The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-09-19
Strikers Openly Defy Officers
Threaten to Destroy the Prop.
erty Governor Spry is
on the Scene
HIGHER WAGES Are
DEMANDED BY MEN
One Striker is Hurt But No Gen.
eral Clash y Troops May Be
Called-Moyer Declares
Demands are Just
Telegram by United Fress

Telegram by United Fress
Salt Lake City, Utah, Sept. 19.-
Fierce temper Of 1000 foreign miners
in the Bingham camp who are striking
for higher wages was shown by the
breastworks which were thrown up in
front Of the mines.
The miners openly defy the sheriff
and viii not permit officers to visit
the properties There has been slight
rioting and one striker was wounded
but no general clash.
The situation is critical, however.
Gov spry arrived this morning and
is consulting regarding calling state
troops, which are held in readiness.
The strikers threaten a general adj
vance on the mines to destroy the
property. Sheriff Sharpe admits his
.helplessness in case OF a conflict.
When S5 deputy sheriffs attempted
to draw the fires under the boilers at
the big copper mines yesterday, they
were greeted with bullets. From be-
hind breastworks they had thrown up
striking miners who quit work because
the Utah Copper company and several
other concerns refused them an In
crease in wages, fired upon officers
and drove them from the mine works.
None was injured.
Earlier in the day, however, while
armed strike pickets stood guard at
the approaches of the various proper
ties, firing shots into the air, one Of
their number was wounded by Theo-
dore schweitzer, a deputy. The dep
uty had ordered the picket to cease fir
ing. Upon his refusal Schweitzer shot
the miner in the wrist
Only one Of the great copper mines
here, that Of the Utah Apex Mining
company, continued operations. The
company signed a contract with the
miners a few days ago.
The great Utah Copper one Of the
most productive copper mines OF the
world, the Utah Consolidated, the
United States, Bingham.New Haven,
Ohio Copper, Bingham mines. and a
score of lesser mines, the Bingham &
Garfield railway and the ore traffic
on the copper belt branch Of the Rio
Grande railway, were closed tightly.
-Four thousand men, mostly foreigners,
were idle and almost every idle man
bore a weapon Of some sort. They
gathered in sulky little groups.
After a conference with mine offic.
ials late yesterday Sheriff Sharp of
[ Salt Lake county, wired Gov spry
, that his force OF deputies could not
handle the situation. The governor
abandoned a speaking tour and hur.
ried to Salt Lake City to make a per.
sonal investigation Of the situation. All
saloons have been closed by the order
OF Sheriff sharp.
The Bingham miners made an in
: formal demand several weeks ugo 4ot
a flat increase Of wages in all depart
ments OF so cents a day. On septem
Der the Utah Copper company an
nounced horizontal increase OF 8
cents day for an labor and olhel
e employers adopted the same scale
}. This was not satisfactory to major
e ity Of the men and agitation for th'
% full so cent raise continued.
Ten days ago a strike vote carried
7 Overwhelmingly. President Charles
g Fl. Meyer Of the Western Federation
o Of Miners came here and urged il
4 plomaoy be exhausted before the dee
laration cf a strike. However thl
d Greeks, Austrians. Japanese and Bal
~ garians, who largely outnumber th
Ie American miners, were msistent upol
ie a walkout The Finns and American
\. ia tho union are said TO have stoo
s with Mr. Meyer but when they foan
IN themselves outnumbered ten to on
ar they Joined the majority IN voting 70
10 the strike.
n President Meyer said
Il "While personally. thaFe done WIS
" / could to prevent this strike. ~
po that it has come / regard the demand
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