The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-01-28
MINE WORKERS ACTIVE
Western Federation OF Labor Has a Branch
in Crystal Falls.

in Crystal Falls.
The Western Federation Of labor has
branch in Crystal Falls with quite a
large membership. The fact that the
labor organization has been formed
here has been kept very quite, fearing
an opposition from the employers OF
labor and from the other laborers who
are satisfied with the existing oondi-
tions
In talk had recently with Young
man who was intending to join the
organization ne said. 1--WE expect to
get 50 per day aud an eight.hour
SHIFT.
Inquiry developes that but very
few of the members OF the organization
are English speaking and that almost
all Of them have been but very short
time in this country.
Another curious fact about the or
ganlzation is that about every member
isa Socialist. The socialistic views
held by these members are those incul-
Gated in the old country where oppres-
sion has bred hatred of authority and
wealth.into the very bone OF the work
ing-classes.
In conversation with several of
the mine operators regarding this or
ganization and it's purposes we find
that there is no opposition or fear OF
organized labor as il is understood in
such organizations as the railroad men
and others In fact all of our mining
operators say that they would rather
deal with an intelligent, well directed
labor organizations than with undirec-
ted and uniformed single interests
What our labor employers tear is the
labor organizations founded on ami
mostly towards employers and property
and they claim that this has been the
bent Of the Western Federation in it's
past history.
one mining man in speaking of the
movement said 1T isn't the labor
organization that we are opposed to
but il Is the adventurous. taking, agi-
tating delegate who plays upon the
credulity OF these simple people gulls
them OF their money and breeds dis.
content into their minds.
Take this place for example. An
intelligent labor organization would
work with the mine operators, not
against them. They would base their
claims upon some knowledge of the
business conditions under which the
mines OF the section work They would
cast up accounts and computation.
based on figures common to both sides,
would determine whether labor is get
ting its Just share OF the profits Of the
industry.
"Nith this organization IL Is differ
ent. They jump blindly and say we
will have $3 per day not knowing IL
the product OF the mines or the skill OF
the men employed therein make that a
tair wage.
II know personally that mine opera
4 lOIb III lillb hcCtlOu bhNo btoh o"SAs'
ing OF late In order to keep their men
Employed. IL means q lot TO shnt down
mine to break uRan organization
and leave things fat for year or two
and then start up again. We all would
much rather keep moving even IL we
don't make cent fo= when the time
| cnnaa that conditions allow ma tC make
something we will be in position TO
embrace the opportunity.
Fellow workmen and business men
in general are not in sympathy with
these wIld-eyed socialist organizations
as IL means hardship and privation Tor
the workman and his family IL they
provoke strike and ruin TO the bust
ness man who feels IL necessary TO
carry his good customers through
1