The Sentinel=record., 1912-09-19
FIRE ON OFFICERS WHEN LATTER
ATTEMPT TO DRAW FIRES
AT COPPER MINES.
ONLY ONE MAN is WOUNDED
Miners in Utah Copper Fields Strike
for Higher Wages and Rich Mines
Are Closed Down During
Riotous Troubles.

Bingham, Utah, Sept 1S--BulIets
greeted 35 deputy sheriffs who at
tempted to draw the fires under boil
ers at the big copper mines here to-
day. From behind breastworks they
had thrown up since morning, striking
miners who quit work today because
the Utah Copper company and several
other concerns refused them an in
crease in wages. fired upon the Off
GERS 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 prop
critics. firing shots into the air, ono
Of their number was wounded by
Theodore Sohweitzer. deputy. The
deputy had ordered the picket to cease
firing Upon his refusal, Scnweitzer
shot the miner In the wrist
Only one of the great copper mines
| here, that of the Utah Apex Mining
company, continued operations today.
| The contract signed with the miners
few days ago.
The great Utah Copper, one of the
most productive copper mines OF the
world: the Utah Consolidated United
States. Bingham-New Haven, OHIO
Copper, Bingham mines, and score OF
lesser mines, the Bingham and Gar
field railway and the ore traffic on the
copper belt branch of the Rio Grande
railway, were closed tightly. Four
thousand men, mostly foreigners, We're
idle and almost every idle man bore
a weapon OF some sort. They gathered
| in sulky little groups.
After 4 conference with mine Off
cials late today, Sheriff Sharp OF Salt
Lake county, wired Governor 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 ago for
fiat increase of wages In all depart
ments of so cents day. On Sept /,
the Utah Copper company announced
a horizontal increase OF 25 cents q
day for all labor and the employers
adopted the same scale. This was not
satisfactory to majority Of the men
continued.
Ten days ago a strike vote carried
overwhelmingly President Charles II.
Meyer Of the Western Federation OF
Miners came here and urged diplo-
macy be exhausted before the declara-
tion of strike. However the Greeks,
Austrians, Italians, Japanese and Bul-
garians. who largely outnumbered the
American miners, were insistent upon
a walkout The Firms and Americans
in the union are said to have stood
with Mr. Meyer but when they found
themselves outnumbered ten to one.
they joined the majority in voting for
the strike.
President Meyer said today:
while personally, have done what
could to prevent this strike, now
that it has come, regard the demands
OF the men as fair and just, and the
Western Federation OF Miners will
back them completely The men are
working too long hours The high
price of copper certainly justities the
raise"
Manager Jaclxling OF the Great Utah
Copper company has been visiting his
properties in Arizona and New Mex
leo, and in his absence his assistant,
r. G. Gemmell. spoke for the com
pany:
We do not treat with the officers
Of the union regarding any matters
connected with the mines, he said.
I'VE do not recognize the federation.
We are always willing to confer with
our employees through properly ap-
poiufed committees
Twenty million pounds Of copper is
produced monthly in the camps OF
Bingham. The Utah Copper alone,
handling low grade porphyry rock Ia
immense quantities, furnishes about
twelve million pounds.
Should the strike be of long dura-
ti0n. several thousand other men
would be thrown out of employmept
hy the shutting down OF the reducing
mills and smelters near here.