ W illia m D. Haywood, B i l l Haywood*s Book:
W i l l ia m D. Haywood (New Y o rk , 1 9 2 9 ) , 1Ô 1-1Ô 2.
The A u to b io g ra p h y o f
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
■c
.1 1
T h is c o n v e n ti o n , a t t e n d e d b y o v e r 2 0 0 d e l e g a t e s , e s t a b l i s h e d t h e o r g a n ­
i z a t i o n k n o v n a s t h e I n d u s t r i a l p o r k e r s o f t h e W o rld .
d e s i r e d t o o v e r th r o w t h e c a p i t a l i s t i c
to re p la c e
s y s te m .
The d e l e g a t e s
T h e i r u l t i m a t e g o a l w as
‘ • c a p ita lis m w ith a w o rk in g -c la s s o r g a n iz a tio n .
T hey a g r e e d
o n t h e g o a l , b u t w e re d e e p ly d i v i d e d I n r e g a r d t o t h e m eans' t o a c h i e v e
t h i s end.
B etw ee n 1905 a n d I 908 I n t e r n a l a r g u m e n ts s p l i t t h e I.W .W ., b u t I n
1 9 0 8 , a f t e r a s e r i e s o f e x p u l s i o n s , t h e W o b b lie s ' p l a n w as d e t e r m in e d .
The I.W .W . p r o p o s e d I n d u s t r i a l S o c i a l i s m , m i l i t a n t , u n c o m p ro m isin g a n d
opposed t o p a r lia m e n ta ry s o c i a l re fo rm .
T he W o b b lie s a c t u a l l y m o d i f i e d
t h e i r p o l i c y I n t o Im m e d ia te a n d u l t i m a t e g o a l s .
Im m e d ia te g o a l s I n ­
c l u d e d b e t t e r w a g e s , s a f e r w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s , a n d s e c u r e e m p lo y m e n t.
B u t I t w as t h e p ro n o u n c e m e n t o f t h e i r u l t i m a t e g o a l s w h ic h f r i g h t e n e d
t h e A m e ric a n b u s i n e s s c o m m u n ity .
T h e s e i n c l u d e d a b o l i t i o n o f t h e w age
s y s te m an d s e i z u r e o f t h e m eans o f p r o d u c t i o n b y t h e l a b o r f o r c e .
T he
W o b b lie s h a d t h e i r g r e a t e s t a p p e a l among t h e u n s k i l l e d , m i g r a t o r y
l a b o r e r s i n t h e W e s t.
The I W.W. w as t h e o n ly o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h c a r e d
to o rg a n iz e and t o f i g h t th e b a t t l e o f th e o u tc a s ts o f s o c i e t y .
The
I.W .W . g a v e th e m h o p e f o r a b e t t e r to m o rro w , a n d p e r s o n a l r e s p e c t ,
s o m e th in g s o c i e t y n e v e r a f f o r d e d th e m .
I n r e t u r n , i t u s e d th e m , som e­
ti m e s c r u e l l y a n d c y n i c a l l y I n I t s p u r s u i t o f t h e I n d u s t r i a l - S o c i a l i s t i c
u to p ia .
The u l t i m a t e a im o f t h e W o b b lie s w as t o c r e a t e t h e "One B ig
U n io n " w h ic h I n t u r n w o u ld r e s u l t i n t h e " g e n e r a l s t r i k e " t h a t w o u ld
d e s t r o y t h e w age s y s te m .
The l e a d e r s o f t h e I.W .W . r e a l i z e d t h a t t h i s
w as b e y o n d t h e i r im m e d ia te c a p a c i t y .
Thus t h e y a t t e m p t e d t o o r g a n i z e
t h e l a b o r e r s , p r i m a r i l y I n t h e m in in g , lu m b e r a n d t e x t i l e s I n d u s t r i e s ,
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
12
S t r i k e s , s a b o t a g e a n d b o y c o t t s w e re t h e m e th o d s w h ic h t h e y e m p lo y e d .
B n p lo y e rs r e p e a t e d l y a t t e m p t e d t o f i g h t t h e I.W .W . th r o u g h t h e c o u r t s
w i t h some s u c c e s s .
The W obbly t a c t i c
th e m some l o c a l v i c t o r i e s .
o f f r e e - s p e e c h d e m o n s tra tio n g a in e d
W h ile " f a n n i n g t h e f la m e s o f d i s c o n t e n t , "
t h e W o b b lie s , a t tim e s d i d n o t h e s i t a t e t o u s e f o r c e a g a i n s t t h e i r
o p p o n e n ts .
E f f o r tf e
o f t h e b u s i n e s s com m unity t o c u r t a i l a n d t o e n d
w h a t t h e y r e g a r d e d a s t h e I.W .W . t h r e a t seem ed s t a l e m a t e d , a s t h e
o r g a n i z a t i o n w as n o t c r u s h e d .
12
0 n A p r i l 6 , 19 I T , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s e n t e r e d W o rld War I .
o p p o n e n ts o f w a r w e re n o t n u m ero u s b u t e x c e e d i n g l y l o u d .
The
Im m ig ra n ts
fro m n a t i o n s w h ic h f o u g h t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s d e s p i s e d t h e i d e a o f f i g h t i n g
a g a in s t t h e i r n a tiv e la n d s .
The I r i s h
t h e i d e a o f a s s i s t i n g E n g la n d .
se g m e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n h a t e d
O t h e r s w e re c o n v in c e d t h a t A m e ric a s h o u ld
c o n t i n u e i t s t r a d i t i o n a l p o l i c y o f n o n - i n t e r v e n t i o n i n E u ro p e a n a f f a i r s .
O th e rs o p p o sed th e w ar f o r v a r io u s m o r a l i s t i c , r e l i g i o u s , o r h u m a n ita ria n
re a so n s.
The I.W .W . w as t h e m o s t v o c i f e r o u s o f a l l t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s
1P
No g o o d c o m p re h e n s iv e w o rk o n t h e I.W .W . i s a v a i l a b l e .
T he b e s t
w o rk s a r e t h e e a r l y s t u d i e s b y J o h n B r o o k s , A m e ric a n S y n d ic a l i s m , t h e
I.W .W . (New Y o rk , 1 9 1 3 ) a n d P a u l B r i s s e n d e n , The I.W .W . : A S tu d y o f
S y n d ic a lis m (New Y o rk , 1 9 1 9 ) ; L i l l i a n Symes a n d C le m e n t T r a v e r s , R e b e l
A m e r ic a : The S t o r y o f S o c i a l R e v o l t i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s (New Y o rk ,
1 9 3 ^ ) , a n d F r e d Thom son, The I.W .W . , I t s F i r s t F i f t y Y e ^ s (1 9 0 5 -1 9 5 5 )••
T he H i s t o r y o f a n E f f o r t t o O r g a n iz e t h e W o rk in g C la s s ( C h i c a g o ,1 9 5 5 )
a r e l a t e r i n c o m p l e t e w o rk s . J o y c e K o r n b l u t h , R e b e l V o ic e s , a n I.W .W .
A n th o lo g y (A nn A r b o r , 1 9 6 4 ) c a p t u r e s t h e mood a n d c u l t u r e c r e a t e d b y a
m i l i t a n t d i s s e n t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h c r e a t e d many l e g e n d s a n d n o r th s .
R o b e r t l y i s r , "I.W .W . i n t h e P a c i f i c N o r th w e s t:
R e b e ls o f t h e W oods"
O re g o n H i s t o r i c a l Q u a r t e r l y (M arch 1 9 5 4 ) a n d "T he I.W .W . a n d t h e W e st"
A m e ric a n Q u a r t e r l y (Sum m er, I 96 O) d i s c u s s e s t h e I.W .W . a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e
W e st b u t i s p r o n e t o r e l y o n t h e m y th s r a t h e r t h a n r e a l i t y w hen h e p r o b e s
t h e I.W .W . p h i l o s o p h y . F o r p e r s o n a l n a r r a t i v e s o f l e a d e r s o f t h e I.W .W .
se& W illia m D. H ayw ood, B i l l Haywood* s Book : The A u to b id g re p h y o f W illia m
D. H ayw ood. (New Y o rk , 1 9 2 9 ) a n d t h e u n e v e n , o f t e n i n a c c u r a t e , R a lp h
C h a p l i n , W obbly : The R o u g h -an d -T u m b le S to r y o f a n A m eric an R a d i c a l .
( C h ic a g o , 1 9 ^ 0 ; •
F o r t h e I.W .W . v ie w o n W o rld War I s e e f o o t n o t e 1 3 -
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
13
t h a t opp o sed th e w a r.
The W o b b lie s o p p o s e d n a t i o n a l w a r s ; t h e o n l y w a r
th e y b e l i e v e d i n w as c l a s s w a r.
T hey r e a s o n e d t h a t m o st o f t h e c a s u a l t i e s
w e re m em bers o f t h e w o rk in g c l a s s who b e l i e v e d t h a t th e y f o u g h t f o r Gtod,
N a tio n a n d C i v i l i z a t i o n , w h i l e , i n r e a l i t y , t h e y d i e d t o e n r i c h c a p i t a l is tic
m a n u f a c t u r e r s who b e n e f i t t e d fro m t h e w a r .
13
The I.W .W . i d e o l o g y i n r e g a r d t o t h e w a r becam e a s u c c e s s f u l i n s t r u ­
m e n t f o r t h e o p p o n e n ts o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t o d i s c r e d i t a n d d e s t r o y i t .
The n a t i o n f o u g h t a " h o ly w a r" a g a i n s t t h e "H uns" t o
f o r d e m o c r a c y ."
"make t h e w o r ld s a f e
T o l e r a n c e a n d p a t i e n c e w i t h d i s s e n t w e re n o t p a r t o f
t h e A m e ric a n s c e n e d u r i n g W o rld War I .
I n J fo n ta n a p a t r i o t i c
s u p p o rt o f th e w ar e f f o r t re a c h e d p ro p o r tio n s
o f h y s t e r i a . L a b o r fa c e d a p o w e rfu l c o r p o r a tio n ; la b o r a ls o q u a r r e le d
w ith in i t s e l f .
a n d m o re :
P o l i t i c a l c a r e e r s o r ig in a te d and te rm in a te d .
A ll t h i s
m u rd e r , t r a g i c d i s a s t e r s , c r i p p l i n g s t r i k e s a n d r i o t s .
A ll
co m b in ed d u r i n g 1917 a n d 1918 t o e r a d i c a t e a p a th y a n d c r e a t e d a t u r ­
b u l e n t p e r i o d i n M o n tan a.
H .C . P e t e r s o n a n d G i l b e r t 0 . F i t e , O p p o n e n ts o f War 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8
(M a d is o n , 1 9 5 7 ) i s t h e m o st c o m p re h e n s iv e s t u d y o f d i s s e n t d u r i n g
W o rld Weir I .
I t c o n t a i n s a n o u t s t a n d i n g b i b l i o g r a p h y . W illia m P r e s t o n
A l i e n s a n d D i s s e n t e r s : F e d e r a l S u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e R a d i c a l s 1 9 0 3 -1 9 3 3
(C a m b rid g e , 1 9 6 3 ) i s a p o o r l y w r i t t e n e x h a u s t i v e l y r e s e a r c h e d w o rk w h ic h
r e l i e s h e a v i l y o n u n p u b l i s h e d g o v e rn m e n t d o c u m e n ts . W orks d e a l i n g w i t h
t h e I.W .W . p h ilo s o p h y a r e i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e s (S e e f o o t n o t e 1 2 ) .
1^
B u r to n , K. W h e e le r, w i t h P a u l F . H e a ly , Y ankee |f-om t h e W e s t.
(G a rd e n C i t y , N .Y ., 1 9 6 2 ) , 1 9 . H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s W h e e le r, Y a n k e e .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER I I
THE METAL MIKE WORKERS* UNION JUNE-JULY 1917
The s i t u a t i o n a t B u t t e i n e a r l y J u n e 1 9 1 7 , w as t e n s e .
A com pany
o f t h e M ontana N a t i o n a l G uard came t o B u t t e a t t h e r e q u e s t o f U n i t e d
S t a t e s D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y B u rto n K. W h e e le r .
Its
f u n c t i o n w as t o m eet
1
a n y em erg en cy w h ic h r e s u l t e d fro m o p p o s i t i o n t o d r a f t r e g i s t r a t i o n .
A n ti- w a r p r o p a g a n d a , w h ic h d e s c r i b e d w a r a s " h e l l " a n d " a c a p i t a l i s t i c
p l o t " w as c i r c u l a t e d a t B u t t e .
B D s te rs im p lo r e d t h e l o c a l c i t i z e n s n o t
t o s u p p o r t E n g la n d , t h e n a t i o n w h ic h " . . . r i v e t e d t h e c h a in s o f s l a v e r y
aro u n d I r e l a n d ."
2
On J u n e 5 , a n a n t i - w a r d e m o n s t r a t i o n p r i m a r i l y i n s u p p o r t o f I r i s h
in d e p e n d e n c e , w as d i s p e r s e d b y t h e N a t i o n a l G u a rd ; no dam age o r i n j u r i e s
o c c u rre d .3
W h e e le r i n d i c a t e d t h a t many o f B u t t e 's F i n n i s h p o p u l a t i o n
jo in e d th e I r i s h
i n t h e p a r a d e a g a i n s t w a r b e c a u s e t h e y w e re l e d t o
b e l i e v e t h a t r e g i s t r a t i o n m e a n t a n im m e d ia te d r a f t .
1+
B u t t e D a il y P o s t ,
a com pany p a p e r , e d i t o r i a l i n t i m a t e d t h a t t h e s i t u a t i o n a t B u t t e w as m ore
s e rio u s .
I t d e s c r i b e d t h e d e m o n s t r a t o r s a s n u m e ro u s , d i s l o y a l , r e c k l e s s
w ith v ic io u s p u rp o s e s .^
B u t t e , — h a d a t r u l y c o s m o p o l i ta n p o p u l a t i o n
c o m p ris e d o f n u m ero u s n a t i v e s o f F i n l a n d , I r e l a n d , A u s t r i a , a n d G erm any.
1
B u t t e D a ily P o s t , J u n e 4 , 1 9 1 7 .
2
B u t t e B u l l e t i n , J u n e 4 , 5 , 1 917^ B u t te M in e r , J u n e 6 , 1 9 1 7 B u t t e D a il y P o s t , J u n e 6 , 1 9 1 7 ^ Ib id .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
15
The B u t t e p o l i c e a r r e s t e d s e v e n te e n p e r s o n s a c c u s e d o f b e in g " s l a c k e r s "
a f t e r t h e d e m o n s tra tio n .
The P r e s s a t B u t t e r e g a r d e d t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n
a s d e te r m in e d , o rg a n iz e d o p p o s itio n t o th e d r a f t . ^
On J u n e 8 , t h e S p e c u l a t o r d i s a s t e r o c c u r r e d , a n d t h e p e r i o d o f
i n a c t i o n by l a b o r a t B u tte en d e d .
C i r c u l a r s a p p e a r e d w h ic h demeinded
t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a new u n i o n a n d l i s t e d
t h e m i n e r s ’ d e m a n d s. ^
on
J u n e 1 2 , t h e m in in g c o m p a n ie s , l e d b y A n a c o n d a , a n s w e re d t h e m i n e r s '
c l a i m s o n t h e f r o n t p a g e o f t h e B u t t e D a il y P o s t .
T he a t t a c k up o n B u t t e 's i n d u s t r i e s i s e n g i n e e r e d i n t h e
m a in by t h e sam e e le m e n t w h ic h w as r e s p o n s i b l e f o r B u t t e ’'s
s e rio u s tro u b le in 1914.
I t i s w e l l known t h a t r e c e n t l y
t h e r e h as b ee n a l a r g e i n f l u x i n t o B u tte o f I . W. W. ' s and
o t h e r p a t r i o t i c a n d s e d i t i o u s p e r s o n s , w h o se one him i s t o
p a r a l y z e o u r i n d u s t r i e s , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y t h o s e u p o n w h ic h
t h e g o v e rn m e n t i s d e p e n d in g f o r i t s arm s a n d a m m u n itio n .. .
N e i t h e r t h i s e le m e n t n o r a n y o r g a n i z a t i o n m ade o r c o n ­
t r o l l e d by i t w i l l r e c e iv e any c o n s id e r a tio n o r r e c o g n itio n
b y t h e m in e o p e r a t o r s o f B u t t e .
No g r i e v a n c e o f t h e w o r k e r s
i n t h e B u t t e m in e s h a s b e e n b r o u g h t t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e
o p e r a t o r s , a n d we b e l i e v e t h a t n o n e e x i s t s .
The w a g e s p a i d
i n B u t t e a r e on t h e a v e r a g e t h e h i g h e s t p a i d an y w h ere i n t h e
w o r l d . The w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s i n B u t t e a r e b e t t e r t h a n t h e
a v e r a g e , a n d co m p are f a v o r a b l y w i t h t h o s e o f ai%r o t h e r cam p.
The sam e may b e s a i d o f l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s , w h ic h a r e v e r y
m uch s u p e r i o r t o t h o s e o f many cam ps f o r w h ic h t h e e x t r a v a g a n t
w age c la im s a r e m ad e . 8
On t h e sam e p a g e a s t o r y a p p e a r e d e n t i t l e d " G h a s t l y S i g h t a t M o rg u e ,"
w h ic h d e s c r i b e d t h e s o r d i d s i g h t o f a d a y l o n g p r o c e s s i o n o f g r i e v i n g
r e l a t i v e s who a t t e m p t e d t o f i n d t h e i r l o v e d o n e s am ong t h e d e a d .^
B e fo re
o r g a n i z a t i o n o f a u n io n o c c u r r e d , o n J u n e 1 1 , t h e m in e r s a t t h e Kim O r lu
^ I b i d , J u n e 7 , 1917* F o r a B u t t e n a t i o n a l o r i g i n c h a r t s e e D . J .
G la s s e r F i l e .
7
B u t t e a n d A n a co n d a S t r i k e B u l l e t i n , J u n e 1 1 , 1 9 1 7 •
A
B u t t e D a il y P o s t , J u n e 1 3 , 1 9 1 7 ^ Ib id .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
16
m ine^ a p r o p e r t y o f e x - S e n a t o r W illia m A. C l a r k , w e n t on s t r i k e .
Two
d a y s l a t e r , t h e M e ta l M ine W o rk e rs U n io n w as e s t a b l i s h e d , o r g a n i z i n g
a p p r o x im a te ly 1 ,0 0 0 m i n e r s . A m o n g i t s l e a d e r s w e re Tom C a m p b e ll a n d
Jo e S hannon.
C a m p b e ll w as a f o r m e r o f f i c i a l o f t h e W .F .M ., w h i l e S hannon
w as i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e I.W .W .
T he U n io n p r e s e n t e d a l i s t o f dem ands t o
t h e m in in g c o m p a n ie s a n d t h r e a t e n e d t o s t r i k e i f t h e dem ands w e re n o t m e t.
The U n io n dem ands i n c l u d e d :
r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e M.M.W.U. a s t h e b a r g a i n i n g
a g e n t f o r t h e m i n e r s , a b o l i t i o n o f t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " s y s te m , c e s s a t i o n
o f b l a c k l i s t i n g by t h e c o m p a n ie s , s t r i c t o b s e r v a n c e o f t h e S t a t e m in in g
l a w g , d i s c h a r g e o f t h e s t a t e m in e i n s p e c t o r , i n c r e a s e i n w a g e s , a n d t h e
r i g h t f o r f r e e s p e e c h a n d a s s e m b la g e .
11
F u r t h e r dem ands o f s a f e t y i n ­
s t r u c t i o n f o r new m i n e r s , an d c o n s t r u c t i o n o f m a n h o le s t h r o u g h t h e b u l k h e a d s w e re p r e s e n t e d l a t e r .
12
The C om panies*
r e j e c t i o n o f t h e m i n e r s ' d em an d s.
a b s o l u t e l y u n o r g a n iz e d .
s t a t e m e n t was i n e s s e n c e a
"T he men came o f f t h e h i l l , t h e y w e re
The s t r i k e . . . w a s a s n e a r s p o n ta n e o u s a s t r i k e
a s a n y s t r i k e I e v e r saw " s t a t e d W illia m F . D unne, e d i t o r o f t h e B u t te
B u lle tin .
IS
^ \ a b o r an d I n d u s t r y R e p o r t , l 8 .
^ B u t t e S tr ik e B u lle tin , Ju n e 1 1 , 191712
M e ta l M ine W o rk e rs U n io n t o S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r W ils o n i n D . J .
G l a s s e r F i l e , J u n e 2 3 , 1 9 1 7 , D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r F i l e 3 3 /^ 9 3 •
^ ^ T e s tim o n y a t H e a r in g s H e ld a t t h e S t a t e C a p i t a l , H e le n a , Mon­
t a n a , May 1 3 , J u n e 1 - 2 , 4 - 5 , 1 9 1 8 , by t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e
i n C o n n e c tio n w i t h t h e A r r e s t o f Von W a ld ru , A l i a s C h a r l e s S to n e , b y
F e d e r a l A u t h o r i t i e s , and a ls o i n c o n n e c tio n w ith a n I n v e s ti g a t i o n o f
c h a r g e s A g a in s t O s c a r R o h n . T yped M a n u s c r i p t, tw o v o lu m e s , i n S t a t e
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y o f M o n ta n a , L i b r a r y . H e le n a , M o n ta n a , 14-73 p a g e s .
1 3 5 0 . H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s T e s tim o r y .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1
IT
The U n io n dem anded a n i n c r e a s e i n w a g es t o $ 6 .0 0 p e r d ay f o r a l 1
men em p lo y ed u n d e r g r o u n d , a n d a p r o p o r t i o n a l i n c r e a s e f o r t h o s e m in e r s
em p lo y ed on t h e s u r f a c e .
The w age w as t o b e a n a b s o l u t e w a g e , i n d e p e n d e n t
o f th e m a rk e t p r i c e o f c o p p e r.
The p r e v io u s s c a l e $ 4 .7 5 p e r d a y w as
d e p e n d e n t o n a tw e n t y - s e v e n c e n t m a r k e t p r i c e p e r p o u n d o f c o p p e r .
I f t h e c o p p e r p r i c e f e l l b e lo w tw e n t y - s e v e n c e n t s , w a g es d e c r e a s e d a t
a r a t e o f tw e n ty - f iv e c e n ts p e r day f o r ea ch tw o -c e n t d ro p .
l4
The b a s i c w age o f $ 4 .7 5 p e r d a y w as t o b e r a i s e d i f c o p p e r s o l d
above t h i r t y - o n e c e n ts p e r pound.
r o s e to 32.5 c e n ts .
D u rin g J u n e , 1 9 1 7 , t h e p r i c e o f c o p p e r
S in c e F e b r u a r y , 1 9 1 7 , i t h a d b e e n a b o v e t h i r t y - o n e
c e n t s p e r p o u n d , a n d r e a c h e d a p e a k o f 3 6 .3 c e n t s i n M arch —y e t t h e r e
w as no i n c r e a s e i n w a g es a t B u t t e .
IS
B etw een 1 9 1 4 a n d 1 9 1 7 w ag es a t B u t te r o s e b y t h i r t y - s i x p e r c e n t ;
fro m a n a v e r a g e w age o f $894 an d a maximum o f $1050 i n 1 9 1 4 , t o a n
a v e r a g e o f $1215 a n d a maximum o f $ l4 0 0 a n n u a l w age i n 1 9 1 7 -
The minimum
s u b s i s t e n c e l e v e l i n 1 9 1 4 n e c e s s i t a t e d a n a n n u a l in co m e o f $ 878 , w h i l e
t h e minimum c o m f o r t l e v e l r e q u i r e d $1108 p e r y e a r .
T h u s, i n 1 9 1 4 , t h e
a v e r a g e m in e r a t B u t t e w as e a r n i n g b a r e l y e n o u g h t o re m a in a b o v e s u b ­
s i s t e n c e l e v e l , an d o v e r $200 b e lo w minimum c o m f o r t l e v e l .
In Ju n e,
1917 s u b s i s t e n c e l e v e l r e q u i r e d a n a n n u a l in co m e o f $1106 a n d t h e b a s i c
c o m f o r t l e v e l w as $ l 4 l 3 .
The B u t te m i n e r , a f t e r a t w o - y e a r p e r i o d o f
n a t i o n w i d e w a r p r o s p e r i t y , w as s t i l l w e l l b elo w a b a s i c c o m fo r t l e v e l
o f in c o m e .
l4
S ee t a b l e o f w age r a t e s i n B u t te M ines i n D . J . G l a s s e r F i l e ,
D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r F i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 •
1q
- U .S . B u re a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s , W h o le s a le P r i c e 1 8 9 0 -1 9 1 9 .
B u l l e t i n num ber 2 6 9 , 1 0 4 . As q u o te d i n D .J . G l a s s e r F i l e r e p o r t on
" B u t t e M in e r s ' S t r i k e 1 9 1 7 - 1 9 2 0 ," 9 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
1
13
C o n d i tio n s o f w age e a r n e r s w e re much w o r s e , a n d t h o s e o f B u t t e
w age e a r n e r s w e re s t i l l w o r s e .
T he a v e r a g e y e a r l y e x p e n s e s p e r f a m i l y
in n in e ty -tw o i n d u s t r i a l c e n t e r s , in c lu d in g B u tte , f o r t h e p e r io d 191 7 -
1 9 1 9 , w e re $ 1 ,4 3 7 * 3 7 .
The mean f o r a n a v e r a g e B u t t e f a m il y w as $ 1 ,8 4 3 * 9 0 .
E ig h ty p e r c e n t o f w age e a r n e r s *
f a m i l y a t B u t t e show ed d e f i c i t s .
The
c o s t o f l i v i n g i n B u t t e w as much h i g h e r t h a n t h a t o f t h e r e s t o f t h e
n a t i o n , w h i l e w a g e s w e re n o t a s g o o d a s t h o s e i n o t h e r s e c t i o n s o f t h e
n atio n .T h u s,
i n c o n t r a s t t o t h e m in e o w n e r s ’ c l a i m s , B u t t e 's w e re
n o t " t h e h i g h e s t p a i d a n y w h e re i n t h e w o r l d , " .
B u t t e 's l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s
w e re n o t " v e r y m uch s u p e r i o r t o t h o s e o f a n y o t h e r c a m p s . . . "
f o r h i g h e r w a g e s w as n o t " e x t r a v a g a n t . "
IT
The dem and
S a fe ty c o n d itio n s i n th e
m in e s w e re n o t g o o d a s d e m o n s t r a t e d b y t h e S p e c u l a t o r d i s a s t e r .
A ta c t­
l e s s e d i t o r i a l i n t h e B u t t e D a il y P o s t a d a y a f t e r t h e f i r e c l a i m e d t h a t
t h e A n aco n d a m in e s r e c o r d c o n c e r n i n g s a f e t y w as g r a t i f y i n g s i n c e f a t a l i t i e s
w e re " p r a i s e w o r t h y " s m a l l .
L8
On J u n e l 4 , t h e m in e m a n a g e rs r e f u s e d t o m e e t w i t h a commit t e e o f
U n io n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , a n d t h e U n io n c a l l e d t h e s t r i k e .
19
The e s s e n c e
o f t h e m i n e r s ' dem ands w as a r e i n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e " c l o s e d sh o p " a t B u t t e .
The co m p an ie s w e r e i n t e n t o n k e e p in g t h e " o p e n s h o p ," a n d r e p l i e d t h a t
t h e y w o u ld n o t d e a l w i t h s e d i t i o u s , t r e a c h e r o u s , I . W . W . ' s .
L e w is 0 . E v an s
16
The a b o v e i s b a s e d o n a s t u d y d o n e f o r t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r ,
b a s e d o n f i g u r e s c o m p ile d b y t h e U .S . B u re a u o f L a b o r S t a t i s t i c s .
In
D . J . U L a sse r F i l e , "T he B u t t e M in e rs S t r i k e s , 1 9 1 7 - 1 9 2 0 ," 6 - 1 3 .
^"^As c la im e d i n o w n e r s ' s t a t e m e n t B u t te D a il y P o s t , J u n e 1 3 , 1917*
18
19
B u tte D a ily P o s t, Ju n e
S, 1917*
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , J u n e 15> 1917*
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
^
19
C h i e f C o u n s e l o f t h e A naconda Company a t B u t t e c h a r g e d t h a t t h e sam e
men who c a u s e d t h e l $ l 4 l a b o r r i o t s w e re t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e M e ta l MCne
W o rk ers U n io n .
20
The A n aconda Company r e p r e s e n t e d c o n s e r v a t i v e t h o u g h t
a t M o n tana a n d g e n u i n e l y r e g a r d e d a c h a n g e i n t h e s t a t u s quo a s a p l o t
a g a in s t th e p u b lic w e lf a r e .
The U n io n p le d g e d t h a t i t w o u ld i n i t i a t e
no v i o l e n c e a n d r e p e a t e d l y a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t w as n o t I . W . W . - a f f i l i a t e d .
E x - S e n a to r C la r k s t a t e d :
21
"As f a r a s I am c o n c e r n e d , a n d t h e C l a r k M in e s ,
I w i l l c l o s e th em dow n, f l o o d th e m , a n d n o t r a i s e a p o u n d o f c o p p e r ,
b e f o r e I w i l l r e c o g n i z e t h e a n a r c h i s t l e a d e r s o f t h e U n io n .
22
The E l e c t r i c i a n l o c a l d e c l a r e d a s t r i k e , o n J u n e l 8 , a g a i n s t t h e
M o n tan a P ow er C om pary, d em an d in g a n i n c r e a s e i n w ag es a n d t h a t t h e
c o m p a n ie s g r a n t t h e dem ands o f t h e m i n e r s .
21
The B u t te ,L a b o r C o u n c il
e n d o r s e d t h e new m i n e r 's U n io n a n d p le d g e d s u p p o r t o f i t .
pli
By J u n e 2 9 ,
a b o u t 1 5 ,0 0 0 men w e re i d l e , a s t h e J f e t a l T ra d e s M a c h i n i s t s , B o i l e r ­
m a k e r s , a n d B la c k s m ith s j o i n e d t h e s t r i k e .
The m in in g a c t i v i t i e s o n
B u t t e H i l l cam e t o a v i r t u a l p a r a l y s i s .
W.H. R o d g e r s , a f e d e r a l l a b o r m e d i a t o r a r r i v e d i n B u t te o n J u n e 2 2 ,
1917-
He w as f o l l o w e d by s e v e r a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f n a t i o n a l l a b o r
u n io n s who a t t e m p t e d t o e n d t h e s t r i k e .
25
U .S . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e J e a n e t t e
20
L ew is 0 . E v a n s , A d d re s s o f L . O . E v a n s , C h ie f c o u n s e l o f t h e
A n aco n d a C o p p e r M in in g Com pany, b e f o r e t h e C ham ber o f Commerce a t
M i s s o u la , M o n ta n a , A u g u s t 2 9 t h , 19 1 7 ( U . P . W . D . ) , 7- H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s
A d d re s s o f L . £ . E v a n s .
^ % e le n a In d e p e n d e n t, Ju n e l 8 , 2 7 , 1917^ ^ I b i d . , Ju n e 2 7 , 191723
2k
25
L a b o r a n d I n d u s t r y R e p o r t, l 8 .
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 1 7 L abor and I n d u s tr y R e p o r t, 1 9 -2 0 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
20
R a n k in v i r e d h e r s u p p o r t o f t h e m i n e r s ’ d e m a n d s . T h e M o n tan a R e p u b l i c a n ,
who w as t h e f i r s t f e m a le C o n g r e s s i o n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , v o te d i n A p r i l ,
1 9 1 7 , a g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ' e n t r a n c e i n t o W o rld W ar I .
c r e a t e d much s e n t i m e n t a g a i n s t h e r i n M o n ta n a .
H er v o t e
S he a l s o e n d a n g e r e d h e r
p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r b y h e r s u p p o r t o f l a b o r i n t e r e s t s a g a i n s t t h e e c o n o m ic
p o w e rs o f M o n ta n a .
On J u l y 1 1 , t h e s t r i k i n g m in e r s r e j e c t e d a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h t h e
A m e ric a n F e d e r a t i o n o f L a b o r .
The A .F .L . w a n te d t h e m in e r s t o r e t u r n t o
w o rk p r i o r t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e s t r i k e .
se c u re v ic to ry b e fo re r e tu r n in g to work .
T he s t r i k e r s i n t e n d e d t o
D i s t r u s t o f t h e A .F .L . p r o ­
b a b l y p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t i n t h e m i n e r s ' o v e rw h e lm in g r e j e c t i o n
of it.
A . F . L . u n io n s i n B u t t e w o re t h e " c o p p e r c o l l a r " d u r i n g t h e 1 9 1 4
d is tu rb a n c e s .
A r i s e i n I.W .W . m e m b e rsh ip
28
d u rin g t h i s p e r io d a ls o
c o u ld have r e s u l t e d in th e r e j e c t i o n o f th e A. F. L.
From t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s t r i k e t h e C o m p an ies a t t a c k e d t h e U n io n
v i o l e n t l y a n d c o n s t a n t l y th r o u g h t h e p r e s s .
The p a p e r s p r e d i c t e d v i o l e n c e
by t h e s t r i k e r s , whom t h e y c l a i m e d , w e re l e d b y German s y m p a th iz e r s
w i t h i n t h e t r e a c h e r o u s I.W .W .
The B u t t e D a il y P o s t d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e
B u t t e a g i t a t i o n w as p a r t o f a g e n e r a l c o n s p i r a c y t o s t o p t h e m in e s fro m
operation.H eadlines
p r o c la im e d t h a t "l.W .W . a g i t a t o r s i n W e st A re
W o rk in g i n C a u se o f G e r m a n y T h e
c u r e w h ic h t h e B u t t e M in er p r o p o s e d
2Ô
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , J u n e 2 4 , 1 9 1 7 .
27
L abor an d In d u s try R e p o rt, 20 .
^ ^ T te stim o n y , 1 3 5 1 .
^ ^ B u t te D a il y P o s t , J u n e 2 7 , 1 9 1 7 .
3 ° ib id ., June 2 8 , 1917.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
21
f o r t h e t e n s i o n i n M o n tan a w a s:
— t o ro u n d u p a l l t h e r i n g l e a d e r s , who p r e a c h t r e a s o n a n d
h a t r e d o f t h e f l a g , a n d i n c a r c e r a t e th e m i n p l a c e s w h e re
t h e y c a n b e p r o v id e d w i t h w o rk , w h ic h t h e y s h o u ld b e m ade
t o p erfo rm i f th e y d e s i r e to e a t .
T he M in e r c a l l e d f o r d i r e c t a c t i o n :
The ti m e f o r h a l f m e a s u r e s w i t h t h e s e p e o p le h a s go n e
b y , a n d t h e g o v e rn m e n t m u st d e a l w i t h th e m i n t h e f u t u r e
w i t h a f i r m i n s t e a d c f w eak h a n d o t h e r w i s e t h e y may
im p e ra ] t h e s u c c e s s f u l o u tc o m e o f, th e . p r e s e n t w ar . 31
T he r e a s o n f o r t h e s t r i k e w as c l e a r t o t h e M in e r :
o f C o n s p ir a c y ."
i t w as a " P l a i n C a se
The i n t e n t i o n o f. t h e sh u td o w n w as t o a i d G erm any, a n d
■ 32
t h i s t h e M in e r e x c la im e d w as t r e a s o n .
The U n io n p a p e r i n t u r n c h a r g e d
t h a t t h e C o m p an ies im p o r te d gunm en i n t o B u t t e t o f r i g h t e n t h e s t r i k e r s .
T he B u l l e t i n c o n t i n u a l l y u r g e d t h e C om panies t o
c a r d " s y s te m a n d te r m e d t h e m in e
33
a b o lis h th e " r u s tlin g
o w n e rs " u n p a t r i o t i c a n d h o s t i l e t o
th e
b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e n a t i o n by t h e i r r o t t e n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e m in e s
a n d t h e i r r e f u s a l t o come t o te r m s w i t h t h e m i n e r s . T h e
n o n -o w n e rs'
p r e s s , s u c h a s t h e B u t t e M i n e r , f a l l o w e d a p o l i c y j u s t a s e x tr e m e a s t h e
B u t t e D a il y P o s t a n d a t tim e s seem ed i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e .
t r u e o f m o st o f t h e i n d e p e n d e n t p r e s s t h r o u g h o u t M o n ta n a .
B u l l e t i n r e p r e s e n t e d t h e o t h e r e x tr e m e ; i t s
The sam e w as
The B u t t e
e d i t o r W illia m F . Dunne
c o n s t a n t l y a n d m e r c i l e s s l y a t t a c k e d t h e m in in g c o m p a n i e s . . An i m p a r t i a l
p r e s s d id n o t e x i s t .
^^ B u t t e M in e r , J u l y 1 , 1 9 1 7 •
32
I b i d . , J u ly 3, 1917.
333.
■ M in e rs a n d E l e c t r i c a l W o rk e rs J o i n t S t r i k e B u l l e t i n , J u n e 2 0 , 1 9 1 7 .
34 ,
I b i d ., J u ly 9 , 1917.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
22
One o f t h e few p e o p l e who k e p t t h e i r s e n s e o f p r o p o r t i o n d u r i n g
t h i s p e r i o d w as D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y V h e e l e r .
H is r e p o r t s t o t h e D e p a rtm e n t
o f J u s t i c e a r e v a l u a b l e s i n c e he d e a l t w i t h i s s u e s w i t h a h ig h d e g r e e
o f o b je c tiv ity .
He c o n t i n u a l l y i n v e s t i g a t e d r e p o r t s o f a l l e g e d I.W .W .
v i o l e n c e i n M o n ta n a , b u t u n c o v e r e d n o n e .
35
W h e e l e r 's v ie w o f t h e o r i g i n
o f t h e s t r i k e w as t h a t i t stem m ed fro m t h e m in e f i r e .
I f i t had n o t b een
f o r t h e f i r e t h e 500 t o TOO I . W . W . ' s i n B u t t e c o u l d n o t h a v e c o n v in c e d
t h e m in e rs to s t r i k e . W h e e l e r
com m ented t h a t t h e M ontana p r e s s p u b l i s h e d
f a l s e r e p o r t s i n r e g a r d t o t h e l a b o r s i t u a t i o n i n tf o n ta n a .
f a b r i c a t e d s t o r i e s a b o u t t h e I.W .W . a c t i v i t y
T hese r e p o r ts
in th e s t a t e , p re s e n tin g
t h e W o b b lie s a s a d a n g e r t o t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e co m m u n ity .
37
W h e e le r d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t s a b o ta g e a n d t r e a s o n w e re t h e p u r p o s e s
o f th e
s t r i k e r s b u t a w is h t o im p ro v e t h e i r w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s .
He
b e l i e v e d t h a t w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s w e re p o o r ; t h a t t h e m in e r s n e e d e d h i g h e r
w a g es f o r t h e m a in ta in a r ic e o f a r e a s o n a b l e s t a n d a r d o f l i v i n g ; a n d a
d e s i r e f o r t h e a b o l i t i o n o f t h e o b n o x io u s " r u s t l i n g c a r d " l e d t o t h e
s trik e .
38
As t o t h e p r e s s '
c l a i m s o f v i o l e n c e , W h e e le r s t a t e d , " t h e
s t r i k e i s b e i n g c o n d u c t e d . . . i n a m an n er h e r ^ o r e u n h e a r d o f i n m in in g
r e g io n s .
35
No v i o l e n c e o r d i s o r d e r i s o b s e r v e d o r b e e n r e p o r t e d .
T e s tim o n y , 3 5 ^ -3 5 7 -
A ls o U . S . D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e R e c o rd G roup
6 0 , R e c o rd s o f t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e , W a s h in g to n , D . C . , N a t i o n a l
A r c h i v e s , 1 9 6 4 ; D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e F i l e 1 8 6 7 0 1 - 2 7 - 1 4 , an d I 867 O I - 2 7 - 1 7 .
H e re a fte r c ite d a s D. J. F ile .
36
T e s tim o n y , 3 5 1 -3 5 3 ^'^ W h eeler t o A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l G re g o ry , A u g u s t 2 1 , 1 9 1 7 -
D-J. F ile
186701 - 2 7 - 2 5 .
^^ I b i d .
39lbid.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
23:
The f e d e r a l m e d i a t o r , W.H. R o d g e r s , w as n o t t r u s t e d b y t h e m i n e r s
b e c a u s e o f h i s p r o - c o m p a n ie s s t a n d .
He a c c o m p lis h e d l i t t l e ,
except fo r
t h e p r a i s e o f J o h n D. R y an , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e A n a co n d a Company, who
a s s u r e d t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r t h a t R o d g e rs w as d o i n g w e l l .
The
f a i l u r e t o a c h i e v e a s e t t l e m e n t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m e d i a t o r r e s u l t e d fro m
t h e f a c t t h a t l o g i c a n d r e a s o n w e re l o s t i n M o n ta n a .
4l
A War L a b o r P o l i c i e s B o a rd r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a t B u t t e saw t h e p r im a r y
p ro b le m i n t h e f a c t t h a t l a b o r a t t h a t c i t y l a c k e d u n i t y , a n d t h i s
d e s t r o y e d t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f u n io n s an d c a u s e d t h e g ro w th o f t h e
I.W .W .
42
The l a c k o f l a b o r s o l i d a r i t y m a n i f e s t e d I t s e l f i n t h e m in e
o w n e rs s u c c e s s f u l d r i v e t o i s o l a t e t h e s t r i k i n g m i n e r s .
On J u l y 1 3 ,
t h e E l e c t r i c i a n ' s l o c a l d e c id e d t o r e t u r n t o w o rk a f t e r a l l t h e i r d e m a n d s,
s a v e o n e , w e re g r a n t e d b y t h e c o m p a n ie s .
f o r r e c o g n i t io n o f t h e m in e r s ' u n io n .
t r a d e s r e t u r n e d t o w o r k .^ ^
43
The e x c e p t i o n w as t h e i r dem and
In r a p id s u c c e s s io n th e o th e r
On J u l y 2 8 , t h e M e ta l T ra d e s U n io n a c c e p t e d
t h e C o m p a n ie s' o f f e r w h ic h i n c l u d e d a s m a l l w ag e r a i s e , " c l o s e d s h o p "
f o r t r a d e s , tim e - a n d - h a lf f o r o v e r tim e , an d a s e n i o r i t y r u l e i n l a y - o f f s
and r e - h i r i n g s .
45
The m in e o p e r a t o r s , a f t e r i s o l a t i n g t h e s t r i k i n g m i n e r s ,
a t t e m p t e d t o w e a k e n t h e i r U n io n f u r t h e r b y o f f e r i n g t h e m i n e r s — n o t t h e
40
B e r n a r d B a ru c h t o S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r W i l s o n , J u n e 3 0 , 1 9 1 7 , I n
D - J . G l a s s e r F i l e , D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r f i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 41
R o d g e rs t o W ils o n , J u l y 2 2 , 1 9 1 7 , i n D . J . G l a s s e r F i l e , D e p a rtm e n t
o f L a b o r F i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 42
L o w e n th a l t o B a ru c h , A u g u st 2 , 1 9 1 8 , i n D . J . G l a s s e r F i l e ,
D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r F i l e 2 0 /4 2 3 .
^ ^ B u t te D a i l y P o s t , J u l y l 4 ,1 9 1 7 44
45
I b i d . , J u ly 1 5 , 1917I b i d ., J u ly 28 , 1917-
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
24
m in e rs * U n io n — a n i n c r e a s e i n w a g e s , a w e e k ly p a y d a y , a n d a s l i g h t
m o d i f i c a t i o n o f t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " s y s te m .
46
N o th in g w as s t a t e d
c o n c e r n i n g u n io n r e c o g n i t i o n , im p ro v e d w o r k in g c o n d i t i o n s , o r a n a b s o l u t e
in c r e a s e in w ages.
The U n io n d i r e c t e d i t s m em bers t o r e j e c t t h e o f f e r .
47
M e d ia to r R o d g e rs c o n s i d e r e d t h e o f f e r f a i r a n d t h o u g h t t h e I.W.W;. d h C L u e n c e to b e t h e o n ly h a n d ic a p to i t s a c c e p ta n c e .
48
Ry t h e e n d o f J u l y
some o f t h e m in e r s r e t u r n e d t o w o rk , b u t n o n e o f t h e b a s i c p ro b le m s
w h ic h p r e c i p i t a t e d t h e s t r i k e w e re d e a l t w i t h .
^ I b i d . , J u ly 25, 1917.
4?
' i b i d . , J u ly 2 6 , I 917.
48
R o d g e rs t o W ils o n , J u l y 2 5 , 1 9 1 7 , i n D . J .
m e n t o f L a b o r F i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 -
G la s s e r F i l e , D e p a rt­
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
CHAPTER I I I
PRELUDE TO V3DLEHCE
T he m in in g c o m p a n ie s s u c c e s s f u l l y i s o l a t e d t h e s t r i k i n g m in e r s a f t e r
m id -J u ly th ro u g h a s e r i e s o f a g r e e m e n ts w ith th e tr a d e u n io n s .
It
seem ed t h a t t h e s t r i k e w as t o come t o a h a l t , a s c o n d i t i o n s r e t u r n e d
s lo w ly t o n o r m a l.
Prom a n e a r s h u t-d o w n o n J u l y 1 2 , t h e m in e s p r o d u c e d
a t o n e - t h i r d c a p a c i t y a few d a y s l a t e r . ^
E v e n ts c a u s e d t h e B u t t e M in e r
t o comment t h a t l a b o r c o n d i t i o n s w e re r a p i d l y r e t u r n i n g t o p r e - s t r i k e
n o r m a lc y .
2
As a r e s u l t o f t h e ab a n d o n m e n t o f t h e i f e t a l M ine W o rk e rs
U n io n b y t h e t r a d e u n i o n s , t h e I.W .W . e le m e n t w i t h i n t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n
g a in e d i n f l u e n c e .
W o b b lie s a l s o came t o B u t t e i n g r e a t e r n u m b ers a n d
j o i n e d t h e U n io n .
J u s t a s t h e C om panies seem ed bn t h e v e r g e o f v i c t o r y ,
a new e le m e n t o f o p p o s i t i o n e n t e r e d t h e s c e n e .
On J u l y 1 8 , 19 I T , F r a n k L i t t l e , C h a irm a n o f t h e G e n e ra l E x e c u t i v e
B o a rd o f t h e I.W .W . a n d a fam ous s t r i k e l e a d e r a t F r e s n o , S p o k an e a n d
B is b e e came t o B u t t e .
and o n e -e y e d .
L i t t l e w as t h i r t y - e i g h t y e a r s o l d , s m a l l , f r a i l
H is r i g h t l e g w as i n a c a s t a s h e h a d b ro k e n i t i n a n
a c c id e n t in A r iz o n a .^
A day a f t e r h is a r r i v a l a t B u tte , he sp o k e a t th e
b a l l p a r k t o a n o p e n m e e tin g o f t h e i f e t a l M ine W o rk e rs U n io n ; t h e cro w d
^L abor and In d u s try R e p o rt, 2 0 .
^ B u t t e M in e r , J u l y i B , 1 9 1 7 .
^ T e s tim o n y , 135 I .
^ B u t t e D a i l y P o s t , A u g u s t 3 , 1 917^ B u tte M in e r , J u l y 2 0 , 1 9 1 7 - A ls o R a lp h C h a p l i n , W obbly: The
R o u g h -a n d -T u m b le S t o r y o f a n A m e ric a n R a d i c a l . ( C h ic a g o , 1 9 w ) , 1 9 5 - 1 9 6 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
26
•was e s t i m a t e d a t s i x t h o u s a n d .
T he B u t t e M in e r r e p o r t e d , u n d e r a h e a d ­
l i n e w h ic h r e a d " S o l d i e r s C a l l e d Armed T h u g s" t h a t :
F r a n k L i t t l e , I.W .W . A r iz o n a s t r i k e l e a d e r , p r a c t i c a l l y
t h r e a t e n e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s G o v e rn m en t w i t h r e v o l u t i o n . . .
L in] s e d i t i o u s re m a rk s w h ic h w e re b u t s h o r t o f t r e a s o n . . .
L i t t l e d i s p l a y e d m a n i a c a l f u r y , t a l k e d o f w o r k e r 's
s o l i d a r i t y , a w o r ld w id e r e v o l u t i o n . . . ' [a n d p r o m is e d ] we
w i l l m ake i t s o dam ned h o t f o r t h e g o v e rn m e n t t h a t t h e y
w o n 't b e a b l e t o s e n d an y man t o F r a n c e . 6
Tom C a m p b e ll o f t h e M.M.W.U. s p o k e a t t h e sam e m e e t i n g m o s tly i n r e g a r d
•7
t o t h e n e e d t o d e f e a t t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " s y s te m .
L i t t l e l o s t no t i m e
i n m a k in g p o w e r f u l e n e m ie s ; t h e m i l i t a n c y o f h i s s p e e c h a t t r a c t e d m uch
a tte n tio n .
h e a d lin e :
"To K eep Army Away From F r a n c e ; " w as t h e A naconda S t a n d a r d 's
Q
" T h is i s p a r t o f I.W .W . p l a n i n t h i s c o u n t r y . . .
The D a il y
M is s o u lia n d e v o te d a n e d i t o r i a l t o L i t t l e ' s
and s p e c u la te d on L i t t l e 's
s p e e c h , q u o te d i t e x t e n s i v e l y ,
f a t e , w e re h e a c i t i z e n o f Germany o r E n g la n d .
I t c o n c lu d e d w i t h a h o p e f o r s w i f t a c t i o n a g a i n s t L i t t l e b y f e d e r a l
Q
a u th o ritie s .^
On S a t u r d a y , J u l y 2 1 , t h e B u t t e M in e r e d i t o r i a l i z e d :
The f e d e r a l a u t h o r i t i e s n o t o n ly i n M ontana b u t t h r o u g h o u t
t h e W e s t, seem t o b e v e r y l a x i n t h e i r d u t y w hen t h e y a l l o w
s u c h t r e a s o n a b l e a n d i n c e n d ie ir y a g i t a t o r s t o t r a v e l a t w i l l
a ro u n d t h e c o u n try s p re a d in g t h e d o c t r i n e o f h a tr e d o f t h i s
n a t i o n a n d i t s i n s t i t u t i o n s . The l o n g e r t h e g o v e rn m e n t
p o s t p o n e s h a n d l i n g d i s l o y a l m ovem ents w i t h o u t g l o v e s , t h e
m ore d i f f i c u l t i t w i l l becom e t o s u p p r e s s i t when i t m akes
u p i t s m ind t h a t i t m u st b e s t o p p e d . 10
B u tte l e a d e r s i n d i c a t e d t h a t L i t t l e ’ s s p e e c h e s a t th e b a l l p a rk an d a t
6
B u t t e M in e r , J u l y 2 0 , 1 9 1 7 .
7
Ib id .
Q
A n a co n d a S t a n d a r d , J u l y 2 0 , 1 9 1 7 -
9
D a ily M is s o u lia n , J u ly 2 2 , I 9 1 7 .
^*^ B u tte M in e r, J u l y 2 1 , 1 9 1 7 «
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
27
s e v e r a l U n io n m e e tin g s i n t e r f e r e d w i t h t h e e f f o r t s t o b r i n g i n d u s t r i a l
11
p eace to B u tte .
L i t t l e ' s a c t i v i t i e s w e re w e l l known t o t h e m in in g c o m p a n ie s , a s
t h e y h ad nu m ero u s d e t e c t i v e s who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n M.M.W.U. a n d I.W .W .
m e e tin g s ,
h- 0 . E v a n s , a d m i t t e d t h a t t h e Company h a d men p l a n t e d i n
b o th o r g a n iz a tio n s .
12
A t a c l o s e d m e e tin g o f t h e M e ta l M ine W o r k e rh '
U n io n o n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f J u l y 2 5 , L i t t l e u r g e d t h e U n io n n o t t o s e n d
r e s o l u t i o n s t o C o n g r e s s ,b u t r a t h e r t o s t a r t a r e v o l u t i o n .
13
C a rl B illin g ,
a sp y f o r t h e N o rth B u t t e Com pany, i n c l u d e d i n h i s r e p o r t o f t h e sam e
m e e tin g t h a t L i t t l e w a n te d t h e U n io n t o f i g h t t h e c o m p a n ie s , a n d t o
f o r c e t h o s e m in e r s who h a d r e t u r n e d t o w o rk t o q u i t .
l4
W a rre n D. B e n n e t t ,
a n A n a co n d a d e t e c t i v e , r e p o r t e d t o h i s e m p lo y e rs e s s e n t i a l l y i n t h e sam e
m a n n e r.
15
On t h e e v e n in g o f J u l y 2 5 , L i t t l e
I.W .W . l o c a l a t F i n n l a n d e r H a l l .
s p o k e a t a c l o s e d m e e tin g o f t h e
He d i s c u s s e d , a c c o r d i n g t o a n amoha&ous
d e t e c t i v e , t h e m e r i t s o f t h e I.W .W . a s a U n io n :
We h a v e no s e t r u l e s t o go b y , b u t we o r g a n i z e d | s i c ] , c a l l a
s t r i k e , a n d u s e an y m eans n e c e s s a r y t o w in t h a t s t r i k e , a n d
t h a t i s t h e r e a s o n t h e b o s s d o n 't
l i k e u s , he c a n 't h a n d le u s ,
a n d h e knows t h a t we w i l l h a n d le him i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e . . .
U se a n y m eans n e c e s s a r y , i t d o n 't
make an y d i f f e r e n c e w h a t
t h ^ e s e ([s ic ] "m eans" a r e , b u t u s e
th em t o w in y o u r s t r i k e .
^^ I b i d . , J u ly 2 3 , 1 9 1 7 .
^ ^ T e s tim o n y , 1 2 3 8 .
^ ^ D e t e c t i v e Unknown, J u l y 2 5 , 1 9 1 7 , h a n d w r i t t e n m a n u s c r ip t i n c a s e
2 , d ra w e r 1 2 , M ontana H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y M a n u s c r ip t C o l l e c t i o n .
E x h ib its
i n t h e E ohn C a s e . H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s D e t e c t i v e .
d ra w e r
in th e
^ ^ C a r l B i l l i n g , J u l y 2 5 , I 9 1 7 , h a n d w r i t t e n m a n u s c r ip t i n
case 2 ,
1 2 , M o n tan a H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y M a n u s c r ip t C o l l e c t i o n . E x h i b i t s
Rohn C a s e . H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s B i l l i n g .
^ ^ T e s tim o n y , 7 7 1 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
28
He c o n t i n u e d w i t h a n a t t a c k o n t h e A .F . o f L
an d c o n c lu d e d w i t h a s t a t e ­
m en t w h ic h c la im e d t h a t i f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l U n io n o f M in e , M i l l a n d
S m e l te r W o rk e rs w a n te d t o s t r i k e , t h e y h a d t o r e c e i v e W.A. C l a r k 's
p e rm is s io n .
The d e t e c t i v e c o n v e r s e d w i t h J o h n W i l l ia m s , a U n io n o f f i c i a l , a t
t h e c o n c lu s io n o f th e m e e tin g .
W illia m s t o l d him t h a t t h e U n io n d i d
n o t p l a n t o a f f i l i a t e w i t h t h e I n d u s t r i a l W o rk e rs o f t h e W o rld , a n d
t h a t t h e U n io n h a d 9 0 0 W o b h lie s a s m em b ers.
W illia m s a d d e d :
"W hat i s
t h e u s e o f a f f i l i a t e , w hen we w in t h i s s t r i k e a n d m ake o u r p o s i t i o n
m o re s e c u r e ,
w i l l show th em who we a r e . "
17
A t a m e e tin g o f t h e M e ta l M ine U n io n , h e l d o n t h e n e x t d a y . L i t t l e
e x p l a i n e d t o t h e U n io n l e a d e r s h i p t h a t t h e y f a i l e d t o w in t h e s t r i k e
b e c a u s e t h e y w e re n o t m i l i t a n t e n o u g h :
p e a c e f u l s t r i k e '.
G r e a t God'.
"You f e l l o w s a r e c o n d u c ti n g a
W hat w o u ld U n c le Sam s a y t o t h e S o l d i e r s
h e i s s e n d in g t o m e e t t h e German Army i f t h e y l a i d down t h e i r arm s a n d
s a i d we_ a r e c o n d u c ti n g a p e a c e f u l w a r." ^ ®
L i t t l e 's
e a r n e s t n e s s w as n o t
d o u b te d b y Company o f f i c i a l s ; i n 19 0 3 o n e man a l m o s t s u c c e e d e d i n d r i v i n g
th e m o u t o f t h e s t a t e .
B u tte .
L i t t l e p r e s e n t e d a m enace t o t h e s t a t u s quo a t
The e x a c t r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e U n io n a n d t h e I.W .W . i s d i f ­
f i c u l t to a s c e r ta in .
F ra n k L i t t l e , among many L a b o r U n io n s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
who cam e t o B u t t e i n a n a t t e m p t t o a f f i l i a t e t h e U n io n w i t h t h e I.W .W .
w as t h e o n ly o r g a n i z e r who w as a llo w e d t o a t t e n d a n d t o s p e a k a t t h e
^ ^ D e t e c t i v e , J u l y 2 5 , 191717
Ib id .
1A
I b i d . , J u ly 2 6 , 1917-
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
29
c l o s e d m e e tin g s o f t h e M.M.W.U.
On J u l y 2 T , L i t t l e d e l i v e r e d t h e s e c o n d o f h i s p u b l i c s p e e c h e s a t
B u tte .
In t h i s a d d r e s s , a c c o rd in g t o th e p r e s s , he r e f e r r e d t o th e
C o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s " à m e re s c r a p o f p a p e r w h ic h c a n b e
to rn up.
He d e s c r i b e d P r e s i d e n t Woodrow W ils o n a s a l y i n g t y r a n t an d
d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e I.W .W . w as w i l l i n g t o f i g h t t h e C a p i t a l i s t s b u t n o t
th e G e r m a n . T h e
s p e e c h w as l a b e l e d b y t h e B u t t e D a lly P o s t a s a
" tr e a s o n a b le t i r a d e . A n
e d i t o r i a l i n t h e sam e i s s u e d i r e c t e d a
q u e s t i o n t o t h e tow n o f B u t t e :
"How l o n g i s I t G oing t o S ta n d f o r t h e
S e d i t i o u s T a lk o f t h e I.W .W . a g i t a t o r . "
21
The c a l l f o r d i r e c t a c t i o n
a g a i n s t L i t t l e b y t h e p e o p le o f B u t t e becam e a p p a r e n t b y t h i s e d i t o r i a l .
On J u l y 2 4 , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y W h e e le r a s s i g n e d s e v e r a l a g e n t s t o
i n v e s t i g a t e L i t t l e an d t o f i n d i f he c o u ld be p ro s e c u te d f o r h i s p u b lic
u tte ra n c e s .
T h is p r o b e came a s a n a n s w e r t o t h e dem ands o f s e v e r a l
22
B u t t e c i t i z e n s a n d o f t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e f e n s e .
On J u l y 3 1 ,
W h e e le r v i s i t e d L . 0 . E v an s o f t h e A n a c o n d a , w h o , a l o n g w i t h J o h n G i l l i e ,
a n d C o r n e l i u s F . K e l l y , b o t h h i g h r a n k i n g o f f i c i a l s o f t h e Company h a d
d i s c u s s e d t h e p ro b le m o f L i t t l e w i t h him e a r l i e r i n t h e m o n th .
23
In th e
e a r l i e r m e e tin g t h e Company o f f i c i a l s d e m o n s t r a t e d c o n c e r n o v e r t h e
a c tiv itie s of L ittle .
W h e e le r a s k e d E v an s u n d e r w h ic h s e c t i o n o f t h e
E s p io n a g e A c t o f 1 9 1 7 h e c o u l d p r o s e c u t e L i t t l e .
E v a n s ' a n sw e r w as t h a t
^ ^ B u t t e D a il y P o s t , J u l y 2 8 , 1 9 1 7 ^^ Ib id .
^ ^ Ib id .
22
I b i d . , A ugust 1 , 1917.
^^Testimony, 363, 1222.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
30
d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y s e l s e w h e r e i n t h e n a t i o n seem ed t o h e a b l e t o f i n d l e g a l
g r o u n d s , — b u t t h a t h e c o u l d n o t p o i n t t o W h e e le r a n y e x p l i c i t p r o v i s i o n s
u n d e r w h ic h L i t t l e c o u l d b e p r o s e c u t e d .
Pi-
I t w as e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h a t o n
tw o s e p a r a t e o c c a s i o n s o f f i c i a l s o f t h e l a r g e s t c o p p e r m in in g com pany i n
t h e w o r ld show ed c o n c e r n o v e r t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f o n e l a b o r a g i t a t o r .
Ih e p r e s s re g a rd e d L i t t l e a s a t r a i t o r and a s a b o te u r .
T he Com­
p a n i e s v ie w e d him i n t h e way o f i n d u s t r i a l s e t t l e m e n t a n d b e l i e v e d t h a t
" h i s p u r p o s e w as t o t i e u p e v e r y t h i n g i n B u t t e . L i t t l e
l e f t n o d o u b ts
i n r e g a r d t o h i s o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e m in e o p e r a t o r s i n p a r t i c u l a r , a n d t h e
c a p ita lis tic
s y s te m i n g e n e r a l .
I f one c o u ld g a in c o n tr o l o f t h e m in e rs ,
h e c o u ld p a r a l y z e B u t t e 's i n d u s t r i e s f o r a n e x te n d e d p e r i o d o f t i m e .
B e fo re L i t t l e
came t o B u t t e , t h e m in e o w n e rs h a d e x p e c t e d v i o l e n c e ,
th o u g h t h e U n io n p l e d g e d n o n - v i o l e n c e .
A f t e r L i t t l e a p p e a r e d , t h e c o m p a n ie s
w e re c o n v in c e d t h a t v i o l e n c e w as i n e v i t a b l e .
Some u n io n m em bers c la im e d t h a t t h e I .W .W .'s w e re b r o u g h t t o B u t t e
by t h e A n aco n d a Company i n a n e f f o r t t o d i s c r e d i t t h e U n io n a n d w re c k
th e s t r i k e .
S e v e r a l l a b o r l e a d e r s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e s p e e c h e s m ade b y
L i t t l e in ju re d th e cau se o f l a b o r . T h e
I.W .W . e le m e n t a t t e m p t e d t o
c o n t r o l t h e s t r i k e , b u t f a i l e d . U n i o n l e a d e r s c la im e d t h a t t h e y u r g e d
L ittle
t o l e a v e to w n o r d i s c o n t i n u e h i s a c t i v i t i e s .
28
W illia m F . D unne
c h a r g e d t h a t t h e B u t t e I.W .W . w as c o m p o se d , i n e q u a l p a r t s , o f Company
ph.
W h e e le r , Y a n k e e , 1 3 9 - i ^ -
^ ^ T e s tim o n y , 1 2 3 2 .
^^ Ib id . . 1351-1352.
^'^ I b i d . , 1 3 5 3 .
^ ^ I b id ., 1355.
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
J1
d e t e c t i v e s an d l a b o r e r s th o u g h h e d i d n o t b e l i e v e t h a t L i t t l e w as a
com pany d e t e c t i v e .
Dunne w as c o n v in c e d t h a t L i t t l e ' s
p re s e n c e i n B u tte
w as a r r a n g e d by t h o s e i n t h e I.W .W . who w e r e a g e n t s o f t h e m in in g
c o m p a n ie s
T hus P ra n k L i t t l e w as r e g a r d e d a s a l a b o r p r e v e n t o r who w as a
d i r e c t t h r e a t t o t h e o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e m in e s j a t r a i t o r t o h i s n a t i o n ;
a t o o l a g a i n s t t h e l a b o r m ovem ent; a h a t e d l e a d e r o f a n u n d e s i r a b l e
o rg a n iz a tio n .
The e n e r g e t i c n e w s p a p e r c a m p a ig n a g a i n s t L i t t l e , t h e I.W .W .,
a n d o p p o n e n ts o f w a r w as i n f u l l f o r c e a t B u t t e .
dem anded a n d r e c e i v e d l i t t l e
Many o f t h e c i t i z e n s
a c t i o n fro m t h e i r l o c a l an d n a t i o n a l g o v e r n ­
m e n ts .
^9rb id .. 1356-1357.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER IV
THE MURDER OF LITTLE
A t a p p r o x im a te ly t h r e e o 'c l o c k o n t h e m o rn in g o f A u g u s t 1 , a l a r g e
b l a c k a u t o m o b i le s to p p e d i n f r o n t o f 316 N o r th % rom ing S t r e e t , know n a s
t h e S t e e l e B lo c k , a b o a r d in g h o u s e n e x t t o F i n n l a n d e r H a l l .
men e m e rg e d fro m t h e c a r .
S i x m ask ed
One s t a y e d on t h e s i d e w a lk a s t h e o t h e r s
e n t e r e d t h e b o a r d in g h o u s e .
One o f t h e men w as d e s c r i b e d a s b e i n g f i v e
f e e t - e l e v e n i n c h e s a n d n o t m ore t h a n tw e n ty y e a r s o l d , a n o t h e r w as d e ­
s c r i b e d a s a s h o r t , chu b b y f i v e f e e t - f o u r i n c h , a n o t h e r w as f i v e f e e t n in e in c h e s and s t o u t .
A l l w e re b e l i e v e d y o u n g b e c a u s e o f t h e i r r a p i d
m o v e m e n ts .
T hey k i c k e d i n t h e d o o r o f room t h i r t y w h ic h w as o n t h e g r o u n d
f l o o r , a n d fo u n d i t u n o c c u p ie d .
The n o i s e a r o u s e d t h e l a n d l a d y , M rs.
N o ra B y r n e , who s l e p t i n a n a d j o i n i n g ro o m .
fo u n d h e r s e l f s t a r i n g a t a f l a s h l i g h t .
S he o p e n e d h e r d o o r , a n d
One o f t h e m asked men s a i d ,
" T h e r e i s a m i s t a k e so m e w h e re ." They w e n t t o M rs. B f r n e 's room a n d s h e
a s k e d th em w h a t t h e y w a n te d .
One o f t h e men s a i d '‘We a r e o f f i c e r s a n d
we w a n t F r a n k L i t t l e . "
The t e r r i f i e d M rs. B y rn e a n s w e re d t h a t L i t t l e was i n room t h i r t y tw o .
T hey q u i c k l y r a n t o t h a t room a n d t r i e d t o o p e n t h e d o o r b u t
fo u n d i t lo c k e d .
T hey t h e n k i c k e d i n t h e d o o r a n d , w i t h o u t w a i t i n g f o r
L i t t l e t o d r e s s , d r a g g e d him o u t s i d e .
L i t t l e r e s i s t e d a n d , a s th e y
r e a c h e d t h e s i d e w a l k , t h e y h a d t o c a r r y h im .
The f i v e men a n d t h e
o u t s i d e g u a r d g o t i n t o t h e c a r ; t h e e n g i n e o f w h ic h h ad b e e n k e p t r u n n i n g .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
33
Bae c a r s p e d aw ay , b u t h a l t e d a f t e r t r a v e l i n g a s h o r t d i s t a n c e .
The c r i p p l e d , f r a i l v i c t i m , s t i l l
i n h i s u n d e r w e a r , w as t i e d t o t h e
b u m p er o f t h e c a r a n d d r a g g e d a c o n s i d e r a b l e d i s t a n c e ; h i s k n e e c a p s w e re
scrap ed o f f .
He w as t a k e n t o t h e M ilw au k ee B r i d g e , a s h o r t d i s t a n c e
o u t s i d e t h e c i t y l i m i t s , w h e re h e w as s e v e r e l y b e a t e n - - a s b r u i s e s o n
h is
s k u l l i n d i c a t e d — a n d w as h a n g e d fro m a r a i l r o a d t r e s t l e a f t e r h e h a d
p u t up a t e r r i f i c
fig h t.
P in n e d t o h i s u n d e r w e a r w as a s i x b y t e n i n c h e s
p l a c a r d w i t h t h e i n s c r i p t i o n " O th e r s t a k e n o t i c e , f i r s t a n d l a s t w a r n in g ,
3 -7 -7 7 •"
On t h e b o tto m o f t h e n o t e t h e l e t t e r s
"L -D -C -S -S -W -T " w e re
p r i n t e d , a n d t h e l e t t e r "L" w as e n c i r c l e d .
The B u t t e p r e s s t h e o r i z e d t h a t t h e l e t t e r s
s t o o d f o r t h e l a s t nam es
o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l s whom t h e " v i g i l a n t e s " p l a n n e d t o " v i s i t " n e x t .
It
w as t h o u g h t t h a t t h e y w e re W illia m D unne, t h e S o c i a l i s t e d i t o r o f t h e
B u t t e B u l l e t i n , Tom C a m p b e ll, J o e S h a n n o n , Dan S h o v li n , J o h n W i l l i a m s ,
a n d L eo n T om ich— a l l
l e a d e r s o f t h e M s ta l M ine W o r k e rs ' U n io n , e x c e p t
W i l l i a m s , who w as s e n t t o B u t t e by t h e I.W .W .
The body w as fo u n d by
R o b e r t W. Brown w h o , w h i l e on h i s way t o w o rk , n o t i c e d i t s w in g in g fro m
th e t r e s t l e .
P o lic e .
He n o t i f i e d D esk S e r g e a n t W illia m % ,y lo r o f t h e B u t t e
T a y l o r c a l l e d C h i e f o f P o l i c e M irp h y who s u b s e q u e n tl y to o k
c h a rg e o f th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n .
s e v e n o 'c l o c k i n t h e
The b o d y w as n o t c u t down u n t i l a b o u t
m o rn in g , w hen C o ro n e r L ane a r r i v e d .
1
The S i l v e r Bow C o u n ty A t t o r n e y c a l l e d t h e m u rd e r a n o u t r a g e a g a i n s t
t h e co m m unity a n d h e p ro m is e d v i g o r o u s p r o s e c u t i o n a n d a r r e s t s ; h i s
B u t t e M in e r , A naco n d a S t a n d a r d , A u g u s t 1 - 4 , 1 9 1 7 ; S t r i k e B u l l e t i n ,
A u g u s t 2 , 1 9 1 7 ; Mew N o rth w e s t ( M i s s o u l a ) A u g u s t 3> 1 9 1 7 «
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
34
s e n t i m e n t s w e re e c h o e d by u n d e r - s h e r i f f J a c k M e l i a .
Q
D e p u ty U .S . A t t o r n e y
Ja m e s B a ld w in s t a t e d t h a t " i t w as n o t a c a s e o f l y n c h i n g b y a m ob, b u t
a c a s e o f c o ld -b lo o d e d and p re m e d ita te d m u rd e r.
A t t o r n e y G e n e ra l c o n c e r n i n g t h e m u r d e r .
3
W heei^er t e l e g r a p h e d t h e
I n c l u d e d i n t h e s t a t e m e n t w as a
r e p o r t h e r e c e i v e d t h a t t h e men who m u rd e re d L i t t l e w o re arm y u n i f o r m s .
4
G regory* s d i r e c t i v e t o W h e e le r w as t h a t h e a s c e r t a i n i f m em bers o f t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s m i l i t a r y t o o k p a r t i n t h e h a n g in g o f L i t t l e .
The A d j u t a n t
G e n e r a l 's O f f i c e h a d i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e l y n c h i n g w as t o b e f o l l o w e d b y
m o re l y n c h i n g s a n d d e p o r t a t i o n s , a n d w a n te d t o know i f t r o o p s s h o u l d b e
s e n t to B u tte . ^
An a r t i c l e i n S o l i d a r i t y , t h e I.W .W . o r g a n , s t a t e d t h a t R e p r e s ­
e n t a t i v e J e a n e t t e R a n k in d e c l a r e d t h a t s h e w as w a rn e d i n r e g a r d t o a
ly n c h in g i n B u tte .
She w as u n a b l e t o c o n t a c t t h e P r e s i d e n t o r a n y G a b i-
n e t m em bers b e f o r e t h e l y n c h i n g .
Y
An a r t i c l e s i m i l a r t o t h i s a p p e a r e d
i n t h e W e s te r n Hews o f H a m ilto n o n A u g u s t 9 , 1 9 1 7 -
R e p r e s e n t a t i v e R a n k in
s ta te d :
I h a v e no p a t i e n c e w i t h t h e a l l e g e d u t t e r a n c e s o f P ra n k
L i t t l e b u t I h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t c o n te m p t f o r t h a t fo rm
o f d i r e c t a c t i o n t h a t p e r m i t t e d t h e f o u l a n d c o w a rd ly
m u rd e r o f P ra n k L i t t l e .
. . . n o o n e i s s a f e w h e re l y n c h i n g
i s s a n c tio n e d .
^A n aco n d a S t a n d a r d , A u g u s t 2 , I 9 1 7 .
^ Ib id .
S f l i e e l e r t o G re g o ry A u g u s t 1 , 1 9 1 7 ^ i n D . J . P i l e 1 8 6 7 0 1 -5 4 - 1 .
^ I b i d . , G re g o ry t o W h e e le r .
^M cC ain t o Commanding O f f i c e r W e s te rn D e p a r tm e n t, A ug. 1 , I 9 I T
A .G . P i l e 3 7 0 , 6 i n D . J . G l a s s e r P i l e .
^ S o l i d a r i t y , A u g u s t 1 8 , 1 9 1 7 i n D . J . G l a s s e r P i l e , D e p a rtm e n t o f
L a b o r P i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 • A ls o U .S C o n g r e s s i o n a l R e c o rd LV, 5897-
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
35
S he d e c l a r e d t h a t e x - S e n a t o r J o s e p h M. D ix o n s a i d , " L i t t l e w as n o t k i l l e d
b e c a u s e o f t h e t r e a s o n a b l e u t t e r a n c e s a g a i n s t t h e g o v ern m e n t,.
T h a t w as
made t h e e x c u s e o f t h e d e a d ." ®
D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y W h e e le r i s s u e d a s t a t e m e n t im m e d ia te ly a f t e r t h e
ly n c h in g :
The l y n c h i n g o f F ra n k H. L i t t l e s a i d t o b e a n
I n t e r n a t i o n a l o f f i c e r o f t h e I.W .W ., i s a d am n ab le
o u tra g e , a b l o t on th e s t a t e and c i t y .
T h e re i s
no e x c u s e f o r t h i s m u rd e r . The m u r d e r e r s s h o u ld
b e ap p reh en d e d an d g iv e n th e s e v e r e s t p e n a lty o f
t h e l a w . % o f f i c e a n d e v e r y s p e c i a l a g e n t i n my
j u r i s d i c t i o n w i l l a s s i s t t h e s t a t e an d c o u n ty a u t h ­
o r i t i e s t o c a t c h t h e men who c o m m itte d t h i s a w fu l
c r im e . E v e ry go o d c i t i z e n s h o u ld condem n t h i s mob
s p i r i t a s u n p a t r i o t i c , l a w l e s s an d in h u m a n .9
The s t a t e m e n t w e n t on t o d e c l a r e th a ,t t h e r e w as no law u n d e r w h ic h L i t t l e
10
c o u ld h a v e b e e n i n d i c t e d .
W illia m " B ig B i l l " H ayw ood, t h e n N a t i o n a l S e c r e t a r y - T r e a s u r e r o f
t h e I.W .W ., s e n t a t e l e g r a m t o t h e B u t t e I.W .W . l o c a l w h ic h d e s c r i b e d
L i t t l e a s " a n e a r n e s t , a c t i v e a d v o c a te o f t h e w o r k in g c l a s s - . . . .
w o r ld w i l l a v e n g e h i s d e a t h . S e n a t o r
The
H e n ry L . % e r s d e c l a r e d t h a t
t h e l y n c h i n g o f L i t t l e w as t h e l o g i c a l r e s u l t o f h i s i n c e n d i a r y an d
s e d itio u s sp eech es.
He b e l i e v e d t h a t some o f t h e B u t t e c i t i z e n s becam e
e x a s p e r a t e d by L i t t l e ' s d e f i a n t t a l k s an d t h r e a t s a g a i n s t t h e g o v e rn m e n t,
and t h a t t h i s r e s u l t e d in t h e i r l o s s o f p a tie n c e , and c o n tr o l.
12
S e n a to r
W a lsh b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e l y n c h i n g o f L i t t l e w o u ld s e r v e t h e e n d s o f t h e
Q
W e s te rn News, ( H a m ilto n ) A u g u s t 2 3 , I 9 1 7 .
^A naco n d a S t a n d a r d , A u g u s t 2 , 1917I Q ib id .
^^ B u t t e M in e r, A u g u s t 2 , 1 9 1 7 ^ ^ B u t te D a il y P o s t , A u g u s t 4 , 1917•
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
36
e n e m ie s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s b e t t e r t h a n a n y a g i t a t o r s .
S e n a t o r % e r s r e p r e s e n t e d t h e v ie w t a k e n b y t h e M o n tan a p r e s s t h a t
L i t t l e w as m u rd e r e d b y unknow n " v i g i l a n t e s ” f o r h i s s e d i t i o u s r e m a r k s ,
b e c a u s e t h e c i t i z e n s c o u l d w a i t no l o n g e r f o r t h e i r g o v e rn m e n t t o a c t .
l ÿ p i c a l w as a n e d i t o r i a l i n t h e B u t t e M i n e r .
H is a c t i o n s a n d in f la m m a to r y s p e e c h e s , d i r e c t e d
a g a i n s t t h i s c o u n t r y a n d i t s g o v e r n m e n t, w a r r a n t e d
p u n is h m e n t a t t h e h a n d s o f t h e d u l y c o n s t i t u t e d
a u t h o r i t i e s , f o r h i s s t a t e m e n t s w e re t r a i t o r o u s i n
c h a r a c t e r a n d i t seem s r e a s o n a b l e t o s u p p o s e t h a t i f
t h e o f f i c i a l s h a d d o n e t h e i r d u t y B u t t e m ig h t h a v e
e s c a p e d t h e s t i g m a o f t h i s a c t , o f h a v in g a few
c i t i z e n s t a k e t h e la w i n t o t h e i r own h a n d s a n d p u r s u e
a co u rse o f i l l e g a l s e v e rity t h a t can n o t be j u s t if ie d .
As f a r a s t h e man h i m s e l f i s c o n c e r n e d , h i s d e a t h i s
no l o s s t o t h e w o r l d . . . .
The l y n c h i n g o f L i t t l e
s h o u l d b e condem ned a l m o s t a s m uch f o r i t s s t u p i d i t y
as fo r i t s i l l e g a l i t y . .. .
A lth o u g h h e w as s e r v i n g no
g o o d p u r p o s e i n l i f e , i t i s r e g r e t t a b l e t h a t a few
c i t i z e n s o f t h i s co m m u n ity , s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n u p o n
th e m s e l v e s t o a c t a s j u d g e , j u r y a n d e x e c u t i o n e r s . l 4
The A n a co n d a S t a n d a r d f o l l o w e d t h e sam e l i n e s w i t h a h e a d l i n e
" B u t t e 's Name T a r n is h e d b y t h e S t a i n o f L y n ch L a w .”
The a r t i c l e ad.ded
t h a t t h e l y n c h i n g b r o u g h t sham e a n d d i s g r a c e u p o n B u t t e .
I t c a lle d fo r
s t r o n g e r f e d e r a l a c t i o n t o a v o i d t h e r e p e t i t i o n o f t h e f i g u r e s 3 - 7 -7 7
a p p e a rin g i n p r i n t . ^ ^
The B u t t e p r e s s a t t e m p t e d t o j u s t i f y t h e m u r d e r .
T h ro u g h o u t t h e f i r s t w eek o f A u g u s t t h e p r e s s s p e c u l a t e d o n who c o u l d
h a v e c o m m itte d t h e m u r d e r .
One p o s s i b i l i t y i t p r e s e n t e d w e re t h e s o l d i e r
who L i t t l e c a l l e d " u n if o r m e d s c a b s ; " a s e c o n d s t i p u l a t e d t h a t L i t t l e w as
m u rd e re d b y f e l l o w W o b b lie s who th o u g h t t h a t h e w as a d e t e c t i v e . T h e
l ^ Ib id .
^ ^ u t t e M in e r , A ug. 2 , 1 9 1 7 .
^ ^A naconda S t a n d a r d , A u g u s t 2 , 1 9 1 7 .
^ ^ B u t te D a il y P o s t , A u g u s t 2 , I 9 1 7 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
37
a s s e r t i o n t h a t L i t t l e c à i l e d s o l d i e r s " u n if o r m e d s c a t s " was d e n i e d b y
D unne.
IT
W h e e le r s a i d t h a t L i t t l e c o u l d n o t b e p r o s e c u t e d f o r h i s
re m a rk s.
1A
One B u t t e c i t i z e n , who w as p r e s e n t w hen L i t t l e w as c u t down
fro m t h e t r e s t l e , th o u g h t t h a t L i t t l e c o m m itte d s u i c i d e t o a v o i d g o in g
t o w a r , a n d t h a t 3 - 7 - 7 7 w as h i s d r a f t n u m b e r.
19
One p o s s i b i l i t y w h ic h w as d i s c u s s e d n e i t h e r b y t h e Company p r e s s ,
n o r by t h o s e tw o n e w s p a p e rs s y m p a t h e t i c t o t h e m in e o w n e rs , w as t h a t
c h a r g e d b y t h e B u t t e B u l l e t i n , t h e I.W .W . p a p e r a t B u t t e .
I t s h e a d lin e
o f A u g u s t 2 r e a d , " F ra n k L i t t l e M u rd e re d b y Gunmen, C om panies i n D es­
p e r a t i o n R e s o r t t o D e a d ly V i o l e n c e ."
The B u l l e t i n a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t h a d
" s u f f i c i e n t e v i d e n c e t o i n d i c a t e t h e nam es o f f i v e men who to o k p a r t ,
e v e ry o n e o f whom i s a com pany s t o o l p id g e o n .
Two o f t h e s e men a r e i n
b u s i n e s s , tw o a r e gunm en a n d o n e i s c o n n e c te d w i t h la w e n f o r c e m e n t . . . .
e v e r y m an, woman, a n d c h i l d i n t h i s c o u n t r y knows t h a t Company a g e n t s
p e r p e tr a te d t h i s f o u l e s t o f a l l i c r im e s ."
20
The p a p e r a c c u s e d " W illia m
O a t e s , H erm an G i l l e s , P e t e B e a u d in , a r a t nam ed M id d le to n a n d tw o d o z e n
o t h e r s w o rk in g u n d e r a c h i e f gunm an nam ed R y a n ," o f m u r d e r in g L i t t l e .
I f t h e B u l l e t i n p o s s e s s e d p r o o f , i t w as n e v e r r e v e a l e d .
21
When t h e
c o r o n e r 's j u r y m e t, i t d e c l a r e d L i t t l e t o h a v e b e e n k i l l e d by p e r s o n s
unknow n.
T he r e a s o n f o r t h e k i l l i n g , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e B u l l e t i n , w as t h a t
^ '^ T e s tim o n y , 1 3 4 8 .
1Q
I b i d . , 1226- 1230.
^ ^A n aco n d a S t a n d a r d , A u g u s t 4 , 1 9 1 7 20
B u tte S t r i k e B u l l e t i n , A u g u st 2 , 1917-
^ ^ Ib id .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
38
t h e m in in g c o m p a n ie s w a n te d t o p ro v o k e t h e m in e r s i n t o v i o l e n t a c t i o n
a n d t h e n t o c r u s h th e m .
M in e r s ' v i o l e n c e w o u ld r e s u l t i n m a r t i a l law
a n d t h e s u b s e q u e n t h a l t o f t h e s t r i k e b y m i l i t a r y m e a n s.
22
W illia m F . Dunne a t t e m p t e d t o u s e t h e m u rd e r o f L i t t l e a s a n
i n s t r u m e n t w i t h w h ic h t o r a l l y a n d t o . u n i f y t h e B u t t e l a b o r f o r c e .
D u n n e, b r i l l i a n t an d c y n i c a l , t o l d t h e t r u t h w hen h e t o l d t h e M o n tan a
go
C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e i n / I 918 t h a t h e w as n o t a n I.W .W .
He d i d b e l i e v e
i n t h e o v e r th r o w o f t h e c a p i t a l i s t s y s te m , b u t n o t w i t h t h e m eans w h ic h
t h e I.W .W . e m p lo y e d .
He t h o u g h t t h a t L i t t l e ' s a r r i v a l i n B u t t e , w i t h
a n I.W .W . c h a r t e r , w as i l l - t i m e d .
He c a l l e d L i t t l e
illite ra te
and
b a d l y - i n f o r m e d on l a b o r p r o b le m s ,a n d t h o u g h t h e h a d a v e r y b i t t e r te m p e r ­
a m e n t.
Dunne a d m i t t e d h i s a t t e m p t t o m ake a m a r t y r o f L i t t l e , b u t
i n s i s t e d t h a t he d id n o t b e lie v e i n " t h i s m a rty r s t u f f " h im s e lf:
"Th.e
m u rd e r w as c e r t a i n l y u s e d f o r p u b l i c i t y p u r p o s e s a n d i t s h o u l d h a v e
b e e n ."
24
Dunne c o n c lu d e d h i s s t a t e m e n t on L i t t l e :
o f man t h a t I a d m ire d i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . "
25
"He w as n o t t h e t y p e
Dunne a t t e m p t e d , i n a w a y ,
to f r ig h te n la b o r in to jo in in g th e s t r i k e .
A d ay a f t e r t h e m u r d e r , M o n ta n a 's A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l Sam C . F o r d cam e
to B u tte t o i n v e s t i g a t e .
He b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e B u t te a u t h o r i t i e s w o u ld
n o t e x e r t th e m s e lv e s i n f i n d i n g th e k i l l e r s .
He f e l t t h a t t h e m i n e r s
b e l i e v e d t h e Company e n g i n e e r e d t h e m u r d e r , a n d t h a t th e y w e re a f r a i d t o
ta lk .
22
I b i d . , A ugust 1 7 , 1 9 1 7 ,
^^T estim ony, 1348.
^ ^ I b i d . . 1350- 135 6 .
^ ^ I b id ., 1355.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
39
M rs. N o ra Q y rn e , t h e ow ner o f t h e b o a r d in g h o u s e fro m w h ic h L i t t l e
w as a b d u c te d seem ed t o know much m ore t h a n s h e w as w i l l i n g t o d i v u l g e - a n d h e r f e a r o f t e l l i n g a n y t h i n g w as e v i d e n t .
I t w as s u b s e q u e n t l y
r e m o r e d 't h a t M rs. % rrn e l e f t B u t t e a y e a r l a t e r , a n d r e t u r n e d t o I r e l a n d
a n d w as on t h e A n aco n d a Company p a y r o l l f o r t h e r e s t o f h e r l i f e .
27
On A u g u s t 5 , 3 ,0 0 0 p e o p le m a rc h e d i n t h e f u n e r a l o f F ra n k L i t t l e .
T h o u sa n d s m ore w a tc h e d t h e p r o c e s s i o n .
I t b e g a n a t t h e Duggan F u n e r a l
Home an d e n d e d a t t h e M o u n ta in View C e m e te ry , a d i s t a n c e o f f o u r m i l e s .
T he A m e ric a n f l a g w as c a r r i e d a h e a d o f t h e p r o c e s s i o n , l e d by Tom C a m p b e ll
a n d W illia m D unne.
The c a s k e t w as c o v e r e d w i t h a r e d s i l k b a n n e r w h io h
w as i n s c r i b e d " a m a r t y r t o s o l i d a r i t y . "
The b u r i a l w as w i t h o u t r e l i g i o u s
cerem o n y a n d , a s t h e bo d y w as lo w e r e d i n t o t h e g r a v e , t h e M a r s e i l l a i s - :
w as s u n g .
28
The B u l l e t i n r e g a r d e d L i t t l e * s f u n e r a l a s a " p r o t e s t a g a in s t .
pn
T y r a n n y ."
M ovies o f t h e f u n e r a l w e re t a k e n a n d t h i s p a p e r s u b s e q u e n tl y
announced t h e i r
s h o w i n g . 30
The B u l l e t i n n e v e r r e p o r t e d t h e r e s u l t s o f
th e in v e s tig a tio n o f th e m u rd e r.
L i t t l e 's m u rd e r, in f a c t , d id n o t
r e c e i v e much c o v e r a g e i n t h e B u l l e t i n u n t i l t h e B u l l e t i n p r e p a r e d a
s p e c i a l i s s u e e x a c t l y a y e a r a f t e r L i t t l e * s d e a t h , w h ic h i n c l u d e d n u m ero u s
p i c t u r e s o f t h e A u g u s t 19 IT e v e n t s .
p^
D o n a ld A. G a r r i t y , The F ra n k L i t t l e E p is o d e a n d t h e B u t t e L a b o r
T r o u b le s o f 1 9 1 7 - U n p u b lis h e d S e n i o r H o n o rs P a p e r , D e p a rtm e n t o f H i s t o r y ,
C a r r o l l C o l le g e ( H e l e n a , M o n ta n a , 1 9 5 7 ) , 33 ( G a r r i t y * s i n t e r v i e w w i t h Sam,
C . F o rd ) .
^ " ^ L e tte r by R .D . S te in m e tz c o u n s e l o f t h e A n aconda Company i n New
Y o rk C i t y t o w r i t e r , Decu 2 8 , 1 9 6 5 . S te in m e tz s t a t e d t h a t h e c o u l d f i n d
no r e f e r e n c e t o M rs . B y rn e i n t h e Company p a y r o l l .
^ ^ B u t te D a il y P o s t , A u g u s t 6 , 1 9 1 7 ^ ^ B u t te B u l l e t i n , A u g u s t 4 , 1917•
^ ° I b i d . , A u g u st 17, 1917.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
40
The D a ll y P o s t s t a t e d t h a t " W illia m C . S u l l i v a n , c o u n s e l f o r t h e
M e ta l M ine W orkers* U n io n , u t t e r l y f a i l e d t o s u b s t a n t i a t e t h e c h a r g e s ”
m ade e a r l i e r a g a i n s t t h e f i v e men b y t h e B u l l e t i n , w hen h e w as q u e s t i o n e d
by t h e C o u n ty ^ A tto r n e y .
31
S u b s e q u e n t l y , t h e m u rd e r w as m e n tio n e d i n ­
f r e q u e n tly i n th e B u tte p a p e r s .
D a il y p a p e r s i n M o n ta n a 's l a r g e r to w n s , s u c h a s G re a t F a l l s ,
M i s s o u la , B i l l i n g s a n d M ile s C i t y , p r e s e n t e d t h e sam e v iew o n t h e m u rd e r
as d id th e P o s t.
An e x c e p t i o n w as W i l l C a m p b e ll, e d i t o r o f t h e H e le n a
I n d e p e n d e n t a n d m ember o f t h e M ontana C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e :
C o n s id e r a b l y m ore t h a n tw o th o u s a n d c o p i e s o f a n e x t r a
I n d e p e n d e n t w e re s o l d i n a n h o u r o r l e s s . I t w as j u s t a t
n o o n w hen t h e v i o l e n t d e a t h o f L i t t l e becam e know n. G ro u p s
o f b u s i n e s s m en, w o r k e r s , women an d o f f i c i a l s g a t h e r e d h e r ^
and th e r e .
T h e re w as b u t o n e com m ent h e a r d .
"Good w o rk : L e t th em c o n t i n u e t o h an g e v e r y I.W .W . i n
th e s ta te ."
I t i s th e f a i l u r e o f th e c o u rts and th e m ilita r y a u t h o r i t i e s
t o a c t w h ic h h a s c a u s e d t h e n u m b e rs , " 3 - 7 - 7 7 " t o a g a i n a p p e a r
i n M o n ta n a , a n d w i t h o u t b o a s t i n g o f t h e c o n d i t i o n , t h e I n d e ­
p e n d e n t i s c o n v in c e d t h a t u n l e s s t h e c o u r t s and t h e m i l i t a : r y
a u t h o r i t i e s t a k e a h a n d now a n d en d t h e I.W .W . i n t h e w e s t ,
t h e r e w i l l b e m ore n i g h t v i s i t s , m ore t u g s a t t h e r o p e a n d
m ore I.W .W . to n g u e s w i l l wag f o r t h e l a s t tim e w hen t h e nc- a e
tig h te n s ab o u t th e tra ito rs & t h r o a t s .
L i t t l e o p e n ly b o a s t e d t h a t t h e I.W .W . w o u ld k e e p t h e
s o l d i e r s s o b u s y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w o u ld h a v e no t im e t o
f i g h t G erm any. T h is i s a s f a r a s t h e I.W .W . h a v e b e e n p e r ­
m i t t e d t o go on i n t h e i r w ork i n M o n ta n a , th e y h a v e g i v e n
a i d a n d c o m f o r t t o t h e e n e m ie s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .
The tim e h a s com e. T he I n d e p e n d e n t c a n n o t co m p re h en d why
t h e U n it e d S t a t e s g o v e rn m e n t h a s n o t l o n g ago e s t a b l i s h e d
p r i s o n cam ps a n d i n t e r n e d t h e r e t h e e n e m ie s o f t h e A m e ric a n
g o v e r n m e n t.
I t i s b e y o n d t h e c o m p re h e n s io n o f t h e a v e r a g e
c i t i z e n why t h e w a r d e p a r tm e n t h a s n o t o r d e r e d c e r t a i n l e a d e r s
a r r e s te d and s h o t.
The p e o p l e w i l l n o t s t a n d f o r m uch m o re .
The p o l i c y o f " w a t c h f u l w a i t i n g " i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e I.W .W .
w ill n o t be to le ra te d .
31
B u t t e D a il y P o s t , A u g u st
J, 1 9 1 7 -
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
41
The B u t t e c o m m itte e , L . , D . , C . , S . , S . , W ., a n d T - , who­
e v e r t h e y m ig h t b e , a r e a c t u a l l y b e i n g p r a i s e d f o r t h e i r w o rk
e e ir ly W ednesday m o r n in g ,b e c a u s e t h e c o u r t s an d t h e r e g u l a r l y
c o n s titu te d a u th o r itie s have f a il e d in c e r ta in s e c tio n s o f
M ontana a s t h e y d i d i n A r i z o n a . And M ontanans know t h e
m e a n in g o f " 3 - 7 - 7 7 . "
I t s o r t o f q u ic k e n s t h e b lo o d i n t h e v e i n s o f some o f
t h e p i o n e e r s o f H e le n a t o s e e o n c e m o re t h e f a t a l f i g u r e s
i n p r i n t — " 3 - 7 - 7 7 . " 32
W i l l C a m p b e ll p r e s e n t e d t h e t h i n k i n g o f t h e i n t e n s e l y p a t r i o t i c
in
M o n ta n a , t h o s e who c o n t r o l l e d t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e M ontana C o u n c il o f
D e fe n se .
The M i s s o u l l a n com m ented o n t h e g r e a t i n t e r e s t o f s t a t e p o l i t i c a l
l e a d e r s i n t h e m u rd e r:
The a n s w e r i s p o l i t i c s , n o t h i n g m o re . O ur g o v e r n o r h a s
c a s t a l i n g e r i n g e y e on t h e s e a t o f S e n a t o r W a lsh ; M r.
W h e e le r i s f e e l i n g h i s w ay to w a r d t h e g o v e r n o r s h ip a n d
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e R a n k i n . . . i s p r e p a r i n g t h e fram ew o rk f o r a
ca m p a ig n f o r t h e U n ite d S t a t e s S e n a t e w i t h an e s p e c i a l
a p p e a l f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f a l l t h e d i s c o n t e n t e d e le m e n ts
i n M o n ta n a .33
M a r tin K. H u tc h e n s , e d i t o r o f t h e M i s s o u l l a n , w as t h e o n ly one t o
s ta te
th e o b v io u s .
The l y n c h i n g o f L i t t l e ^ t t r a c t e d some a t t e n t i o n i n w e e k ly in d e p e n d e n t
n e w s p a p e rs w e s t o f t h e D i v i d e , a n d l i t t l e
e a s t o f th e d iv id e .
in t e r e s t in t h e ir c o u n te rp a rts
A lth o u g h t h e t h r e a t o f t h e I.W .W . a n d t h e c o n d u c t
o f B u r to n K. W h e e le r w e re s i g n i f i c a n t i s s u e s w i t h a l l o f th e m .
34
Some
^^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u st 2 , 1 9 1 7 .
D a il y M i s s o u l l a n , A u g u s t 8 , 1 9 1 7 .
3 LThe w e e k ly p a p e r s s u r v e y e d w e re t h e C u t Bank P io n e e r P r e s s , J u n e
1 9 1 7 - J u l y 1 9 1 8 ; W e s te rn News o f H a m ilto n , J u n e 1 9 1 7 - J u ly I 9 1 8 ; S c c b y
S e n t i n e l , J u n e 1 9 1 7 -D e c . 1 9 1 7 ) F e r g u s C o u n ty A rg o s y , J u n e 1 9 1 7 - D e c .1 9 1 7 ;
M a d is o n ia n T im e s , o f V i r g i n i a C i t y , J u n e - D e e . 1 9 1 7 ) C arb o n C o u n ty J o u r n a l ,
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
h2
o f th e p a p e rs d id n o t e x h i b i t th e s l i g h t e s t I n t e r e s t In th e m u r d e r .^
I n E a s t e r n M o n ta n a , t h e M ile s C i t y I n d e p e n d e n t a n d Dawson C o u n ty R eview
re p o r te d th e s to ry o f th e ly n c h in g .
The M ile s C ity p a p e r p r e s e n t e d a n
a c c o u n t o f t h e B u t t e h a p p e n in g s a s r e p o r t e d b y W. G. S u l l i v a n , l a w y e r
f o r t h e M e ta l M ines W o r k e rs ' U n io n .
T hé im p r e s s i o n w h ic h one r e c e i v e d
w as v e r y u n f a v o r a b l e t o t h e m in e o w n e r s . The Dawson C o u n ty R eview c f
© e n d iv e t o l d o f t h e m u rd e r o n e d a y a f t e r i t h a p p e n e d , i n a o n e - c c lu m n
s to ry .
T he p a p e r i n d i r e c t l y r e f e r r e d t o i t l a t e r i n t h e y e a r w hen i t
q u o te d a n e d i t o r i a l w h ic h h a d a p p e a r e d i n t h e M a n u f a c tu r e r w h ic h r e f e r r e d
t o I.W .W . r e q u e s t s f o r p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t d e p o r t a t i o n s fro m B u t t e .
T hat
e d i t o r i a l p o i n t e d t o t h e I.W .W . a s t h e c a u s e o f t h e t r o u b l e s a n d l o s s e s
w h ic h M o n tan a h a d e x p e r i e n c e d d u r i n g t h a t y e a r .
37
I n N o r t h - c e n t r a l M o n tan a t h e V a l l e y C o u n ty News c f G lasgow condem ned
t h e l y n c h i n g , a n d h o p e d t o s e e t h e m u r d e r e r s b r o u g h t uc j u s t i c e .
If
o f f e r e d a few o b s e r v a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g B u t t e .
B u t t e h a s a way i n k e e p in g i n t h e l i m e l i g h t m o s t o f t h tim e w i t h t h a t c i t y a s a p e r i o d i c a l M ecca f o r t h e u n ­
d e s i r a b l e c l a s s o f h u m a n ity t h a t p r e y s o n t h e w o rk in g
p e o p l e a n d a t t h e sam e ti m e c r e a t i n g a l l k i n d s c f t r o u b l e
o f t h a t c i t y , B u t t e i s b a r e l y a b l e t o g e t c o n t r o l o v e r one
s e d i t i o u s u p h e a v a l w hen a n o t h e r p r e s e n t s i t s e l f . 38
^ ^ ( c o n t i n u e d ) M arch 1 9 1 7 - J u n e 1 9 l 8 j P h i l l i p s b u r g M a il, J u n e - D e e .1 9 1 7 ;
C h o te a u A c a n th a , J u n e - D e e . 1 9 1 7 ; J e f f e r s o n V a l l e y News o f W h i t e h a .l l,
J u n e - D e e . 1 9 1 7 ; M ile s C i t y I n d e p e n d e n t , J u n e 1 9 1 7 - J u n e 1 9 1 8 ; V a l l e y C c u r ty
News o f G la s g o w , J u n e - D e c . 1 9 1 7 ; H a r d in T r ib u n e J o u r n a l , J u n e -D e c ; 1 9 1 7 ;
Dawson C o u n ty R eview o f G l e n d i v e , J u n e - D e e . 1 9 1 7 ; a n d t h e New N o r th w e s t
o f M i s s o u la , J u n e - D e e . 1 9 1 7 ^ ^S coby S e n t i n e l , C a rb o n C o u n ty J o u r n a l , P h i l l i p s b u r g M a il , J e f f e r s o n
V a l l e y N ew s, H a r d in T r ib u n e J o u r n a l , h a d n o t h i n g c o n c e r n i n g t h e m u rd e r i n
th e m .
M ile s C i t y I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u s t 3 , 1 9 1 7 ^'^Dawson C o u n ty R eview ( G l e n d iv e ) A u g u s t 2 , S e p te m b e r 2 7 , 1 9 1 7 ^ ^ V a lle y C o u n ty News ( G la s g o w ) A u g u s t 3 , 1 9 1 7 .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
43
I n c e n t r a l M ontana t h e F e r g u s C o u n ty A rg o s y o f L e w isto w n c a l l e d
L i t t l e t h e c h i e f f o m e n te r o f B u t t e l a b o r t r o u b l e s .
The A rg o s y a d d e d
t h a t " . . . n i n e t y p e r c e n t o f t h e c i t i z e n s o f M o n tan a a r e i n sy m p ath y w i t h
th e ir
[m u rd e re r^
th re a te n s i t s
e f f o r t s t o r i d B u t t e a n d M ontana o f t h e p e s t w h ic h
[M o n tan a' s j e x i s t e n c e ."
I t a d d e d c y n i c a l l y t h a t "A p l a c a r d
w as p i n n e d t o L i t t l e ' s b o d y w h ic h i n d i c a t e d t h a t o t h e r s w o u ld b e g iv e n
t h e same d o s e i f t h e t r o u b l e c o n t i n u e s ."
39
The C u t Bank P io n e e r P r e s s w is h e d t o i s o l a t e t h e c a u s e s o f i n ­
d u s t r i a l u n r e s t i n M o n ta n a .
i t a l l o n t h e I.W .W .
I t w as n o t s a t i s f i e d w i t h s im p ly b la m in g
I t b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e c a u s e s o f u n r e s t i n M ontana
w e re d e e p e r t h a n I.W .W . a g i t a t i o n .
I t w is h e d t h a t t h e p ro b le m s c o u ld
b e a p p r o a c h e d " s c i e n t i f i c a l l y a n d s y m p a t h e t i c a l l y , " s o t h a t t h e y w o u ld
c e a s e t o h i n d e r t h e U . S . 's w a r e f f o r t .
I t q u o te d a B o s to n T r a n s c r i p t
e d i t o r i a l w h ic h re m a rk e d t h a t t h e W o b b lie s m ade a m i s ta k e w hen t h e y
s t a r t e d t o make t r o u b l e i n a s t a t e i n w h ic h a l l a c i t i z e n h a d t o do t o
m o b i l i z e w as t o r e a c h i n t o h i s h i p p o c k e t .
"C an y o u g u e s
T he P i o n e e r P r e s s a s k e d ,
[s ic ] w hat s t a t e .
I n s o u t h w e s t e r n M o n tan a t h e M a d is o n ia n T im es o f V i r g i n i a C i t y
r e q u e s t e d r e a s o n a n d condem ned l a w l e s s n e s s :
W h ile we a r e p r e p a r i n g t o make g r e a t s a c r i f i c e s
f o r f r e e d o m , l e t u s n o t p e r m i t t h e g ro w th w i t h i n
o u r bo d y p o l i t i c t h a t i s c a l c u l a t e d t o n u l l i f y
a n d m ake i m p o te n t t h a t f r e e d o m .4 l
39
F e rg u s C o u n ty A rg o sy (L e w is to w n ), A u g u s t 3 , 1 9 1 7 -
^^ C u t Bank P i o n e e r P r e s s , A u g u s t 2 4 , 3 0 , 1 9 1 7 4l
M a d is o n ia n T im es ( V i r g i n i a C i t y ) , A u g u s t 1 0 , 1917-
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
kk
I n n o r t h w e s t e r n M o n ta n a , M ile s R o m n ey 's W e s te rn News d i d n o t
b e l i e v e t h e Company p r e s s a n d s t a t e d t h i s a s s t r o n g l y a n d w i t h m uch m ere
o b j e c t i v i t y th a n d id t h e B u tte B u l l e t i n :
To b e c lo u d t h e i s s u e a g r e a t h u e a n d c r y h a s b e e n
r a i s e d a b o u t t h e I.W .W . b y Company c o n t r o l l e d p r e s s ,
t h a t s e e k s t o s p r e a d t h e b e l i e f among p a t r i o t i c p e o p l e
t h a t a g r e a t tr e a s o n - b r e e d in g o r g a n iz a tio n i s c e n te re d
i n B u t t e , w h ic h i s c u r t a i l i n g t h e o u t p u t o f c o p p e r .
Now t h e t r u t h i s t h a t b u t a v e i y s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e o f
t h e m in e r s o f B u t t e a r e i n sy m p a th y w i t h t h e I.W .W . a n d
b y r e c o g n i z i n g t h e i r u n io n a n d m e e t i n g th em h a l f way t h e
c o r p o r a t i o n m a n a g e rs c o u ld re su m e o p e r a t i o n s w i t h i n 2k
h o u rs.
Romney n o t e d t h a t on t h e n i g h t o f t h e l y n c h i n g , p o l i c e u n i t s w e re r e i n ­
f o r c e d by n u m ero u s s p e c i a l d e p u t i e s , 300 s o l d i e r s w e re s t a t i o n e d a t
B u t t e , a n d t h e m in in g c o r p o r a t i o n h a d s e v e r a l h u n d r e d gunmen r e a d y t c
keep th e p e a c e .
I f t h e t h r e a t e n e d I.W .W . v i o l e n c e h a d e r u p t e d , t h e
a u t h o r i t i e s a n d t h e C om pan ies w o u ld h a v e b e e n r e a d y .
w i t h tw o q u e s t i o n s w h ic h t o him w e re r h e t o r i c a l :
Romney c o n c lu d e d
"why t h e n e c e s s i t y o f
m ask ed m u r d e r , a n d who w o u ld b e t h e b e n e f i c i a r y i f t h e U n io n w e re d e s tro y e d ? "
li?
Much o f t h e A u g u s t 3 i s s u e o f t h e New N o rth w e s t o f M is s o u la w as
d e v o te d t o t h e m u r d e r .
An e d i t o r i a l condem ned t h e m u rd e r , a n d t h e
I.W .W . f o r i t s w a r . s t a n d .
I t a l s o a t t a c k e d t h e C o m p a n ie s, w h ic h h a d
" e x p l o i t e d l a b o r a n d ro b b e d i t o f i t s
j u s t re w a rd ."
t h e p a p e r w as a c a l l f o r u n i t y d u r i n g tim e o f t h e
The s t a n d t a k e n by
w a r .
^3
The m a j o r i t y o f M o n ta n a ’ s w e e k ly n e w s p a p e rs n e g l e c t e d t o comment
o n t h e m u rd e r o f L i t t l e .
Some r e p e a t e d t h e B u t t e D a il y P o s t a c c o u n t .
k2
W e s te rn News ( H a m il t o n ) , A u g u st 9 , 1 9 1 7 -
^^New N o r th w e s t ( M i s s o u l a ) , A u g u s t
3, 1 917•
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of th e copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
k3
A few h i n t e d t h a t t h e P o s t d i d n o t p r e s e n t t h e r e a l r e a s o n s f o r t h e d e m is e
of L ittle .
F ew e r d e c l a r e d t h a t o u t r a g e d p a t r i o t i s m d i d n o t p l a y a l a r g e
r o l e i n t h e m u rd e r o f L i t t l e , w h e re a s t h e C om panies b a t t l e a g a i n s t t h e
U n io n d i d .
W hat seem ed t o b e a n o r g a n i z e d c a m p a ig n i n p r o t e s t o f t h e m u rd e r
w as d e m o n s t r a t e d b y a s e r i e s o f l e t t e r s fro m a l l o v e r t h e n a t i o n t a
P r e s i d e n t Woodrow W ils o n .
L e t t e r s w h ic h d e n o u n c e d t h e c o w a rd ly m u rd e r .
44
The m u rd e r o f L i t t l e b r o u g h t t o a h i g h p i t c h a ca m p a ig n w h ic h p r e ­
t e s t e d th e l a c k o f a c ti o n by F e d e r a l a u t h o r i t i e s a g a in s t s e d i t i o n .
g a v e t h e s u p e r - p a t r i o t s o f M o n tan a a p o w e r f u l w e a p o n .
It
I n c o u n t l e s s n ew s­
p a p e r e d i t o r i a l s a n d i n p o l i t i c a l a c t i o n a c r o s s M ontana a n d i n W a s h in g to n ,
D. C. d e f e n d e r s o f t h e r i g h t o f d i s s e n t , a n d t h o s e who r e f u s e d t o i n t e r ­
p r e t la w s i n a way s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t h e m ob, w e re v i c i o u s l y a t t a c k e d .
44
D. J . F i l e 186701 - 5 4 - ( 2 - 8 ) .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CHAPTER V
THE REIGN OF HYSTERIA
The m u rd e r
and i n d i r e c t l y ,
o f F ra n k L i t t l e h a d a g r e a t d e a l o f I n f l u e n c e , d i r e c t l y
o n e v e n t s i n M o n tan a a f t e r A u g u s t 1 , 1917-
I t in te n s ifie d
t h e h y s t e r i c a l c a m p a ig n f o r p a s s a g e o f a n t i - s e d i t i o n a c t s i n M o n ta n a ;
t h i s c a m p a ig n h a d a d e c id e d e f f e c t on p o l i t i c s a n d t h e p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r
o f men who w e re t o l e a d M ontana p o l i t i c s
in subsequent y e a rs .
F ed eral
t r o o p s came t o M o n tan a a n d t h e i r p r e s e n c e a n d c o n d u c t becam e s i g n i f i c a n t
is s u e s o f th e p e rio d .
A s p e c i a l s e s s i o n o f t h e M ontana L e g i s l a t u r e i n
H e le n a a n d t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f b i l l s b e f o r e t h e U .S . C o n g re s s i n
W a s h in g to n w e re d i r e c t r e s u l t s o f t h e M o n tan a l a b o r p ro b le m s o f 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 .
On A u g u s t 8 , 1917 t h e H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t s t a t e d th a t- W e s te rn M ontan a
w as i n t h e g r i p
o f I.W .W . h o o d lu m s .
o u tra g e o u s p r o p o r tio n s a s
The c a n ^ a i g n o f h y s t e r i a
re ach e d
t h e I n d e p e n d e n t c la im e d t h a t A r iz o n a A p a c h e s ,
i n c i t e d b y t h e I.W .W ., w e re o n t h e w a r p a t h a g a i n .
M ontana n e w s p a p e rs
p r e d ic te d a r e i g n o f t e r r o r - - a s a re v e n g e f o r th e ly n c h in g o f L i t t l e .
M o n ta n a 's r e p r e s e n t a t i v e i n C o n g re s s r e c e i v e d n u m ero u s c o m m u n ic a tio n s
w h ic h r e q u e s t e d a c t i o n by t h e F e d e r a l G o v e rn m en t.
A re p re s e n ta tiv e
t e l e g r a m w as m a i l e d by t h e l e a d e r s o f t h e b u s i n e s s com m unity o f M is s o u la .
A C om m unity a f f e c t e d b y a l o n g , I.W .W . i n s p i r e d lu m b e r s t r i k e .
I t s ta te d
t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n M is s o u la n e c e s s i t a t e d p ro m p t a c t i o n b y t h e f e d e r a l
g o v e rn m e n t i n o r d e r t o s e c u r e t h e l i v e s a n d p r o p e r t y o f t h e c i t l z e n a r y
^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u st 2 , 1 9 1 7 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
47
e n d a n g e r e d b y I.W .W . a g i t a t o r s v h o p r e a c h e d t r e a s o n a n d p r o m is e d r e p r i s a l s
f o r th e d e a th o f L i t t l e .
2
The com m ander o f t h e arm y u n i t s a t B u t t e
c o n t i n u a l l y r e p o r t e d no p ro b le m s a t t h a t c i t y .
B u tte v e ry q u i e t , im p o s s ib le t o g iv e d e f i n i t e
in fo rm a tio n a s to f u t u r e , s ta n d in g on e x tin c t
v o l c a n o , may b e a c t i v e i n f i f t e e n m i n u t e s , do
n o t a n t i c i p a t e m ore l y n c h i n g o r d e p o r t a t i o n s
s i m i l a r t o t h a t fro m B is b e e ^ Â r i z o n ^ . . . . New
U n io n i n c l u d i n g P r e s i d e n t C a m p b e ll. . . g u a r a n t e e d
no d e m o n s t r a t i o n t i m e o f L i t t l e ’ s f u n e r a l . 3
A s i m i l a r r e p o r t w as d i s p a t c h e d fro m B u t t e o n t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y .
1+
L i t t l e ’ s f u n e r a l p a s s e d w i t h o u t i n c i d e n t , a n d , l a t e i n A u g u s t,
B. K . W h e e le r r e p o r t e d t o A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l G re g o ry t h a t M o n tan a w as
q u i e t , no v i o l e n c e b e i n g o b s e r v e d o r r e p o r t e d .
5
T h u s , b o t h t h e arm y
com m ander a n d t h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y a t t h e s c e n e t h o u g h t t h e s i t u a t i o n
i n M o n tan a t o b e q u i e t .
S e n a t o r % e r s i n W a s h in g to n , B .C ., r e p o r t e d t o W illia m F i t t s ,
A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , t h a t h e w as r e c e i v i n g num erous l e t t e r s
M o n tan a a b o u t t h e c r i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s t h e r e .
fro m
The l e t t e r s h e r e c e i v e d
d e s c r ib e d i n t r i g u e s , t h r e a t s , a n ti-g o v e rn m e n t a c t i v i t i e s an d c a l l s to
s trik e s .
He t h o u g h t t h a t c o n d i t i o n s i n M ontana w e re " t r u l y a l a r m i n g . ”
He i n s i s t e d t h a t M o n tan a w as in v a d e d by a " h o r d e o f I.W .W . a g i t a t o r s "
who w e re p r e a c h i n g t r e a s o n .
M yers d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e l o y a l c i t i z e n s
o f M o n tan a w e re a la r m e d b y t h e l a c k o f a c t i o n b y t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e
a g a i n s t t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f t h e I.W .W .^
M yers becam e U n ite d S t a t e s S e n a t o r
^C .H . M cLeod, K e n n e th R o ss a n d o t h e r s t o S e n a t o r % e r s , A u g u s t 2 ,
1 9 1 7 i n D . J . F i l e I 8670 I - 2 7 .
^ L i g g e t t o A .G ., A u g u s t 3 , 1 9 1 7 , War D e p a rtm e n t F i l e s , A .G . 3 7 0 .6
in D .J . G la s s e r F i l e .
Ib id .
^ W h e e le r t o G re g o ry , A u g u s t 2 1 , 1 9 1 7 , D J . F i l e 1867 O I - 2 7 - 1 5 .
^M yers t o F i t t s , A u g u s t 1 0 , 1 9 1 7 , D . J . F i l e I 8670 I - 2 7 - 8 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
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w i t h a c t i v e Cdmparqr s u p p o r t a n d r e p r e s e n t e d A naconda p o l i c y .
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The War D e p a rtm e n t h a d a d i r e c t i n t e r e s t i n c o n t i n u o u s p r o d u c t i o n a t t h e
B u t t e m in e s .
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com m unity h a d a d i r e c t b e a r i n g on t h e p la c e m e n t o f l a r g e c o n t i n g e n t s o f
f e d e r a l tr o o p s a t B u tte .
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o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a j o i n t r e s o l u t i o n w h ic h w o u ld a u t h o r i z e t h e P r e s i d e n t
t o t a k e o v e r , a n d t o o p e r a t e some o f t h e m in e s , t h e p r o d u c t o f w h ic h w as
n eed ed f o r th e d e fe n s e o f t h e U n ite d S t a t e s .
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p ro d u c e d m ore c o p p e r t h a n a n y o t h e r s t a t e , a n d B u t t e , t h e l a r g e s t
c o p p e r p r o d u c in g d i s t r i c t i n t h e c o u n t r y , w e re n o t o p e r a t i n g t o f u l l
c a p a c i t y b e c a u s e o f d i s a g r e e m e n t s b e tw e e n l a b o r an d o w n e rs .
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o u t p u t , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n c il o f D e f e n s e , w as down 1 8 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0
t o n s fro m i t s
n o rm a l p r o d u c t i o n d u r i n g J u l y , a n d s t r i k e s p r o d u c e d
la w le s s n e s s , a ly n c h in g , an d d e p o r ta tio n s .
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v io le n c e a t B u tte .
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^A braham C l a s s e r , "T he B u t t e M in e rs S t r i k e 1 9 1 7 - 1 9 2 0 ," 5 1 - 6 2 , i n
D .J . C l a s s e r F i l e .
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i n t h e m in e s';
"M r. J o h n D. R y a n , o f New Y o rk , t h e p r e s i d e n t o f t h e
A n a co n d a C o p p e r M in in g C o ., i s t h e man r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s s i t u a t i o n . . .
I f M r. R yan s a y s t h e r u s t l i n g
s y s te m m u s t b e a b o l i s h e d , i t w i l l b e . ” ^
M iss R a n k in t o l d t h e H ouse t h a t R yan n e v e r a n s w e re d h e r a p p e a l s a n d s h e
c a l l e d o n him t o a b o l i s h t h e " r u s t l i n g c a r d " s y s te m , t o m e e t w i t h t h e
m i n e r s , a n d t o r e c o g n i z e t h e U n io n ; s h e u r g e d him t o b e p a t r i o t i c a n d ,
t h u s , a l l e v i a t e th e B u tte s i t u a t i o n .
H er s p e e c h c o n t i n u e d w i t h a d e v a s t a t i n g a t t a c k o n t h e c o r p o r a t i o n s
e n g a g e d i n c o p p e r p r o d u c t i o n , w h ic h w e re e n g a g e d i n w a r p r o f i t e e r i n g .
T h ro u g h t h e p a t r i o t i c e f f o r t s o f som e p r o m in e n t men
t h e G o vernm ent w as a b l e t o s e c u r e c o p p e r f o r 1 6 .^ 7 c e n t s
a p o u n d w hen t h e m a r k e t p r i c e w as 32 c e n t s . A t t h i s
p r i c e t h e G ov ern m en t p u r c h a s e d 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 p o u n d s o f
c o p p e r , a n d l a t e r p u r c h a s e d 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 m o re . H o w ev er,
t h e c o m p a n ie s r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t t h i s sam e p r i c e , a n d
t h e y a r e now w a i t i n g f o r t h e C o m m itte e s o n War p u r c h a s e s
t o s a y w h a t t h e y w i l l p a y . . . i f t h e c o m m itte e s e t s t h e
p r i c e o f 28 c e n t s , t h i s o n e p u r c h a s e w i l l c o s t t h e
G o vernm ent $ 6 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 0 m ore t h a n t h e a d v e r t i s e d p r i c e . 10
The f o l l o w i n g d a y t h e W a s h in g to n P o s t p u b l i s h e d a n i n t e r v i e w w i t h M iss
R a n k in i n w h ic h s h e c o n t i n u e d h e r a t t a c k on A n a co n d a:
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t o do t o m e. T h e ÿ ’ l l t r y t o d o t o me j u s t w h a t t h e y
h a v e d o n e t o e v e r y o n e who e v e r t r i e d t o o p p o s e t h e m . . . .
They own t h e s t a t e .
T hey own t h e g o v e r n m e n t. They own
th e p r e s s . . . .
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s ta te to th e o th e r.
E v e ry n e w sp a p e r w i l l p r i n t my s h o r t ­
co m in g s r e a l o r f a n c i e d , i n t h e l a r g e s t t y p e . A l l t h e
mud a n d a l l t h e b r i c k s i n t h e s t a t e w i l l come h u r t l i n g i n
my d i r e c t i o n .
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U .S . C o n g r e s s i o n a l R e c o r d .
IN, 5896 - 7 .
^ ° I b i d . , 5897 .
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50
4. . . t h e y p r o b a b ly w o n 't a s s a s s i n a t e m e, b e c a u s e t h e y
u s e m ore s u b t l e m e th o d s now . 11
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m in e rs , a t B u t t e .
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R a n k in d e c l a r e d w a r o n t h e Company a n d i t r e s u l t e d i n v i c i o u s
a t t a c k s o n h e r i n t h e M ontana p r e s s . T h e se a t t a c k s p e r s i s t e d u n t i l t h e
s e n a t o r i a l e l e c t i o n s o f 191$ i n M o n ta n a .
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M iss R a n k in l o s t h e r u s e f u l n e s s a s t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f M o n tan a i n
C o n g re ss.
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The C u t B ank P i o n e e r P r e s s a t t e m p t e d t o - e x p l a i n M iss
R a n k in ' s a c t i o n :
Bonny J e a n 's n e w e s t r o l e — a n d Bonny J e a n i s a q u ic k
c h a n g e a r t i s t w i t h few e q u a l s i f y o u w i l l e x c lu d e
F i g h t i n g Bob L a F o l l e t t e a n d P e e r l e s s B i l l y p îa y w o o d |
i s t h a t o f b i g s i s t e r t o t h e u n w ash ed I.W W. b o y s a t
B u tte .
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S t e w a r t , w i t h Sam b i d d i n g f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e b o u r ­
g e o i s i e a n d smug p r i v i l e g e a n d J e a n c a t e r i n g t o t h e
p r o l e t a r i a n a n d a s S h a k e s p e a r e te rm e d i t " t h e g r e a s y
c o a t e d m o b ," a n d a g a i n s t o u r p o o r d o w n tro d d e n W a ll S t r e e t ,
th e s u b s id iz e d and p r e d a to r y p r e s s an d th e h e i r l i n g o f
p l u t o c r a c y . lU
T he W e s te rn News o f H a m ilto n n o t e d t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y o f M ontana*'s
n e w s p a p e rs d e n i e d t h e c h a r g e t h a t t h e y w e re ow ned by t h e Com pany.
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T h is w as t e c h n i c a l l y c o r r e c t , a c c o r d i n g t o M ile s R om ney's p a p e r .
A n aconda d i d n o t h a v e d i r e c t o w n e r s h ip o f t h e n e w s p a p e r s , b u t i t
d i s c o v e r e d c h e a p e r w ays t o c o n t r o l th e m , w i t h o u t o w ning t h e p a p e r s .
^ W a s h in g to n P o s t, A u g u st 8 , 19171?
Ib id .
^ 3 p a i l y M i s s o u l i a n , A ug. l 4 , 1 9 1 7 1k
C u t B ank P io n e e r P r e s s , A u g u s t 1 7 , 1 9 1 7 ^ ^ e s t e r n News ( H a m il t o n ) , S e p te m b e r 6 , 1 9 1 7 l^ Ib id .
R e p ro d u c e d with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without perm ission.
51
T he m o st venom came u s u a l l y fro m ; th e p e n o f W i l l C a m p b e ll.
On D ecem ber
1 1 , 1 9 1 7 , h e p r e s e n t e d h i s o p i n i o n o f M iss R a n k in :
S h e i s a S o c i a l i s t a n d a lw a y s h a s b e e n ; s h e b e l i e v e s
t h e p r e s e n t w a r t o b e a f i g h t b e tw e e n W a ll S t r e e t a n d
German a u t o c r a c y . . .
She i s o n e who b e l i e v e s t h e
m i ll e n i u m w i l l a r r i v e w hen t h e c o m p e t i t i v e s y s te m i s
d e s t r o y e d a n d S o c i a l i s t s y s te m e s t a b l i s h e d ; s h e s u b ­
s c r i b e s t o t h e I n d u s t r i a l W o rk e rs o f t h e W o rld i n t h e i r
dem and t h a t a l l i n d u s t r y b e t u r n e d o v e r t o t h e m en a n d
women who o p e r a t e t h e i n d u s t r i e s .
J e a n e t t e w o u ld b e a m em ber o f t h e B o l s h e v i k i i n
R u s s ia .
. . . t h e o n e t h i n g w h ic h i s g o in g t o d e f e a t h e r i s t h a t
s o b b in g s e n t e n c e :
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c a n n o t v o t e f o r w a r . 17
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l 4 . R e p r e s e n t a t i v e R a n k in cam e t o B u t t e ; a p a r a d e i n h e r
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a l a r g e cro w d a s s e m b le d t o w elcom e h e r .
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18
a t th e p o lic e .
On A u g u s t 1 8 , s h e s p o k e t o a l a r g e g a t h e r i n g o f m i n e r s .
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t h o s e who m u rd e r e d L i t t l e a n d d e p l o r e d a s i t u a t i o n i n w h ic h l y n c h i n g
w as s a n c t i o n e d .
S he a l s o v o i c e d h e r d i s a p p r o v a l o f t h e m e th o d s o f t h e
J .W .W .,
m in e r s s h e w as i n f u l l s u p p o r t o f t h e i r c a u s e , a n d
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S h e c o n c lu d e d w i t h a p le d g e t - . t h e
m in e r s t h a t s h e w o u ld do h e r b e s t t o a i d th em a n d a p p e a l e d f o r a p e a c e f u l.
s o l u t i o n to t h e B u tte l a b o r p ro b le m s , s in c e th e n a tio n n eeded u n i t y d u rin g
w a r.
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^ 7 H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , D ecem ber 1 1 , 1 9 1 7 •
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B u t te M in e r , A u g u s t 1 5 , 1 9 1 7 ^ ^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u s t 1 9 , 1 9 1 7 ; W e s te r n le w s A u g u s t 2 3 , 1 9 1 7 ,
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H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u s t 1 7 , 1 9 1 7 -
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32
A d a y e a r l i e r s h e h a d c a b l e d S e c r e t a r y o f War B ak er, a n d r e q u e s t e d
him t o u s e h i s i n f l u e n c e t o p e r s u a d e C o r n e l i u s F . K e l l y , t h e M an ag in g
d i r e c t o r o f t h e A n aco n d a C o p p e r M in in g , t o a b o l i s h t h e " r u s t l i n g card '*
s y s te m .
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a l s o c a b l e d M iss R a n k in t h a t t h e s u b j e c t h a d b e e n d i s c u s s e d w i t h a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e ACM who d e c l i n e d t o make a n y c h a n g e s a t t h a t -tim e .
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I n 1 9 1 8 , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e R a n k in e n t e r e d t h e R e p u b lic a n p r i m a r y f o r
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e c o n o m ic p o w e rs a n d t h e p r e s s o f M o n ta n a .
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d u r i n g h e r i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e W a s h in g to n P o s t w e re p r o p h e t i c — u n r e l e n t i n g
e d i t o r i a l s , w h ic h c o n s t a n t l y s l a n d e r e d h e r , r e s u l t e d i n a s u c c e s s f u l
ca m p a ig n t o rem ove h e r fro m o f f i c e .
D e fe a t i n th e e le c tio n s o f 1918, and
"the p o s i t i o n M iss R a n k in t o o k d u r i n g 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 , g a i n e d h e r a w id e b a s e o f
s u p p o r t w h ic h a i d e d h e r s u b s e q u e n t p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r .
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R a n k in t o B a k e r , A u g u s t I T , I 9 I T .
D e p a r tm e n t o f L a b o r F i l e
3 3 /4 9 3 i n D .J . C l a s s e r F i l e .
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W ils o n t o R a n k in , A u g u s t I J , 1 9 1 7 .
W ils o n t o R a n k in A u g u s t 2 1 ,
1 9 1 7 . D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r 33/4-93 i n D . J . C l a s s e r F i l e .
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F o r a n a l y s i s o f R a n k i n 's c a m p a ig n i n 1918 s e e R o n a ld S c h a f f e r ,
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s e r t a t i o n , P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y , ( P r i n c e t o n , May 1 9 5 9 ) , 1 3 8 - 1 4 8 .
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
53
t h e M e ta l M ine W o r k e rs ’ U n io n g a i n e d c o n t r o l o v e r t h e M in e, M i l l a n d
S m e lte r m e n 's U n io n a n d d e c l a r e d a s t r i k e o n A u g u s t 2 4 , 19 I Y , a t t h e
g i a n t s m e l t e r a t A n a co n d a.
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Company r e a c t i o n w as s w ift-:
sh u td o w n o f a l l M ontana o p e r a t i o n s .
c o m p le te
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t h e Company o f f e r e d t h e s m e lte rm e n a h i g h e r
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t r o o p s w e re s e n t t o A n aco n d a u n d e r o r d e r s o f t h e War D e p a rtm e n t.
E r a s t u s H. W i l l i a m s , com m ander o f t h e t r o o p s i n
t h a t tim e , is s u e d a s ta te m e n t:
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o r d e r a n d i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e r i g h t s o f i n d i v i d u a l s t o w ork u n m o le s te d .
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A g a in t h e M e ta l M ine W o r k e rs ' U n io n w as o n s t r i k e a l o n e .
O c to b e r , B u t t e o p e r a t i o n s p e r fo rm e d a t n i n e t y p e r c e n t c a p a c i t y .
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B u tte D a ily P o s t, A u g u st 2 4 , 1 9 1 7 .
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Ib id .
2 ^ T b l d . , S e e a l s o H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A u g u s t 2 5 -S e p te m b e r 1 6 , 1 9 1 7 .
2 7 B u t te D a i l y P o s t , S e p te m b e r I 7 , 1917»
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H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , S e p te m b e r 1 7 , 19& 7»
^ % a r I n d u s t r i e s B o a rd t o S e c r e t a r y o f L a b o r W ils o n , O c to b e r 2 7 ,
I n D .J . C la s s e r F i l e .
1 9 1 7 , D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r F i l e 3 3/^93-A l.
R e p ro d u c e d with perm ission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
5^
D ecem ber l 8 , 19 1 7 , t h e M.M.W.U. c a l l e d o f f t h e s t r i k e i t h a d c a l l e d m ore
t h a n s i x m o n th s e a r l i e r . i h e
c r e a t e d i t w e re n o t re m o v e d .
s t r i k e e n d e d b u t t h e c o n d i t i o n s w h ic h
Army t r o o p s c o n t i n u e d t o p a t r o l t h e s t r e e t s
o f B u tte .
No m a jo r d i s t u r b a n c e s w e re r e p o r t e d by t h e p r e s s u n t i l M arch
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1918 , w hen a S t . P a t r i c k 's d a y d e m o n s t r a t i o n w as d i s p e r s e d by t h e arm y
The U n io n h a d r e c e i v e d p e r m i s s i o n t o h o l d a p a r a d e , b u t g o v e r n o r S t e w a r t
a n d t h e M ontana C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e i n t e r v e n e d a n d t h e p e r m i s s i o n w as
re v o k ed .
The G o v e rn o r c o n t a c t e d t h e com m ander o f t h e W e s te rn D e p a rtm e n t
who i n t u r n o r d e r e d t h e com m ander a t B u t t e t o s t o p t h e p a r a d e . T h u s
t h e c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s i n M ontana w e re p r e s s u r i n g Army H e a d q u a r t e r s i n
S an F r a n c i s c o t o r e v e r s e t h e d e c i s i o n s o f t h e arm y com m ander a t B u t t e
to s u it th e ir ends.
On M arch 2 5 , 1 9 1 8 , t h e I.W .W . H a ll a t B u t t e w as
r a i d e d a n d f o r t y - o n e p e r s o n s w e re a r r e s t e d .
No r e p o r t s o f f u r t h e r d i s t u r b a n c e s a p p e a r e d d u r i n g t h e s p r i n g o f
1918.
A r e p o r t by a L a b o r D e p a rtm e n t c o m m is s io n e r d e s c r i b e d t h e l a b o r
s i t u a t i o n a t B u t t e t o b e " i n v e r y good s h a p e w i t h no a p p a r e n t u n r e s t . . .
The t r o o p s s t a t i o n e d a t B u t t e an d A n aco n d a b e h a v e d d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d i n
^ ^ B u t t e D a il y P o s t , D ecem ber 1 9 1 7 •
3^ B u t t e M in e r, M arch 1 8 , 1 9 1 8 .
3 ^ C a p ta in Omer N. B r a d l y , com m anding o f f i c e r U .S . t r o o p s a t B u t t e
t o C .G . W e s te r n D e p a r tm e n t. D e p a rtm e n t o f War F i l e s , 3 7 0 .6 B u t t e ,
M o n ta n a , M arch 1 9 , 1 9 1 8 i n D . J . G l a s s e r F i l e .
33
B u t t e M in e r, M arch 2 6 , 1 9 1 8 .
3 ^ C .y . Hang t o H .L . K e rw in , May 2 , I 9 1 8 .
f i l e 3 3 /4 9 3 A l , i n D .J . G l a s s e r F i l e .
D e p a rtm e n t o f L a b o r
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
55
a " b l a m e l e s s f a s h i o n , " a c o n d i t i o n w h ic h w a s s o o n t o c h a n g e a n d p r o d u c e
n u m ero u s p r o t e s t s b y l o c a l a n d D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e
o f f i c i a l s .
M ean w h ile t h e m u rd e r o f L i t t l e r e c e i v e d a t t e n t i o n n o t o n l y i n t h e
l o c a l and s t a t e p re s s b u t a ls o on th e r e g io n a l and n a tio n a l l e v e l .
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f a c t o r w h ic h w as p r e v a l e n t i n t h e co m m en tary o n t h e m u rd e r w as t h e c a l l
f o r l e g i s l a t i o n t o 'p r e v e n t mob r u l e .
The New Y o rk T im e s .d e v o t e d a n
e d i t o r i a l t o t h e l y n c h i n g a t B u t te :
The l y n c h i n g a t B u t t e , M o n ., o f F ra n k L i t t l e . . . w a s a
d e p l o r a b l e an d d e t e s t a b l e c r im e , w h o se p e r p e t r a t o r s
s h o u ld b e f o u n d , t r i e d a n d p u n is h e d b y t h e la w and
j u s t i c e th e y have o u tra g e d .
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B u t te a s s a s s i n s b u t i n w a r n in g t o s e d i t i o u s and v i o l e n t
p e r s o n s o f f i e r y s p e e c h , t h e la n g u a g e a n d a c t s o f L i t t l e
t h a t b r o u g h t him t o h i s e n d , s h o u ld b e r e c a l l e d . . .
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e x c i t e d s t r i k e s w hose p l a i n o b j e c t w as t o i n j u r e t h e
U n ite d S t a t e s . —
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o f f e n s i v e when p o p u l a r e m o tio n i s s t r o n g . When a n x i e t y ,
l o s s a n d s u f f e r i n g h a v e m ade t h e n e r v e s s e n s i t i v e .
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w as l y n c h e d . T he I.W .W . h a s b e e n t r y i n g a n d i s b u s i l y
t r y i n g s t i l l , t o l y n c h t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . W a n d e rin g
b a n d s o f o u t l a w s , t h e i r l e a d e r w e l l s u p p l i e d w i t h .m o n ey ,
a p p a r e n tly a c t i n g a c c o rd in g to an o rg a n iz e d p la n , hav e
t i e d up a p a r t o f t h e A m e ric a n C o p p er m in e s , h a v e
a t t a c k e d t h e lu m b e r i n d u s t r y , h a v e b u rn e d c r o p s a n d
w re c k e d a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d o t h e r m a c h in e r y .
To ham per
t h e b u i l d i n g o f s h i p s , t h e m a k in g o f m u n i t i o n s , t h e
s u p p ly o f fo o d t o o u r Army a n d N avy, a n d t o t h e A l l i e s ,
i s t h e c l e a r r e s u l t a n d o b v io u s p u r p o s e o f t h e s e a c t s .
The I.W .W . a g i t a t o r s a r e i n e f f e c t , a n d p e r h a p s i n f a c t ,
a g e n t s o f G erm any. The F e d e r a l a u t h o r i t i e s s h o u ld m ake
s h o r t w o rk o f t h e s e t r e a s o n a b l e c o n s p i r a t o r s a g a i n s t t h e
U n ite d S t a t e s . 36
L e s s t h a n tw o w eek s a f t e r L i t t l e ' s m u rd e r a c t i o n o c c u r r e d o n t h e
re g io n a l l e v e l .
The G o v e rn o rs o f U t a h , N e v a d a , I d a h o , W a s h in g to n ,
O re g o n , a n d M o n tan a m et a t P o r t l a n d , O re g o n , t o d i s c u s s t h e I.W .W . m enace
^^A braham G l a s s e r , The B u t te M in e rs S t r i k e 1 9 1 7 -1 9 2 0 , l 8 .
G la s s e r F i l e .
I n D .J .
^^New Y ork T im e s, A u g u s t 4 , 1 9 1 7 -
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56
I n t h e W e s t.
37
G o v e rn o r S t e w a r t o f M ontana dem anded p ro m p t f e d e r a l a c t i o n
a g a i n s t th.e I.W .W . a n d w as s e l e c t e d hy t h e o t h e r g o v e r n o r s t o go t o
W a s h in g to n , D .C ., a n d t o p r e s e n t t h e i r r e s o l u t i o n s t o P r e s i d e n t W ils o n .
On A u g u s t 1 3 , 1 9 1 7 , t h e I.W .W . S e c r e t a r y o f t h e S p o k an e l o c a l
i n t e n s i f i e d t h e f e a r s o f a n a l r e a d y h y s t e r i c a l p o p u l a t i o n i n M o n tan a by
c a l l i n g a g e n e r a l ' s t r i k e , i f a l l W o b b lie s i n N o r th w e s t j a i l s w e re n o t
r e le a s e d by A ugust 2 0 .
The r e s p o n s e w as s w i f t , a s on A u g u st I 9 , I.W .W .
l e a d e r s i n t h e N o r th w e s t w e re a r r e s t e d a n d S p o k an e was p u t u n d e r m a r t i a l
38
la w ; t h e I.W .W . g r e a t N o r th w e s t G e n e r a l S t r i k e n e v e r came t o p a s s .
I n e a r l y S e p te m b e r G o v e rn o r S te w a r t a n d S e n a t o r % e r s m et P r e s i d e n t
W ils o n a n d t o l d him o f w h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r e d t o b e a g r a v e s i t u a t i o n
i n M o n tan a a n d N o r th w e s t, a n d o f t h e n e e d t o s u p p r e s s t h e I . W . W .'s .
39
On S e p te m b e r $ , I 9 1 7 , F e d e r a l a g e n t s r a i d e d I.W .W . h e a d q u a r t e r s i n
th irty -th re e c itie s .
A g e n ts o f t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f J u s t i c e s u b s e q u e n t l y
r a i d e d I.W .W . g e n e r a l a n d l o c a l o f f i c e s , w i t h o u t s e a r c h w a r r a n t s , t o
s e c u r e m ore e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t t h e W o b b lie s .
liQ
F e d e ra l a c tio n a g a in s t th e
I.W .W . h a d com m enced.
On t h e s t a t e l e v e l , h o w e v e r, t h e p a t r i o t s d i d n o t s e e en o u g h a c t i o n s
t o s a t i s f y t h e i r d e m a n d s.
c o n s id e re d l o y a l t y .
I n s t e a d t h e y w i t n e s s e d s e t b a c k s t o w h a t th e y
I n e a r l y N ovem ber, 1 9 1 7 , D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y W h e e le r
p re s e n te d s e v e r a l c a s e s a g a in s t S la c k e r s i n th e F e d e r a l D i s t r i c t C o u rt a t
37
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , A ug. 1 2 , 1 9 1 7 -
2 ^ ta b o r_ a n d I n d u s t r y R e p o r t , 31•
^^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t ., S e p te m b e r 6 , 1917 •
^^H .C . P e t e r s o n a n d G i l b e r t C. F i t e , O p p o n e n ts o f W ar:
(M a ch so n , 1 9 5 7 ) , 6 2 .
1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 .
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57
B u t t e . S i t t i n g i n ju d g m e n t w as D i s t r i c t J u d g e G eo rg e M. B o u r g i i n .
H ig h ly u n u s u a l p r o c e d u r e s o c c u r r e d a s i n o n e c a s e t h e J u d g e a l l o w e d t h e
c a s e t o go t o t h e j u r y u n d e r i n s t r u c t i o n s v e r y f a v o r a b l e t o t h e d e f e n d e n t .
I n a n o t h e r c a s e ,, upon a r e t u r n o f a v e r d i c t o f g u i l t y , B o u rq u in d i r e c t e d
t h e c o u n s e l f o r t h e d e f e n s e t o m ake a m o tio n f o r a new t r i a l o n t h e
g ro u n d s t h a t t h e e v id e n c e w as i n s u f f i c i e n t t o j u s t i f y t h e v e r d i c t j t h e
m o tio n w as t o b e b a s e d u p o n t h e p r o c e d u r e o f t h e t r i a l .
In y e t a n o th e r
c a s e , th e J u d g e , in h is c h a rg e to th e ju r y gave h is p e rs o n a l o p in io n
t h a t t h e v ê r d i c t w as n o t g u i l t y .
A t o n e p o i n t W h e e le r a s k e d f o r m ore tim e
t o p r e p a r e a b e t t e r c a s e , B o u rq u in a g r e e d t o a p o s tp o n e m e n t o f o n e h o u r
and a h a l f .
I f te m p e r s f l a r e d a f t e r t h e f a i l u r e o f B o u rq u in t o c o n v i c t a n y o f
t h e s l a c k e r s i n N ovem ber, 1 9 1 7 , m a t t e r s becam e e x p l o s i v e w hen V es H a l l ,
a sto c k m a n fro m R o seb u d C o u n ty , a n d A J .
J u s t , a n A s h la n d , M o n ta n a ,
b a n k e r , w e re a c q u i t t e d b y J u d g e B o u rq u in o f v i o l a t i n g t h e E s p io n a g e A c t
o f 1917-
T hey h ad b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h m a k in g s e d i t i o u s
s ta te m e n ts ;
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h o p e d f o r Germ an v i c t o r y , t h a t s u b m a r in e s h ad a r i g h t t o s i n k U .S . s h i p s ,
t h a t P r e s i d e n t W ils o n b r o u g h t t h e c o u n t r y i n t o t h e w ar a s a r e s u l t o f
E n g l i s h p r o p a g a n d a , t h a t W ils o n w as t h e r i c h e s t man i n t h e U . S . , a n d t h a t
t h e U .S . w as b r o u g h t i n t o t h e w a r b y W a ll S t r e e t m i l l i o n a i r e s t o p r o t e c t
J . P i e r p o n t M o rg a n 's E n g l i s h i n t e r e s t s .
k?
J u d g e B o u rq u in r u l e d t h a t t h o s e s t a t e m e n t s c o u ld n o t s u p p o r t a v e r ­
d i c t o f g u i l t y . ^3
^ ^ W h e e le r t o G re g o ry , N ovem ber 3 , 1 9 1 8 , D . J . F i l e 1 8 6 2 3 3 - 6 1 - 1 ^ .
^ ^ W h e e le r, Y a n k e e , 153-151-•
^ % . S . C o n g r e s s i o n a l R e c o r d , L V I, 4 5 6 0 .
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58
" . . . t h e d e c l a r a t i o n s w e re m ade a t a M ontana v i l l a g e o f
some 60 p e o p l e , 60 m i le s fro m t h e r a i l w a y , a n d n o n e o f
t h e A rm ies o r Navy w i t h i n h u n d r e d s o f m i l e s . . . .
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H a l l an d J u s t d i d n o t c a u s e i n s u b o r d i n a t i o n , d i s l o y a l t y
o r m u tin y o r r e f u s a l o f d u t y , i n an y o f t h e b r a n c h e s o f
t h e arm ed f o r c e s . They d i d n o t o b s t r u c t t h e r e c r u i t i n g
o r e n l i s t m e n t o f a n y o n e t o t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e U .S . a s a
r e s u l t t h e y c o u l d n o t b e fo u n d g u i l t y . 44
J u d g e H our q i i n i n r e v ie w i n g t h e c a s e c h a l l e n g e d t h e p a t r i o t s o f M o n tan a:
The E s p io n a g e A c t i s n o t i n t e n d e d t o s u p r e s s c r i t i c i s m o r
d e n u n c ia tio n , t r u t h o r s la n d e r , o r a to r y o r g o s s ip , a r g u ­
m en t o r l o o s e t a l k , b u t o n l y f a l s e f a c t s w i l l f u l l y p u t
fo rw a rd a s t r u e a n d , b r o a d ly w ith th e s p e c i f i c i n t e n t
t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h Army o r Navy o p e r a t i o n s .
B o u rq u in c o n ti n u e d w i t h a d e f e n s e o f W h e e le r.
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u n j u s t l y c r i t i c i z e d b e c a u s e t h e y do n o t p r o s e c u t e w h e re
th e y can n o t . I n i n s ta n c e s
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a p p o in tm e n t .45
The d e c i s i o n c a u s e d a f u r o r i n M o n tan a e s p e c i a l l y s i n c e a l l o v e r t h e
n a tio n th e c o u rt c o n v ic te d th e s e d i t i o u s .
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46
The m u rd e r o f L i t t l e w as c a u s e d ,
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31, ig iF l
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59
On F e b r u a r y 3 , I 9 1 8 , G o v e rn o r S t e w a r t a n n o u n c e d a s p e c i a l s e s s i o n
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C o u n s il o f D e fe n s e a n d t h e Home G u a r d . o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n M o n tan a.
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t h e p u n is h m e n t o f t h o s e g u i l t y o f s e d i t i o n , t r e a s o n a b l e
a n d d i s l o y a l a c t s a n d u t t e r a n c e s w i t h i n t h e S t a t e o f M snta n a .
Some s u i t a b l e s t a t u t e s h o u ld b e e n a c t e d t o c o v e r
t h e sam e. O th e r w is e t h e p e o p l e o f t h e d i f f e r e n t com­
m u n i t i e s may b e p ro v o k e d i n t o b e c o m in g a law u n t o th e m ­
s e l v e s a n d a s a r e s u l t u n w a r r a n te d a n d i l l e g a l v i o l e n c e
may o c c u r .
. . . t h e r e i s no la w t o c u r b t h e p e r n i c i o u s
a c t i v i t i e s o f in d iv id u a ls and o r g a n iz a tio n s g u i l ty o f
s a b o ta g e , c r im in a l s y n d ic a lis m and i n d u s t r i a l an d p o l i ­
t i c a l a n a r c h y . A t t h i s c r i t i c a l tim e i t i s i m p o r t a n t
t h a t t h e p e o p l e h a v e p r o t e c t i o n fro m s u c h d a n g e ro u s
a c t i v i t i e s . 48
A l l t h e l e g i s l a t i o n a s k e d f o r b y t h e G o v e rn o r, e x c e p t f o r t h e Home
G uard m e a s u re w e re p a s s e d .
The p a t r i o t i c
c i t i z e n s o f M ontana h a d t h e i r
ch an ce and th e y u s e d i t w e ll t o c u rb any d i s s e n t i n th e s t a t e .
On F e b r u a r y
2 3 , 1 9 1 8 , t h e G o v e rn o r s i g n e d i n t o la w t h e M o n tan a C r i m in a l S y n d ic a l i s m
hi
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , F e b r u a r y 4 , I 9 1 8 :
48
H ouse J o u r n a l o f t h e E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n o f t h e F i f t e e n t h L e g i s ­
l a t i v e A ssem b ly o f t h e S t a t e o f M o n ta n a , F e b r u a r y T F , 1918 — F e b r u a r y 2 5 ,
1918 ( H e le n a , I 9Î ? ) , 1 - 2 . H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s H ouse J o u r n a l .
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.
60
A c t.
i+9
C r i m in a l S y n d ic a l i s m w as d e f i n e d a s t h e d o c t r i n e w h ic h a d v o c a t e d
" c rim e , v io le n c e , f o r c e , a r s o n , d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y , s a b o ta g e and
o t h e r u n l a w f u l a c t s o f m e t h o d s . . . . " a s a m eans t o a c h i e v e i n d u s t r i a l o r
p o l i t i c a l re v o lu tio n s .
50
The M o n tan a b i l l w as a c o p y o f a n e a r l i e r
Id ah o b i l l .
A n o th e r b i l l w h ic h w as i n t e n d e d t o s u p p r e s s f r e e s p e e c h w as p r e s ­
e n t e d o n F e b r u a r y 1 6 , I 9 1 8 , a n d becam e la w o n F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 1 9 1 8 .^ ^
b i l l i n t r o d u c e d by R e p r e s e n t a t i v e W illia m J .
T h is
C ris m a s o f C arb o n C o u n ty ,
w as t h e b i l l p r e s e n t e d t o t h e U .S . S e n a t e b y S e n a t o r M yers o f M ontana
on A ugust 1 3 , 1 9 1 7 '
53
M yers i n t r o d u c e d t h e b i l l
...o n account o f a
l y n c h i n g t h a t h a d o c c u r r e d i n M ontana j u s t a s h o r t ti m e b e f o r e . . . .
A man nam ed L i t t l e w as ly n c h e d a t B u t t e , M ont. I t w as
r e p o r t e d t h a t he r e f e r r e d t o U n ite d S t a t e s s o l d i e r s a s
" U n c le Sam*s s c a b s i n u n i f o r m , " . . .
T h e r e w as no e f f o r t
b y o f f i c e r s o f t h e la w t o p u n i s h h im ; i t w as c la im e d t h a t
t h e r e w as no la w t o p u n i s h h im ; a n d , a s a r e s u l t , o n e
m o rn in g h e w as h u n g b y a m ob. H a v in g t h a t i n m ind a n d
f e a r i n g a r e p e t i t i o n o f s u c h o c c u r e n c e s u n l e s s we h a d
m ore a n d b e t t e r la w t o s u p p r e s s , p r e v e n t a n d p u n is h su c h
u t t e r a n c e s , I in tro d u c e d a b i l l on t h e s u b j e c t . . . .
T h e re
i s g o in g t o b e m ore o f mob la w a n d l a w l e s s n e s s u n l e s s we
s p e e d i l y e n a c t a m e a s u r e o f t h i s k i n d . 5!
^9 S e n a te J o u r n a l o f t h e E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n o f t h e F i f t e e n t h L e g is l a t i v e A ssem b ly o f t h e S t a t e o f M o n ta n a , F e b r u a r y ll+ 7 1 9 l 8 — F e b r u a r y 2 5 ,
1 9 1 8 , ( H e l e n a , 1 9 1 8 ) , 4 3 -5 0 - H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s S e n a te J o u r n a l .
^*^Laws P a s s e d b y t h e E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n o f t h e F i f t e e n t h L e g i s l a t i v e A ssem b ly ( H e l e n a , 19 I Ô ) , l 4 .
H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s L aw s.
^ ^ F o r t h e a c c o u n t o f t h e p a s s a g e o f t h e b i l l s e e R o b e rt E . E v a n s ,
" M o n ta n a 's R o le i n t h e E n a c tm e n t o f L e g i s l a t i o n D e s ig n e d t o S u p r e s s t h e
I n d u s t r i a l W o rk e rs o f t h e W o rld . U n p u b lis h e d î f e s t e r ’s T h e s i s , ( M is s o u la :
M o n ta n a , 1 9 6 4 ) , 8 9 - 9 1 * H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s E v a n s , M o n ta n a 's R o le .
62
H ouse J o u r n a l , 50 , 7 2 .
^^U . 8 . C o n g r e s s i o n a l R e c o r d , LV, 6039•
^ ^ I b i d . , L V I, 4 7 1 4 .
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.
61
T he % e r s b i l l w as r e f e r r e d t o t h e J u d i c i a r y C o m m ittee a n d w as i g n o r e d
th e re .
I t w as n o t i g n o r e d , h o w e v e r, by t h e E x t r a o r d i n a r y S e s s i o n o f
t h e H o use a n d S e n a te o f M o n ta n a .
The A c t s t a t e d t h a t an y w o rd s u t t e r e d
o r p r i n t e d a g a i n s t t h e g o v e r n m e n t, a rm y , o r c o n s t i t u t i o n o f t h e IT.S.
w o u ld b e p u n i s h e d . T h i s a c t w as i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e E s p io n a g e A c t
o f 1 9 1 8 , i n t r o d u c e d b y S e n a t o r Thomas J . W a lsh o f M o n tan a.
w as u s e d f o r f u r t h e r n a t i o n w i d e s u p p r e s s i o n o f t h e I.W .W .
T h is a c t
57
J o i n t r e s o l u t i o n s b y t h e s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e w h ic h c a l l e d f o r t h e
r e s i g n a t i o n o f B o u rq u in a n d W h e e le r w e re i n t r o d u c e d a t t h e S e s s i o n .
58
The f i r s t r e s o l u t i o n w as t a b l e d a n d t h e s e c o n d w as d e f e a t e d b y o n e v o t e . ^ ^
The J u d g e a n d t h e D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y f a r e d b e t t e r t h a n d i d C h a r l e s L .
Crum , J u d g e o f t h e F i f t e e n t h J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t o f M o n tan a.
a s a c h a r a c t e r w i t n e s s f o r V es H a ll a n d A. J . J u s t .
Crum a c t e d
The S e n a t e fo u n d
h im g u i l t y o f a i d i n g a b e t t i n g d r a f t d o d g e r s , a n d o f c r i t i c i z i n g t h e
U .S . p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e W ar; h e w as im p e a c h e d .
W h e e le r c o n s i d e r e d
t h i s a c t i o n a t r a g e d y , f o r h e t h o u g h t Crum w as a " . . . f i n e
a n d h o n o r a b le
m a n .^ 0
Thus t h e s u p e r - p a t r i o t s o f M o n tan a w e re n o t o n ly a b l e t o p a s s la w s
w h ic h p r o h i b i t e d f r e e s p e e c h , b u t show ed t h e i r z e a l by p u n i s h i n g a p u b l i c
o f f i c i a l f o r w o rd s w h ic h he p ro n o u n c e d b e f o r e t h e la w s w e re p a s s e d .
^^Ibid. , 4695.
5 ^ W s , 28 - 2 9 .
5 7 E v a n s , M o n ta n a 's R o le , 9 8 - 1 2 1 .
[“Q
A n aco n d a S t a n d a r d , F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 2 6 , 1 9 1 8 .
^^ I b i d . , F e b r u a r y 2 4 , 2 6 , 1 9 1 8 .
^ % h e e le r , Y an k ee, 155-
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62
The I n d i g n i t i e s , h o w e v e r, h a d n o t e n d e d .
On May 2 9 , 1918 , t h e M o n tan a
C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e com m enced w i t h t h e i n q u i s i t i o n o f B u rto n K. W h e e le r .
One p u b l i c o f f i c i a l who w i t h s t o o d m ore c r i t i c i s m , u n d e r w e n t m o re
a t t a c k , a n d g a i n e d m ore p r e s t i g e d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d t h a n a n y o t h e r
M o n tan an w as U . S . D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y B u rto n K. W h e e le r.
From J u n e , 1 9 1 7 ,
u n t i l h i s r e s i g n a t i o n o v e r a y e a r l a t e r , W h e e le r w as f a c e d w i t h a s l a n d e r
c a m p a ig n .
T h is r e s u l t e d fro m h i s u n w i l l i n g n e s s t o f o l l o w t h e s u p e r -
p a t r i o t i c mob a n d t o p r o s e c u t e i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y a n y o n e s u s p e c t e d b y t h e
mob o f s e d i t i o n a n d t r e a s o n .
W h e e l e r 's p ro b le m r e s u l t e d fro m h i s s t r i c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e
F e d e r a l E s p io n a g e A c t o f 1 9 1 7 -
T h is A c t i n t e n d e d t o p r e v e n t t h e o b ­
s t r u c t i o n o f r e c r u i t i n g an d e n lis tm e n t o f c i t i z e n s by th o s e o p p o sed to
w a r.
I t a l s o o u tla w e d a n y a c t s w h ic h l e d t o d i s l o y a l t y o r m u tin y w i t h i n
t h e arm ed s e r v i c e s .
I t w as u s e d b y many f e d e r a l a t t o r n e y s a n d j u d g e s ,
who i n t e r p r e t e d i t l o o s e l y , t o c o m b a t a n y c r i t i c i s m
o f th e w ar e f f o r t .
T he s t r i c t i n t e r p r e t a t i o n , a s v ie w e d b y W h e e le r w as t h a t i n o r d e r t o b e
in d ic te d a p e rso n had to w i l l f u l l y p r e s e n t f l a s e in fo rm a tio n w ith an
i n t e n t t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h Army o r Navy a c t i v i t i e s .
T h is i n t e r p r e t a t i o n
o f t h e E s p io n a g e A c t s u p p o r t e d by J u d g e B o u rq u in w as t h e i n i t i a l c a u s e o f
W h e e l e r 's p r o b l e m s .
The a t t a c k s o n W h e e le r b e g a n d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d o f d r a f t r e g i s t r a t i o n
a n d i n t e n s i f i e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d i n w h ic h F ra n k L i t t l e w as a t B u t t e an d
im m e d ia te ly a f t e r L i t t l e ' s d e a t h .
The Company c o n t r o l l e d p r e s s c h a r g e d
t h a t W h e e l e r 's l a c k o f e n t h u s i a s m t o e n f o r c e t h e la w c a u s e d t h e d e a t h o f
L ittle .
The B u t t e M in e r s t a t e d :
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63
I t i s h ig h t i m e t h a t a l o t o f t h e g o v e rn m e n t r e d t a p e
w e re e l i m i n a t e d a n d a l s o i t i s h i g h tim e t h a t some o f
t h e g o v e r n m e n ta l o f f i c i a l s o f t h i s n a t i o n f o r g e t a b o u t
g i v i n g s u c h c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o t h e i r own p o l i t i c a l a s p i r a ­
t i o n s w hen i t com es t o a c t i n g f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e
U n ite d S t a t e s . 1
T h is e d i t o r i a l w as o n e o f t h e m i l d e s t c o n c e r n i n g W h e e l e r 's c o n d u c t.
The
H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t w as p o s s i b l y W h e e l e r 's l o u d e s t a n d m o st c o n s t a n t
to rm e n to r.
I t g r a n t e d t h a t W h e e le r w as n o t a s o c i a l i s t , b u t a c c u s e d him
o f l i v i n g i n an d b e i n g i n f l u e n c e d by a s o c i a l i s t i c a t m o s p h e r e .
2
W h e e le r ’ s
r e f u s a l t o b e sta m p e d e d i n t o p r o s e c u t i n g t h e o p p o n e n ts o f t h e m in in g
c o m p a n ie s , an d t h e g ro w in g h y s t e r i a i n M ontana e a r n e d him t h e d i s t r u s t
a n d h a t e o f t h e Company a n d t h e p r e s s .
B u t h i s s t a n d g a in e d f o r him t h e
r e s p e c t a n d s u p p o r t o f many l a b o r a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s .
w id e b a s e o f s u p p o r t f r i g h t e n e d t h e Company.
T h is
Thus h i s c o n d u c t a s D i s t r i c t
A t t o r n e y a n d t h e i s s u e o f l o y a l t y w e re u s e d a s a p r e t e n s e i n o r d e r t o
d e s t r o y h im .
The r e a l i s s u e w as t h e e m e rg e n c e o f W h e e le r a s a p o l i t i c a l
f o r c e w i t h i n M o n tan a w h ic h t h e Company c o u ld n o t c o n t r o l .
I f t h e Company
c o u l d d i s c r e d i t W h e e le r a s a t r a i t o r h i s i n f l u e n c e a n d a p p e a l w o u ld
d e c lin e and d is a p p e a r.
The a n t i - W h e e l e r c a m p a ig n i n t e n s i f i e d a s t h e h y s t e r i a i n M ontana
g re w .
By t h e e n d o f 1 9 1 7 , t h e n e w s p a p e rs l o s t a l l r e s t r a i n t a n d e d i t o r i a l s
a g a i n s t W h e e le r a p p e a r e d c o n s t a n t l y .
M ost o f th em w e re e n t i t l e d , " W h e e le r
M u st Go" o r " W h e e le r s h o u ld G o ." "M ontana h a s b e e n p u t t o sham e a n d
h u m i l i a t i o n b y o f f i c e h o l d e r s who h a v e s a c r i f i c e d d u t y t o p o l i t i c s , who
B u t te M in e r, A u g u s t 6 , 1 9 1 7 ^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , S e p te m b e r 8 , 1917•
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
6k
h a v e b e e n c o l d t o t h e c a l l o f p a t r i o t i s m . O n N ovem ber 1 1 , t h e M i s s o u l i a n
a d d r e s s e d a n o p e n l e t t e r t o S e n a t o r W a lsh w h ic h dem anded t h a t W h e e le r b e
rem oved fro m h i s p o s i t i o n .
I n c e n t r a l M ontana t h e e d i t o r i a l s h a d a
T h e re a r e t h o u s a n d s o f A m e ric a n p e o p l e who a r e com ing t o
t h i n k t h a t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s g o v e rn m e n t i s a l t o g e t h e r t o o
e a s y w i t h t h e s e r a t t l e - s n a k e s t r a i t o r s who a r e b u r n i n g
o u r d o c k s , m i l l s , e le v a to r s and f a c t o r i e s . . . .
T h e re seem s
t o b e m ore w o rk i n B u t t e f o r t h e p a t r i o t i c c i t i z e n s who
s i l e n c e d M r. L i t t l e . 5
I n E a s t e r n M o n tan a t h e M ile s C i t y S t a r a t t a c k e d W h e e le r f o r h i s f a i l u r e
t o d e a l w i t h men l i k e F ra n k L i t t l e . ^
The M i s s o u l i a n knew t h e s o l u t i o n t o
t h e p ro b le m o f M o n ta n a , i t c a l l e d u p o n S e n a t o r W a lsh t o recom m end a
. . . f e d e r a l p r o s e c u t i n g a t t o r n e y e q u ip p e d w i t h a h a r d
s p in e , a b r % n t h a t w i l l f u n c tio n p r o p e r ly , and a s e n s e
o f c o n s c i e n c e t h a t p l a c e s d u ty t o t h e p e o p le ab o v e
p o litic s .
Jfo n ta n a i s i n s o r e n e e d o f a n o f f i c i a l o f t h a t s o r t a n d
s i n c e M r. W h e e le r h a s b e e n w e l l r e p a i d f o r a l l p o l i t i c a l
s e r v i c e s t h a t h e may h a v e r e n d e r e d , we t h i n k I t i s tim e
t o b a l a n c e t h e a c c o u n t s , c l o s e t h e b o o k s , a n d o p e n a new
d e a l . W hat s a y y o u ? S e n a t o r . °
The p a p e r s w e re c o m p ^ i ^ n g o f W h e e l e r 's c r i m i n a l l a c k o f la w e n f o r c e ­
m e n t.
On F e b r u a r y 8 , I 918 W h e e le r a n s w e re d h i s a t t a c k e r s i n a s p e e c h a t
G r e a t F a l l s b e f o r e t h e M ontana S o c i e t y o f E q u i t y .
r e c o rd a s D i s t r i c t A tto rn e y .
W h e e le r d e f e n d e d h i s
He a c c u s e d t h e " b i g i n t e r e s t s ” o f a n
^ D a ily M i s s o u l i a n , O c to b e r 1 0 , I 9 1 7 .
^ I b i d . , N ovem ber 9 ; 1 9 1 7 •
^ F e rg u s C o u n ty A rg o s y (L e w isto w n ) N ovem ber 9 , 1917^ M lle s C i t y S t a r , N ovem ber
^ D a ily M i s s o u l i a n , Novem ber
2k, I 9 1 7 .
2k , 1917•>
^ I b i d . , D ecem ber 1 0 , 1 9 1 7 -
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.
65
e f f o r t t o h a v e him re m o v e d .
He a d d e d t h a t t h e y c o m p la in e d t o t h e J u s t i c e
D e p a rtm e n t t h a t h e w as a W o b b ly .
He s t a t e d t h a t h i s r e a l c r im e w as h i s
r e f u s a l t o t a k e o r d e r s fro m t h e c o n s e r v a t i v e m o n ie d I n t e r e s t s . ^
b l u n d e r e d .b y s p e a k in g a t t h e E q u i t y c o n v e n t i o n .
W h e e le r
The M ontana S o c i e t y o f
E q u i t y w h ic h w as o r g a n i z e d i n 1 9 1 4 h a d by t h i s t i m e 1 5 ,0 0 0 m em b ers.
It
w as o r g a n i z e d i n p r o t e s t o f t h e h i g h c o s t s o f p r o d u c t i o n a n d s h ip m e n t
t o th e fa rm e r.
I t a t t a c k e d t h e p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s i n M ontana f o r t h e i r
s u b v e r ie n c e t o th e c o r p o r a te i n t e r e s t s . T h e
a s a s u b v e rs iv e o rg a n iz a tio n .
D u rin g t h e m e e tin g t h e S o c i e t y e n d o r s e d
t h e p o l i c i e s o f t h e Non P a r t i s a n L e a g u e .
S o u th D a k o ta i n 1 9 1 5 ; I t s
M o n tan a p r e s s r e g a r d e d i t
The L e a g u e was o r g a n i z e d i n
s u p p o r t cam e m a in ly fro m d i s c o n t e n t e d f a r m e r s
a n d l a b o r e r s ; t h o u g h t h e l e a g u e w a n te d r e f o r m a n d n o t t h e o v e r th r o w
o f th e c a p i t a l i s t i c
s y s te m , i t w as t r e a t e d by t h e p r e s s a s a t w i n o f
t h e I.W .W . w h ic h s u p p o s e d ly i n f i l t r a t e d i t .
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p a r t i e s a n d i n I 918 g a i n e d c o n t r o l o f t h e R e p u b l i c a n p a r t y i n N o rth
D a k o ta .
I n M o n tan a i n 1918 i t h a d t h i r t e e n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f b o t h
p a r t i e s i n t h e S t a t e H ouse an d two m em bers o f t h e S e n a t e .
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. . -W h e e le r d e s t r o y e d h i s u s e f u l n e s s t o t h e U n ite d
S t a t e s G o v ern m en t b y h i s a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h th e
d i s t u r b i n g a n d t r o u b l e m ak in g e l e m e n ts o f b o th
p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s b y s e e k in g t h e e n d o r s e m e n t o f
t h e Non P a r t i s a n L ea g u e a n d t h e W obbly u n io n o f
B u t t e . 11
T he M ile s C i t y I n d e p e n d e n t b la m e d W h e e le r f o r m a k in g Ifo n ta n a " . . . a M ecca
f o r e v e r y p ro -G e rm a n i n t h e N a t i o n . "
The I n d e p e n d e n t a l s o c r i t i c i z e d
^ G re a t F a l l s T rib u n e , F e b ru a ry 9 , 1918.
10
K . R o ss T o o le , M o n ta n a :
An Uncommon L an d (N orm an, O klahom a, 1 9 5 9 )
219.
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66
S t a t e A t t o r n e y F o rd f o r h i s c r i m i n a l n e g l e c t i n t h e p r o s e c u t i o n o f t h e
s e d itio u s .
13
T h e se e d i t o r i a l s w e re r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e n u m ero u s
a t t a c k s o n W h e e le r w h ic h c o n t i n u e d u n t i l h i s r e s i g n a t i o n .
W h e e le r h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y , a t t h e re c o m m e n d a tio n
o f S e n a t o r W a lsh , i n 1 9 1 3 -
T h is w as W a ls h 's w ay o f c o m p e n s a tin g him
f o r h i s c o u r a g e o u s s t a n d on h i s b e h a l f d u r i n g t h e e l e c t i o n s o f 1 9 1 2 .
The Comparer o p p o s e d W a ls h , a n d W h e e le r , a s t a t e l e g i s l a t o r fro m S i l v e r
Bow, d e m o n s tr a te d g r e a t in d e p e n d e n c e i n o p p o s in g a Company c a n d i d a t e .
W h e e l e r 's t e r m a s D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y w as u n e v e n t f u l p r i o r t o t h e e n t r a n c e
o f t h e U .S . i n W o rld War I .
As e a r l y a s O c to b e r 2 2 , 1 9 1 7 , t h e H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t s u g g e s t e d t h a t
t h e o n e p ro b le m w h ic h S e n a t o r W alsh h a d t o f a c e , i f he d e s i r e d r e - e l e c t i o n ,
w as t h a t o f W h e e l e r W a l s h r e a l i z e d t h a t h e n e e d e d t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e
Compapy t o b e r e - e l e c t e d , b u t c o u l d n o t s e c u r e i t a s lo n g a s h e r e m a in e d
lo y a l to
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w h e e l e r r e s i g n e d i n O c to b e r , I 9 1 8 , a n d w as o f f e r e d
a f e d e r a l j u d g e s h i p i n P anam a.
He r e p l i e d d i s g u s t e d l y t h a t i f h e w e re
t o b e d e p o r t e d h e w o u ld r a t h e r go t o S i b e r i a . W h e e l e r e n u m e r a te d t h e
causes o f h is re s ig n a tio n .
^ ^ I b i d . , May 3 , 1 0 , 1 7 ,
2k, J u n e J, I 9 1 8 .
^ ^ H e le n a I n d e p e n d e n t , O c to b e r 2 2 , 1 9 1 3 .
^ ^ F o r a c c o u n t s o f t h e 1918 s e n a t o r i a l e l e c t i o n i n M o n tan a s e e
R o n a ld B a t e s , " S e n a t o r W a lsh o f M o n ta n a , 1918 - I 9 2 4 , A L i b e r a l u n d e r
P r e s s u r e . " U n p u b lis h e d P h .D . D i s s e r t a t i o n , U n i v e r s i t y o f W o rth C a r o l i n a
(C h a p e l H i l l , 1 9 5 2 ) , 5 2 -7 1 - A ls o R ic h a r d T. R u e t t e n , B u rto n K. W h e e le r
o f M o n ta n a : A P r o g r e s s i v e B etw een W a rs ," U n p u b lis h e d R i.D . D i s s e r t a t i o n ,
U n i v e r s i t y o f O reg o n (E u g e n e , 196 I ) , 1 2 - 1 6 .
^^"W heeler, Y a n k e e , 1 6 2 -1 6 3 •
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
67
5y way o f e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h i s a c t i o n I d e s i r e t o s a y
t h a t t h e A n a co n d a C o p p e r M in in g com pany f o r t h e p a s t
18 m o n th s t h r o u g h i t s p r e s s , th r o u g h t h o s e who owe t h e i r
p o l i t i c a l e x i s t e n c e t o t h a t c o n c e rn , an d th ro u g h t h e i r
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , h a v e c a r r i e d o n a c a m p a ig n o f m i s r e p r e ­
s e n t a t i o n a n d v i l i f i c a t i o n a g a i n s t me u n e q u a le d a n y w h e re
i n t h i s c o u n t r y a n d u n f o r t u n a t e l y b y r e a s o n s o f t h e sam e,
many h o n e s t , p a t r i o t i c c i t i z e n s o f M ontana h a v e becom e
im bued w i t h t h e i d e a t h a t I h a v e b e e n f a i t h l e s s t o t h e
t r u s t im p o se d i n m e. W h ile t h o s e who a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h
t h e w o rk o f t h e o f f i c e o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a t t o r n e y p ay
no h e e d t o t h i s p r o p a g a n d a , y e t t h e f r i e n d s a n d p o l i t i c a l
a d v i s e r s o f t h e Hon. Thomas J . W alsh . . . f e e l t h a t my
r e m a in in g i n o f f i c e may m ean h i s d e f e a t .
I h a v e t e n d e r e d my r e s i g n a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n s a c r i f i c e
my f r i e n d . 17
Army I n t e l l i g e n c e w as a l s o i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e a c t i v i t i e s o f W h e e le r .
On
May 2 2 , 1 9 1 8 , C o lo n e l F . G. K n a b e n s h u e , a n i n t e l l i g e n c e o f f i c e r i n
t h e W e s te rn D e p a r tm e n t, recom m ended t o W a s h in g to n t h a t t h e r e - a p p o i n t m e n t
o f W h e e le r b e d e l a y e d .
A C a p t a i n J o n e s fo r w a r d e d t h e c o n t e n t o f t h e
c a b l e t o t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r tm e n t, w h ic h r e p l i e d t h a t t h e r e w as a
f a c t i o n a l f i g h t i n M o n ta n a , a n d a s k e d t o d i s r e g a r d t h e o f f i c e r ' s re c o m ­
m e n d a tio n .
A r e p o r t b y K n a b e n sh u e t o h i s s u p e r i o r f o l l o w e d .
He r e p o r t e d
th a t:
W h e e le r b y r e a s o n o f h i s p e r s o n a l p o l i t i c a l a f f i l i a t i o n
w i t h t h e I.W .W . s o c i a l i s t s s h i n f e h n e r s [ s i c ] a n d n o n ­
p a r t i s a n l e a g u e a n d s e e k in g r e f u g e b e h in d a t t i t u d e U n ite d
S t a t e s J u d g e B onquim [ s i c j i s n o t h a n d l i n g e s p i o n a g e
s e d i t i o u s and d i s a f f e c t i n g m a t t e r s . . . s i t u a t i o n so g ra v e
h e [ S t e w a r t ] c o n v e n e d l e g i s l a t u r e e x t r a o r d i n a r y May [ s i c ]
l a s t . ..
K n a b e n s h u e recom m ended t h a t " . . . J u d g e B onquim [ s i c ] s h o u ld
b e t r a n s f e r r e d a n d man 50 O % A m e ric a n s e n t t o B u t t e . . .
a l s o r e a p p o i n t m e n t M r. W h e e le r k i l l e d . . .
. . . som e s t r o n g man s h o u l d b e s e n t t o B u t t e t o t a k e o v e r an d
c l e a n t h a t s t a t e o f i t s p r e s e n t w a r s i t u a t i o n b e f o r e mob
17
& r e a t F a l l s T r i b u n e , O c to b e r 1 0 , I 9 1 8 .
]Q
C a p t a i n H. T . J o n e s t o J u s t i c e D e p a rtm e n t a n d R e p ly , May 2 2 , I 9 1 8 .
I n D .J . G l a s s e r F i l e ,
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.
68
r u l e d i s p l a c e c i v i l law a n d o r d e r . P e e l i n g i n M o n tan a a n d
te m p e r o f t h e p e o p le w i l l n o t m uch l o n g e r t o l e r a t e p o l i t i c a l
m a c h i n a t i o n s . . . G o v e rn o r S t e w a r t e x p r e s s e d h i s c o n f id e n c e i n
d e f e a t o f S e n a t o r W a lsh t h i s f a l l b e c a u s e o f h i s s u p p o r t
o f W h e e le r . 19
T h is r e p o r t w as f o r w a r d e d t o A. B ru c e B i e l a s k i , C h i e f o f t h e B u re a u o f
I n v e s t i g a t i o n i n r h e J u s t i c e D e p a r tm e n t.
A s p e c ia l in v e s tig a tio n o f
W h e e le r w as c o n d u c te d ^ a n d t h e D e p a rtm e n t c o n c lu d e d t h a t W h e e le r d i d h i s
jo b w e ll .
20
The t o n e o f K n a b e n su e w as u m i s ta k e n l y f a m i l i a r a s w e re t h e
a c c u s a t i o n s , b u t t h e D e p a rtm e n t o f j u s t i c e s t o o d b y W h e e le r.
From îfey 3 1 ^ t o J u n e 4 , I 9 1 8 , t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e f e n s e c o n ­
d u c t e d h e a r i n g s c o n c e r n i n g t h e a r r e s t o f o n e E b e n h a r d t Von W a ld r u , a n d
i n v e s t i g a t e d c h a r g e s a g a i n s t O s c a r R ch n .
o f th e h e a rin g .
T h is w as t h e a n n o u n c e d p u r p o s e
I n r e a l i t y , i t w as t o b e a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n a n d t h e d e ­
f a m a t io n o f W illia m F . D unne, e d i t o r o f t h e B u t t e B u l l e t i n , a n d t h e
i n q u i s i t i o n o f B u r to n K. W h e e le r .
The p r im a r y i n t e n t o f t h e h e a r i n g w as
t o d e s t r o y t h e c a r e e r o f W h e e le r a n d e l i m i n a t e him a s a f o r c e i n M o n tan a
p o litic s .
I n t h e c a s e o f Von W a ld r u , a German who w as s u s p e c t e d o f e s p i o n a g e
by t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t, L e w is a n d C l a r k C o u n ty h a d h i r e d Von W a ld ru
t o i n f i l t r a t e a n d e x p o s e a sp y r i n g a t B u t t e .
r e l e a s e so h e c o u l d t e s t i f y
The C ounty dem anded h i s
i n some p e n d in g sp y a n d s e d i t i o n c a s e s .
O s c a r R ohn, p r e s i d e n t o f t h e E a s t B u t t e Com pany, w as i n v e s t i g a t e d f o r
b e i n g p ro -G e rm a n , a t h i s own r e q u e s t .
T h is r e s u l t e d fro m t h e d a y s o f
h y s t e r i a i n B u t t e , d u r i n g w h ic h h e h a d h i r e d a sp y t o i l f i l t r a t e
1918.
th e
% n a b e n sh u e to C h ie f o f M ilita r y I n t e l l i g e n c e S e c tio n , Ju n e 4 ,
I n D .J . G la s s e r F i l e .
20
J o h n L o rd O 'B r i e n , A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e ra l t o L t . C o lo n e l
C h u r c h ill, M i l it a r y I n t e l l i g e n c e S e c tio n , Ju n e 1 9 , 1917, i n D .J . G la s s e r
F ile .
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f th e copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout perm ission.
69
I.W .W ., o n l y t o h a v e h i s sp y a c c u s e d o f s p y i n g on t h e Company f o r G erm any.
The C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e recom m ended Von W a ld ru b e r e l e a s e d a n d R ohn d e -
21
d a r e d in n o c e n t.
On May 2 9 , 1 9 1 8 , a j o i n t s e s s i o n o f t h e S t a t e a n d C o u n tie s C o u n c i l s
o f D e f e n s e a d o p t e d a r e s o l u t i o n w h ic h p r o t e s t e d t h e r e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
B u r to n K. W h e e le r.
of
D e f e n s e .^ 3
22
T h is r e s o l u t i o n w as e n d o r s e d by t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il
W h e e le r w as n o t in f o r m e d o f t h i s r e s o l u t i o n .
The M o n ta n a C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e i n v e s t i g a t e d W h e e l e r 's p o l i t i c a l v ie w s
a n d f i n a n c i a l s t a n d i n g . ■I t s u r v e y e d t h e r e c e n t h i s t o r y o f M o n tan a i n
a n a t t e m p t t o d i s g r a c e W h e e le r.
I t t r i e d t o l i n k Dunne t o W h e e le r , b u t
t h i s f a i l e d , s i n c e Dunne a n d W h e e le r h a d m et o n ly o n c e .
a t t e m p t e d t o l i n k W h e e le r w i t h t h e I.W .W
w e re m uch a b u s e d .
o il
The C o u n c il
He o n c e s a i d t h a t t h e I .W .W .'s
W h e e le r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e a b u s e d o n e s w e re t h e m in e r s
among whom o n ly a few w e re W o b b lie s .
25
When t h i s l i n e o f q u e s t i o n i n g f a i l e d , W h e e l e r 's f i n a n c e s a n d c o n ­
t r i b u t i o n t o t h e w a r e f f o r t came u n d e r a t t a c k .
W h e e l e r 's t o r m e n t o r s
f a i l e d t h e r e a l s o s i n c e W h e e le r d e c l a r e d t h a t h e h ad made s p e e c h e s
pi
M in u te s o f M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e f e n s e , F o l d e r d a t e d M ar. 2 7 , 1 9 1 8 .
M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e P a p e r s i n S t a t e H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y o f M o n ta n a .
H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s M in u te s .
22
J o i n t S e s s i o n S t a t e an d C o u n ty C o u n c i ls o f D e f e n s e , May 2 9 , 1 9 1 8 .
( H e le n a , 19-18) 1 2 - 1 3 . M ontana C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e P a p e r s , i n S t a t e
H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y o f M o n tan a.
23
P ii
M i n u t e s , f o l d e r d a t e d M arch 2 7 , I 9 1 8 .
T e s tim o n y , 3 4 9 , 1 1 3 4 .
^ ^ I b id ., 352.
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
lO
s u p p o r t i n g t h e w a r e f f o r t , a n d h a d c o n t r i b u t e d a n d b o u g h t L i b e r t y B onds.
R e p e a t e d l y t h e m o st p e r s o n a l q u e s t i o n s w e re d i r e c t e d a t W h e e le r , dem ons t r a t i n g u t t e r c o n te m p t f o r i n d i v i d u a l d i g n i t y a n d p r i v a c y .
26
M r. L e a s e o f t h e C o u n c i l , w h i l e q u e s t i o n i n g W h e e le r, a t t e m p t e d t o
b la m e him f o r L i t t l e ’ s m u rd e r:
"You a r e aw a re o f t h e f a c t t h a t t h e v e r d i c t o f t h e
S t a t e o f M o n ta n a , t h a t i f t h e F e d e r a l o f f i c i a l s o f B u t t e
h a d b e e n d o in g t h e i r d u t y , t h a t w o u ld n o t h av e b e e n n e c ­
e s s a r y f o r t h e c i t i z e n s o f B u t t e t o h an g M r. L i t t l e .
W h e e le r a n s w e re d :
"Now l e t me s a y t h a t I d o n ’ t a g r e e w i t h
y o u t h a t t h a t i s t h e v e r d i c t o f t h e p e o p le o f M o n ta n a . How­
e v e r I r e e l t h a t some p e o p l e b e l i e v e t h a t , and t h e y b e l i e v e
i t b e c a u s e o f t h e f a c t t h a t some o f t h e n e w sp a p e rs i n t h i s
S t a t e h a v e made t h a t c h a r g e w i t h o u t a b s o l u t e l y a n y f o u n d ­
a t i o n w h a te v e r , a n d s im p ly b e c a u s e o f t h e f a c t t h e y t h e y
w a n te d t o p r e j u d i c e c e r t a i n p e o p l e a g a i n s t me a n d my o f f i c e .
Now, t h e r e i s n o t a q u e s t i o n o f a d o u b t b u t w h a t h e w as n o t
h u n g by a n y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e p e o p le o f t h e c i t y o f
B u t t e . 27
E d i t o r C am p b ell a n g e r e d W h e e le r , who o n c e r e t o r t e d b y c a l l i n g t h e
I n d e p e n d e n t " a b s o l u t e l y s u b s i d i z e d a n d s u b s e r v i e n t t o m in in g i n t e r e s t s
o f th e
s t a t e . "2 8
As W h e e le r becam e a n g r i e r , h e n e g l e c t e d a l l c a u t i o n
a n d s t a t e d t o t h e C o u n c il o f D e f e n s e :
. . . I am n o t a S o c i a l i s t , n e v e r h a v e b e e n a S o c i a l i s t ,
an d n e v e r e x p e c t t o b e a s o c i a l i s t , n o t o n l y t h a t I f e e l ,
h o w e v e r, a b s o l u t e l y t h a t a g r e a t marçy p r i n c i p a l s [ s i c ]
o f s o c i a l i s m a r e c o r r e c t , a n d t h e y a r e b e i n g a d o p te d
by t h e d e m o c r a tic a n d r e p u b l i c a n p a r t i e s , b u t I f e e l
t h i s , t h a t as f a r a s th e s o c i a l i s t p a r ty i s co n c e rn e d ,
a n d s o c i a l i s t i c i d e a s , t h a t t h e y a r e so i m p r a c t i c a l t h a t
t h e y c a n n o t b e c a r r i e d i n t o e f f e c t , and t h a t t h e y a r e
p u r e l y u t o p i a n i d e a s . 29
W h e e le r d e s c r i b e d t h e h y s t e r i a
26i b
i d . , 3 6 9-381.
27 l b
id ,
i n N b n ta n a .
He s a i d t h a t h e
36 5 -3 6 6 .
^ ^ Ib id .. , 449.
29 i b i d . , 4 5 0 .
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
71
r e c e i v e d t h o u s a n d s o f r e p o r t s w h ic h s t a t e d t h a t many M o n tan an s l o o k e d
l i k e Germ an s p i e s , an d t h a t he r e c e i v e d r e p o r t s o f p l a n e s f l y i n g o v e r
t h e m o u n ta in s , t h e p l a i n s , t h e c i t y o f H e le n a an d t h e B i t t e r r o o t T a l l e y - a l l o f w h ic h , he a d d e d c a u s t i c a l l y w o u ld i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e G erm ans w e re
v e ry a c t i v e i n M o n t a n a . R e p e a t e d l y he c h a rg e d t h a t th e i n t e n t o f th e
h e a r i n g s w as t o r u i n him p o l i t i c a l l y .
L . 0 . E v a n s , who s e r v e d a s l e g a l
a d v i s e r t o t h e Mj D, w h ic h d e m o n s t r a t e d a d e f i n i t e l i n k w i t h t h e Com pany,
e x p l a i n e d t o W h e e le r t h a t h i s d i f f i c u l t u e s r e s u l t e d fro m t h e ^ a c ^ t h a t
in th e p ro s e c u tio n o f t r a i t o r s ,
s e d i t i o r s and a l i e n s h e d id n o th in g .
32
W h e e l e r 's u t t e r c o n te m p t f o r t h e MCD w as m a n i f e s t e d i n t h e s t a t e m e n t :
"How w o u ld y o u l i k e t o h a v e some l i t t l e
b o d y o f men g e t t o g e t h e r i n
s e c r e t m e e tin g a n d p a s s r e s o l u t i o n s . . . "
The MOD a c t e d , a c c o r d i n g
t o W h e e le r , t o do " . . . e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e i n t h e w o r ld t o p r e v e n t my
r e - a p p o i n t m e n t i n W a s h in g to n , a n d i t h a s b e e n d o n e f o r p o l i t i c a l r e a s o n s . "3 ^
W illia m F . D unne, e d i t o r o f t h e B u t t e B u l l e t i n r i d i c u l e d t h e C o u n c i l .
H is f a v o r i t e t a r g e t w as e d i t o r W i l l C a m p b e ll, whom Dunne i n t i m a t e d ,
h a d t a u g h t him how t o l i e .
35
D u n n e, b r a z e n l y e x p l a i n e d h i s M a r x is t
p h i l o s o p h y t o t h e m em bers o f t h e C o u n c i l . H e
i n s i s t e d t h a t th e y " a l l
h a v e grow n l e a n a n d g r a y , o r f a t a n d b a l d i n s e r v i c e o f b i g
Dunne s u r p r i s e d t h e MCD by d a r i n g t o
b u s i n e s s .
q u e s tio n th e l e g a l i t y o f th e
3° l b i d . , 1 0 9 8 .
^^Ibld., 1237.
3^ I b i d . , 1 2 3 4 .
^ ^ I b i d . , 1289 - 1 2 9 0 .
3^ I b i d . , 1291 .
35 ib id ., 1338.
3^ I b ld . , 1342-1345.
3Î B u t t e B u l l e t i n , May 3 1 , 1 9 1 8 .
R ep ro d u ced with p erm ission o f the copyright ow ner. Further reproduction prohibited w ithout p erm ission.
"3 7
T2
p ro c e e d in g s
The C o u n c i l 's a t t e m p t t o d i s c r e d i t W h e e le r f a i l e d .
O ut o f o f f i c e
f o r tw o y e a r s h e a t t e m p t e d t o c a p t u r e t h e g o v e r n o r s h i p o f M o n tan a i n
1920 a n d f a i l e d m i s e r a b l y .
B u t t h e im age o f in d e p e n d e n c e v i s à v i s
t h e Company w h ic h h e a c q u i r e d d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d h e l p e d him t o c r e a t e
a s o l i d b a s e f o r a lo n g d i s t i n g u i s h e d c a r e e r a s U n ite d S t a t e s S e n a t o r
fro m M o n ta n a .
38
T e s tim o n y , 1 3 3 8 .
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
CONCLUSION
The s t u d y h a s show n t h a t t h e m i n e r s ' s t r i k e o f 1917 w as a s p o n ­
t a n e o u s s t r i k e , an d n o t a r a d i c a l p l o t t o
w a r e f f o r t a s c la im e d b y t h e c o m p a n ie s .
s a b o t a g e t h e U n ite d S t a t e s
The m in e r s dem ands f o r b e t t e r
w a g es an d s a f e r w o rk in g c o n d i t i o n s w e re n o t u n r e a s o n a b l e a n d c e r t a i n l y
n o t in te n d e d to f o r c e a r a d i c a l - s o c i a l i s t r e v o lu tio n .
The m in in g com­
p a n i e s , g e n u i n e l y f r i g h t e n e d b y t h e I.W .W ., c h o s e t o . f i g h t t h e new
u n io n n o t on th e b a s i s o f th e i s s u e s b u t th ro u g h a n u n r e s tr a i n e d p r e s s
c a m p a ig n , w h ic h c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e w a r h y s t e r i a .
T he I.W .W . c o n s i s t e d
o f a s m a ll p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e l a b o r f o r c e a t B u t t e .
The t h o u g h t o f
v i o l e n t W o b b lie s , o p p o s in g t h e w a r e f f o r t p o s s e s s i n g d y n a m ite u n d e r g r o u n d
w as e n o u g h o f a j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e c o m p a n ie s t o com bat th e m i n e v e r y
w ay p o s s i b l e .
The m a in te n a n c e o f t h e " o p e n sh o p " w as t h e g o a l o f t h e
m in in g c o m p a n ie s , t h e c a m p a ig n o f h y s t e r i a h a d a s i t s aim t h e k e e p in g o f
t h e s t a t u s quo a t B u t t e .
The s e n s e l e s s m u rd e r o f F ra n k L i t t l e , s t i l l u n s o l v e d , c a n b e u n d e r ­
s to o d i n th e c o n te x t o f g e n e ra l p o lic y o f tu r n in g a p e a c e fu l s t r i k e
in t o a v i o l e n t o n e, and th e n c ru s h i t .
The B u t t e U n io n h a d a s m a l l b u t
v o c a l I.W .W . e le m e n t i n i t , b u t c e r t a i n l y t h e 1 5 ,0 0 0 s t r i k e r s w e re n o t
a l l W o b b lie s .
I h e m u rd e r o f L i t t l e r e s u l t e d i n t h e com ing o f t h e arm y
to p a t r o l th e s t r e e t s o f B u tte , and th e i n t e n s i f i c a t i o n o f th e h y s t e r i a
i n M c n ta n a .
T h is w as e x p l o i t e d b y e m p lo y e r s a n d some i n s t a t e g o v e r n ­
m e n t i n M o n tan a a n d a n t i - s e d i t i o n a c t s w e re p a s s e d .
The M o n tan a S e d i t i o n
A c t becam e t h e b a s i s f o r t h e s u b s e q u e n t f e d e r a l a c t l i m i t i n g fr e e d o m o f
e x p re s s io n .
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
74
Some p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s d a r e d t o o p p o s e t h e c o m p a n ie s ' i n t e r e s t s a n d
t h e h y s t e r i a , an d c o n s e q u e n t l y cam e u n d e r m e r c i l e s s a t t a c k .
The u n ­
w i l l i n g n e s s o f J u d g e B o u rq u in an d D i s t r i c t A t t o r n e y W h e e le r t o b e
s ta m p e d e d i n t o a c t i o n t o c r u s h t h e o p p o n e n ts o f t h e m in in g i n t e r e s t s ,
r e s u l t e d i n t h e S p e c i a l S e s s i o n o f t h e M o n tan a L e g i s l a t u r e , F e b r u a r y ,
1 9 1 8 , a n d i n t h e i n q u i s i t i o n o f W h e e le r b e f o r e t h e S t a t e C o u n c il o f
D e fe n s e i n J u n e , I 9 1 8 .
W h e e le r h a d e s t a b l i s h e d h i m s e l f a s a c h a m p io n
o f l a b o r a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l g ro iip s a g a i n s t t h e A n a co n d a Com pany.
For
y e a r s h e h a d d e m o n s t r a t e d in d e p e n d e n c e a n d c o u r a g e i n o p p o s in g t h e
Company an d h e becam e a p o l i t i c a l f o r c e t o b e r e c k o n e d w i t h .
The
p r i n c i p a l p u r p o s e o f t h e M o n tan a C o u n c il o f D e fe n s e h e a r i n g d u r i n g
J u n e , 1 9 1 8 , w as t o w re c k t h e c a r e e r o f B u r to n K . W h e e le r.
The e v e n t s o f 1 9 1 7 -1 9 1 8 h a d a d i r e c t e f f e c t o n t h e S e n a t o r i a l
e le c tio n s o f I 918.
J e a n e t t e R a n k i n 's d e f e a t came a s a r e s u l t o f h e r
s u p p o rt o f la b o r and v o te a g a in s t w a r .
a s s u r e d him v i c t o r y i n I 9 1 8 .
W a l s h 's d u m ping o f W h e e le r
The p o l i t i c a l c a r e e r s o f W h e e le r a n d
R a n k in , th o u g h , d i d n o t come t o a n e n d .
D u r in g t h i s p e r i o d t h e y g a in e d
a p o l i t i c a l im age o f c o u r a g e a n d in d e p e n d e n c e w h ic h s t u c k w i t h th em f o r
many y e a r s .
T he p o l i t i c a l v ie w s a n d l o y a l t i e s o f W h e e le r c h a n g e d , b u t
t h e r e s p e c t a n d a d m i r a t i o n o f t h o s e h e ch a m p io n e d d u r i n g t h e t u r b u l e n t
y e a r s p r o p e l l e d him i n t o a lo n g c a r e e r i n t h e U .S . S e n a t e .
The C om panies s u c c e e d e d i n m a i n t a i n i n g t h e " o p e n s h o p ," a n d rem o v ed
some o f t h e i r o p p o n e n ts i n t h e S t a t e .
L a b o r d i v i d e d c o u ld n o t s u c c e s s ­
f u l l y f a c e t h e m in in g i n t e r e s t s , h o s t i l e p u b l i c o p i n i o n , a n d t h e a rm y .
The g o a l o f t h e A n a co n d a Company w as t o k e e p i t s
d o m in a n c e o f t h e s t a t e .
p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m ic
T h u s, t h e h y s t e r i c a l p r e s s c a m p a ig n , t h e
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
75
S p e c i a l S e s s i o n , t h e c a m p a ig n a g a i n s t R a n k in , B o u r q u in , W h e e le r an d
l a b o r v e r e m eans t o p r o lo n g t h e C o m p an y 's r u l e o f M o n tan a.
The m in e o w n e rs o n o n e s i d e , e x p l o i t e d t h e h y s t e r i a .
On t h e o t h e r
s i d e t h e r a d i c a l l a b o r o r g a n i z a t i o n b a t t l e d f o r su p re m a cy i n t h e S t a t e .
L i t t l e s a n i t y and o b j e c t i v i t y e x i s t e d i n th e e m b a ttle d la n d .
The e v e n t s i n M ontana d u r i n g W o rld W ar I , p r o v i d e a d a n g e r o u s
p r e c e d e n t t o t h e c o u r s e o f e v e n t s i n a d e m o c ra c y d u r i n g a w a r .
The
p ro b le m s w e r e r e a l i n many c a s e s , t h e s o l u t i o n s w e re n o t , a s e m o tio n s
r a th e r th a n re a s o n p r e v a ile d .
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
P u b l i c D ocum ents
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m i s s i o n t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , " R e p o r ts o f t h e D ep a r tm e n t o f L a b o r . W a s h in g to n : U .S . G overnm ent P r in tin g ~ ffI c e 7 T 9 1 9 .
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8o
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