This talk is being offered in conjunction with the Lewis and Clark Library's Big Read 2024 of “The Cold Millions” by Jess Walter, which touches on the importance of labor organization in Montana's history.
Around the turn of the century, the Intermountain West’s mining districts convulsed with labor unrest. Miners formed unions to fight for better wages and working conditions, while mine owners formed associations to stop these efforts and resorted to hiring undercover operatives from the Pinkerton National Detective Agency to disrupt union organizing. These clashes turned violent on several occasions. Bartos will explore how the Pinkerton’s campaign against the Western Federation of Miners led to a radicalization of many of its members and the founding of the Industrial Workers of the World.