Arizona silver belt., 1897-11-25
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER as. 1897,
CLIFTON VERSUS GLOBE.

tho Lordsburg (N. M Liberal take exceptions to the editorial published in our issue of November II, under tLe caption of the "Moral of the Clifton Crimes" We anticipated as much, and had we not provoked testy re- joinder from each of them, We would have been greatly disappointed. The newspaper that has the courage to probe social ulcer must expect oppo sition, and we not only expected it in this instance but knew from what sources to look for it, and. further more, we welcome it for the reason that the more the Clifton ard Morenci cesspool is stirred the more offensive it will become in the nostrils of the de- cent people of the territory. A weak cause is never strengthened by dis cussion.
 The hypocrite when assailed may sometimes avert exposure by maintain ing discreet and dignltied silence, and by assuming an injured air may even gain sympathizers among cred ulous people. But prod him until he resents the attack, provoke him to anger, and his disguise becomes as yul- nerable as sieve is full of holes.
 TIE BELT has said: "rhe low moral condition of Clifton and Morenci has for years been notorious, and is chargeable to the policy of employing degraded foreign labor in nearly all subordinate positions and to the per nicious credit system maintained by the companies" That is succinct statement, the force of winch has not been shaken, neither can it be by any amount of palaver. The Bulletin is disingenuous in stating that more than 50 per cent of the employees of the Arizona Copper company, working in the reduction works and machine shops and connected with the Ari- zons & New Mexico railroad, with their homes in Clifton, are Amer icans." The SILVER BELT never as- serted otherwise. What We did say was that skilled workmen are employed in positions of responsibility. Of course this is necessary to successful operation, but the master mechanics, engineers, shift bosses and other skilled workmen employed are but a very small fraction of the whole force, and these few white men mostly live ut Clifton, giving it thin veneering of responsibility.
 Clifton is the gateway to the great mines lying several miles beyond, about Norenci. Entrances to dens of vice are usually made attractive, or at least sufficiently respectable to allay suspicion. Apologists for the Arizona Copper company have endeayored with some show of plausibility to shift the onus for the dcpravity existing at Mo- renci upon the Detroit company under the management of MT. Church, (the saintly gentleman who is now endow- ing churches and orphan asyiums in Denver when in fact the Clifton com pany is equally responsible. The Ari- zona Copper company's principal mines are the Metcnlf, Longfellow, Coronado and Detroit, and the com pany maintains stores at Morenci and Metcalf, as well as at Clifton. The company employees Mexican and Euro pean labor. of the lowest type, in the mines. They are paid at the rate of Sl.80 per day, most of which they draw in boletas, the cash value of which is 75 cents on the dollar, some- times less, according to how badly the peons want money.
 The Liberal has the assurance to assert that Sl.S0 per day, as paid by she Arizona Copper company, lis the highest rate of wages on any pay roll opposite the names of common laborers in either teyritory"-New Mexico or Arizona.
 It may Do 50 in New Mexico, as cheap labor and the boleto system have almost ruined the mining indus try in that territory. Applied to Ari- zona the statement is false. Had the Liberal said that $lS was lower rate of wages than was paid common labor in any mining camp in this terri tory, excepting Clifton and Morehci, the statement would have been strictly true. Three dollars is the prevailing rate of wages paid in Globe, aud in most other camps in the territory, aud the men draw their pay in full and are privileged to trade where shey please. Globe needs no defense. There is DO community of equal size in the terri tory of Arizona with better reputa- ton and record for the probity of her citizens and obedience to law.
 discrimination is weak weapon with which to fight an accusation. The Bulletin and Liberal, instead of trying to controvert the statements made by us apainat tho svafem en,nloysd nj