Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-11-18
AWFUL CONDITIONS
IN COPPER STRIKE.
FEDERATION on LABOR DE
MANDS FEDERAL INVEST.
CATION or AFFAIRS.
ATTACK The MINE owners
Charge Hired Detectives and Thug
Win told-bloOdcd Murder and
As-auiting Women.

SEATTLE. Wash, Nov 17-Fiery
speeches were made in the American
Federation of Labor convention today
attacking the Michigan mine owners
" hose employees are on strike. Presi-
dent Samuel Gompers said the con-
vcution undoubtedly would adopt
resolution if it were presented de
manding investigation as to how tho
Calumet and Hecla company obtained
title TO its copper land.
The resolutions, which were adopt
ed, set forth that Whereas the
mine owners have ignored the de-
mands of The men, spurned their at
t-mpts at concihation and in many
Ways treated them with contempt.
have imported gun men, thugs and
su-callrd detectives into the strike
Zonc and these men have deliberately
llllcd strikers i'm cold blood, assault
GO women and beaten and terrorzed
children;
"Wheroas $500 militia have been
sent into the strike district and these
soldiers have driven their horses over
mon, women and children, beating
them with guns, bayonets and swords
and outraging women and girls;
Resolved that the American Fed
Grafton of Labor demand a congress
ional Investigation Of the strike and
the causes leading up to it.
"Rcsolted that the Federation OF
1 oil If
stand of the Michigan miners and
calls on all affiliated unions to con-
tribute the amount asked for by the
executive council Of the Federation.
and where 1t can be afforded that
larger amounts be donated and that
If possible means be devised by the
unions to raise money for the purpose
of providing food, clothing and shelter
for those fighting the battle Of op-
pressed humanity
Joseph y. Cannon, of the Western
Federation Of Miners described the
conditions under which the workers
reVolted and declared documentary
evidence was available to prove that
the Calumet and Hela company OBJ
tanned free from the United States
government in 1852 valuable mineral
land as grant in aid OF a canal, the
land never being used for canal pur-
poses but for the copper it contained
John IT, Walker, president Of the
Illinois Mine Workers, who has spent
months in the Calumet region, said
it would he impossible to exaggerate
conditions there, which would dis
grace the most barbarous country in
the world"
Mr.. Walker said the miners worked
naked in the S,000-foot levels without
ventilation, breathing again and again
the DIR of their own lungs mixed with
the poisonous fumes of the copper.
John h. Lennon, treasurer of the
federation, described the daily parades
OF men and women in the copper
country. Armed men-militia and
detective agency employes--marchin
along with the parades on the high
way. he said, seeking to provoke @
them to violence. Soldiers rode their
horses across and through the paradcs
ne said.
After midnight" said Lennon. IL
walked through the streets of Calumet
In company with Michigan public Of
ficials and saw young soldiers drunk
on the streets with revolvers in their
belts. They were unfit TO be soldiers
of this or any other country | saw
them insult women on the streets and
1t was difficult for me. old as I am,
to restrain myself from seizing
soldiers by the throat and throwing
thcm into the streets"
President Gompers said the execu-
tive council was doing its utmost to
aid the copper strikers.
The convention adopted resolutions
urging the unions to work zealously
for the eight-hour day; condemning
Sunday work and declaring opposition
&c the movement for Sunday opening
OF postoffices and sympathizing with
the postal clerks in their struggle for
| shorter hours and abolition Of night
work so far as possible.