The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1910-02-05

and stated that he had urged them 10
go on with the work. This report has
since been proven to have been utter
iy false and uniounded made purpose
~ 10 deceive those who had the well
fare of themselves and the community
at heart and would therefore have put
an end 10 FURTHER agitation. had they
known the company TO be opposed TO
the action taken. About this time the
Homestake company made its first
move in the controversy by bringing
suit against the union for-the acts of
some OF its committee men. To the
rank and file this came like a thun-
derbolt; 1t was learned that some of
the committees had given false re-
ports and others had used threats TO
induce men to join. The conserva-
tive forces got busy at .once. Mr..
Tracy and others Of the leaders were
seen and told that the resolution
must be Withdrawn. that.they would
not stand for trouble with the com
pany. in fact. they would leave
the union unless such was done. A
promise that the resolution would be
Withdrawn at the next mee ing was
given. but like all socialistic promises
made, made to be broken, this was
no exception
Each party had now made its
first moye-the union through its out
side socialist agitators, .the first the
Homestake company. in sheer self
defense. the next.
The socialist wing of the organized
labor then called mass meeting to
condemn the action OF the Homestake
company, before which Mr.. Grier ap-
peared, reviewing the various acts OF
the union which led up to the issuance
OF the notice by the company. At
this meeting Freeman Knowles. in
the words of the communicant, "was
allowed to freely insult the man vino
could do more and has done more for
labor organized and unorganized than
a thousand Knowles could or would
do.
An attempt was then made TO have
the resolutions withdrawn as basis
for settlement hut this attempt, ac-
cording TO the cummunicant, was fust
rated by a campaign OF direct decept-
ion and fraud in which the union
members were led 60 believs that a
satisfactory arrangement Of terms was
practically assured. AT the meeting Of
No. 81 the article states that Chris
Christensen said
No, we did neb settle, and by
q ID, we won't settle until 80 cents
or 81 n day is tagged to our pay. The
Homestake has run us long time, now
we are gong TO run tine Homestake
boys. IL belongs TO us, and by Cd
some of these days we will take il
Permission for strike had been vot-
cd. However. the leader. realized that
in order to make it legal in accordance
with the constitution and bylaws OF
the federation referendum vote
would have to be taken. and should
this be done. they would yet be de-
Feated in their effort to bring about
strike consequently. Mr.. Ryan moved
that Mr.. KirwRn be empowered TO
have full authority to call strike at
any time he-saw Ht This motion was
carried, although not one-third of
ihe members present voted for it, thus
nvalIdating the vote OF 1000 men.
Ind placing the judgment If one man
md he paid agitator. against the
'ane and impartial Judgment Of the
men most directly interested.
In the face OF the fact that strike
night be called at any minute the
.om pany made no move, but waited
or the next act OF the union. and this
anne on Monday evening, Nov. ~
90g. Al the regular meeting OF the
Inion that night, after matters had
'een fully discussed and IL became
vident that Mr. Kirwan was about 20
se the authority conferred upon him
" calling strike. Mr. Thomas, a
oisting engineer, asked Mr. Kirwan
hat. IL IN the event OF strike being
allied. the hoisting engineers should he
flowed 10 remain at their poet long
nough 10 hoist any perishable proper
y that had 10 be- brought to The sur
ace such as horses. powder fuse. and
he like Mr.. Kirwan answered
When call strike. everything
'ill stop. by I'D. things will be- clos
4 tighter than HI I'll show them
hat the Western Federation can and
'ill do
THE company could not and would
OF take n chance OF allowing its ami
Ials 10 starve in the mine. and as they
ere necessary for the successful oper-