Century of Butte Stories

Spielers 1911

By John Astle

(A column featuring stories from Butte's newspapers during the past 100 years).

One of the more controversial occupations in Butte in the early part of the century, not directly connected with
the red light district, was spieling. They were also called town criers. Webster says that the word spiel' means a
"voluble (unrestrained, wordy) dissertation usually intended to persuade."

A main character in Myron Brinig's Wide Open Town , a story about Butte, is Roddy Cornett, a spieler. One of
Roddy's employers is Moses Singermann, a jewish merchant on East Park St., (the author's father, Moses
Brinig). Roddy stood on various street corners on East Park, shouting his advertising: "Big sale today. Moses
Singermann gives miners a square deal. Where $1 does the work of $10. Prices slashed! - Baseball today at
Columbia Gardens, Silver Bow vs. Seattle," etc.

During the course of the novel a minor crises arises when Roddy, who is also a singer in local establishments,
loses his voice, and can no longer earn a living.

Roddy might have been based on a real street spieler' in Butte (the occupation listed in the city directory),
named Harry Clifford. In February, 1911, Harry was taken into Police Judge Alexander J. McGowan's court and
charged with "committing a nuisance by making an unseemly loud and unusual noise." Both the prosecution
and defense had prepared for a hard fight.

City Attorney Nicholas A. Rotering presented the case for the prosecution. He called a long list of witnesses
to testify, including lodging house keepers and businessmen on East Park St. Witnesses for the defendant,
represented by Attorney James M. Hinkle, included Rev. Slator C. Blackiston of St. John's Episcopal Church,
Attorney William Carroll, businessmen and a union representative.

Prosecution witnesses included Mrs. Sarah Greenberg, general store, 52 E. Park, who passed the petition
against Clifford; Mrs. Sylvia Snell, Oakland Block, 32 E. Park; Mrs Pearl Lamphear, Hoffman Block, 43 E. Park;
and Jack Stroble, Ivanhoe Block, 70 E. Park, all testified that the noise of the spielers made it impossible to rent
rooms facing Park Street.

Stroble said, "It isn't too bad when there is only one spieler, but when three or four get out there and are going
at one time, it is intolerable."

Attorney Hinkle attempted to show that Mrs. Greenberg's real motive was business rivalry. Hinkle also asked
the witnesses if they had ever heard the Salvation Army playing and preaching on Butte's street corners. The
witnesses said that they had, but insisted it did not disturb anyone because they never stayed more that 15
minutes at a time.

Alexander Curry, agent for the Northern Pacific Express, 30 E.Park, said that sometimes it got so bad that it was
impossible to hear over his telephone.

George Bruno, shoe store owner, 45 E. Park, said it would drive anyone crazy to have to stand and listen to the
noise for days. In reply to cross examination, Bruno said he had no feeling of business rivalry.

Moses Brinig, clothing store, 34 E. Park, who employed Clifford, was the first witness for the defense. He told
of having the defendant arrested once when he was employed by Barney Epstein, one of his competitors. His
real reason at the time, he said, was that he was jealous of the way his business was attracted away by Epstein.
Later he decided it was good business policy and he employed Harry Clifford to work for him.

"Half a dozen merchants in this city hire spielers and they find it helps business," Brinig said. The hours for
spielers were from 11 to 12 and 2 to 5, and Brinig said he paid the union scale of one dollar an hour.

Rev. Blackiston testified he knew Clifford and he said he did not find spieling annoying. He did acknowledge
later that he probably wouldn't enjoy it in front of his home.

Attorney Carroll said he didn't notice Clifford's voice from his office on the fourth floor of the Owsley Block.
"The worst noise we have is when the police patrol comes down the alley."

Charles O'Connor, 57 East Park, and Mrs. Georgie Hanson, who runs a rooming house at 31 East Park, both
testified the spielers were not a nuisance.

Henry J. Davis, Business Agent for the Butte Workingmen's Union, testified that he made it his business to
see that the spielers were not a nuisance.

Judge McGowan took the case under advisement. A few weeks later the city council passed an ordnance that
specified the hours of the spielers. They were also told to "keep moving."