The Hand and Machine Sheep Shearers’ Union, Local No. 275 of the radical Western Federation of Miners-allied American Labor Union, forerunner of the I.W.W., holds their third convention in Butte, Montana.

‘Sheep Shearers’ Union Third Annual Convention Call’ from Montana News. Vol. 2 N0. 39. June 15, 1904.

Pursuant to the power vested in us by the Constitution and By-Laws we the executive board of the Hand and Machine Sheep Shearers’ Union, No. 275. A.L.U., hereby issue the call for the Third Annual Convention of the above organization to meet at Miners’ Union Hall at Butte, Montana, at 10 o’clock a.m., Monday, July 25, 1904, and to continue in session until all business before it is completed.

In accordance with Section 2, of Article 6, of the Constitution, the convention shall be composed of the following: President and General Organizer, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, all members of the Executive Board, and one delegate for every twenty members in good) standing.

Whether there are twenty or more members in good standing, a secret meeting can be held and delegates elected. Delegates must be elected by secret ballot where there is more than one candidate.

On the present membership, the organization is entitled to about 50 delegates. Before the time of the convention, we hope to have enough members to make up a convention of about 70 delegates.

We want to urge on the members everywhere to see to it that they elect delegates. We also want to urge all members, who can afford it, to attend the convention. All members in good standing can be admitted to the convention.

Duplicate credentials are sent with this call. Be careful to fill these credentials out correctly. Remember that the original and duplicate must be filled out for each and every delegate elected. Both the original and duplicate must be signed by at least 20 members in good standing, the same members signing both original and duplicate. After the credentials are properly filled out and signed by the required number of names, give the original to the delegate elected and send the duplicate to the Secretary-Treasurer, box 1067, Butte, Montana. Credentials should be at headquarters not later than July 20th. If sent sooner it will make the work of the convention much easier and not delay us any.

This will probably be one of the most important meetings of the Sheep Shearers’ Union. Already we have shown the great benefit of organization and shearers’ everywhere are coming to realize that only through organization can they better their condition. They know that, single-handed, nothing can be accomplished. We have demonstrated this year that our organization is a power in the way of bettering our conditions. The strike at Rawlins, while it may not be considered a victory in one sense, yet it has shown that even the powerful Carbon County Woolgrowers’ Association, with all its financial strength cannot either awe or intimidate our members. With not even a single exception, our members have absolutely refused to accede to the demands of the Woolgrowers of Carbon county. The Association has been placed on the unfair list by the Shearers’ Union, and they are now placed in the position where they cannot get a single experienced shearer. They are at present working men who are altogether inexperienced and unfit for the work; they are doing barely one third the amount of work an average shearer could do. This is proven by the statement of one of the members of the Carbon Woolgrowers’ Association who made this statement to one of our officers that the strike at Rawlins had already cost him $10,000. Yes, it probably cost this amount, but how much more will it cost before they are willing to pay a living price, and recognize our union? This strike will be such a severe lesson to the Carbon County Woolgrowers that they will be only too glad next year to come to the union and grant our demands. We don’t ask for an excessive price; all we want is a living price, and one we are entitled to.

Today the Sheep Shearers’ Union has one of the brightest futures before it of any union in America. It is composed of the truest and staunchest union men that can be found anywhere. Let us reap the greatest benefits. This can only be accomplished by getting together in one organization. One of the first steps in this direction can be taken by all the members attending the Third Annual Convention. Wake up boys and take an interest! Don’t feel that you are not needed. You are; we want your help; we must have it in order to get the best results. We want every member to be heard. So get on your “fighting clothes” and come to the convention. If we can’t get a hall big enough to accommodate the crowd, we will rent the Broadway theatre, which has a seating capacity of about 3000.

Fraternally,

M.C. FOREST, President and Gen’l Organizer. A.E. SIMONSON, Vice-President. R. C. SMITH, Secretary-Treasurer. PLATTE RICHARDSON, G. F. BALZER, G. A. JOHNSON, Executive Board.

The Montana News first published in Lewistown, Montana, began as the Judith Basin News published by J. H. Walsh in 1904 as the paper of the Socialist Party of Montana. The Montana News moved from Lewistown to Helena, and from 1905 was edited by Ida Crouch-Hazlett. Splits within the State Party led to a number of conflicts over the paper, which ran as a weekly until 1912.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/montana-news/040615-montananews-v02n39.pdf