The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-17
MINE OWNERS
MAKE CHARGES
Western Federation of Miners
Declared a Combination in
Restraint of Trade.
OTHER SIDE BEING HEARD
WORK OF THE COMMISSION AT
GOLDFIELD.

NfOluIleius NeN.s Lee 10 he 1Oiu-
field Mine Owners association submit
ted a statement to the commission
which President Roosevelt has sent to
Goldfield, this afternoon, which de-
clares that the Western Federation of
Miners is not a labor organization, but
combination iii restraint of trade;
that it is in fact a reasonable organi-
cation, and in the statement are quo
tations from the preamble from the
constitution and bylaws of the West
ern Federation of Miners in support of
the contention.
Will Be Considered.
This statement has been officially re-
ceived by the commission and the con-
sideration of it will be begun at o'clock
tomorrow. Today was spent by the
commission is going over the infOrma-
ton obtained by General Funston and
Governor Sparks. All of this was laid
before the members of the commits
sion, who were in executive session this
morning. and the entire day was con-
sumed in considering it.
General Funston and Governor
SPARKS will leave Goldfield on .Wednes-
day morning, General Funston to re-
turn to San Francisco, and Governor
Sparks to go to his ranch to recuper-
ate.
McKinnon Before Commission.
Tonight President McKinnon of the
Goldfield Miners union, was called be-
fore the commission and asked to give
his version of the trouble No intima-
ton of what passed during the session
is given out, but after the meeting it
was learned that President McKinnon
stated to the members of the commits
sion that the members of the Western
Federation of Miners have been peace
ably inclined at all times, and was en-
phatic in his declaration that no neces-
sity has existed for the presence of
federal troops. He has promised to
prepare a comprehensive statement of
the Western Federation side of the
controversy.
Strike Breakers Arrive.
Strike breakers to the number Of
thirty were brought into Goldfield to-
day, and tomorrow VIII go TO work in
the mines.
The officers of the Mine Owners as
ISOLATION assert tonight that a larger
number will be brought i'm tomorrow,
some coming from the south. and some
from California points. No demonstra-
ton was made today when the new
men alighted from the train and it is
known now that the plan of the asso-
citation is to bring the men in small
numbers each day until sufficient mi
ners are in the camp to take the places
of all Of the members of the Western
Fedora ton who have struck In the
meantime opportunity is being given to
to renoGnce all allegiance to that or
ganization and return to work. Not
many of the members are taking adj
vantage of the offer, however. The to-
tai number to date is placed by the
mine operators at 100. The operators
say that they expect many more to ac-
cept the offer when the 500 men who
are coming from the outside are at
work The union officials deny that
this number have gone back to work.
Suit Suggested.
Commissioner Charles p. Neill. labor
commissioner; Herbert Knox Smith,
commissioner of corporations, and
Lawrence o. Murray, assistant secre-
tary of the department of commerce
and labor, declined to make any state
ment tonight regarding the results of
their Investigations today, but from the
Mine Owners association a statement
as to their contentious, embodied in
their statement to the commission, was
obtained. The mine owners suggest the
bringing of a suit against the Western
Federation of Miners by the govern
ment for the dissolution of that organ
iZati0n as a trust, combination and
conspiracy in restraint of trade among
the states. Also the bringing of Grim
inal proceedings on the same grounds,
the allegation being made that the or
ganizatiOn is reasonable.
The retention of the troops in Gold
field for an indefinite period is sug
gested for the protection of life and
property.
Will Last Two Weeks.
The investigation that will be made
by the commission will require at least
two weeks time. and during that per-
iod the control of affairs in Goldfield
as far as the government is concerned,
will be practically in the hands of the
commission. An attempt will be made
to start up the Nevada-Goldfield Re
duction company's works tomorrow
Continued on Page 2.