Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-27
Workers Endeavor to Bring
About End to Strike
in Calumet
HOSTILE FEELING
is NOT SO GREAT
Department of Labor Sends
Word for Assistance
. :; e1eas to Be Given
s}els ST.

Calumet, Mich. Dec. 26-While fou,
separate investigations of Calumets
disaster in the loss az 70 persons, most
or them children, were being made to.
day and a dispute was being waged as
to who should bury the dead, peace.
makers were at work in a supreme ef.
fort to bring about an end to the cop.
per mine strike in this region. Over
the bodies Of little ones. the leaders OF
the peace movement hoped to see an
end to the labor strife which has torn
the Calumet copper district for several
months
United In their grief over the snuff.
ing out OF so many young lives. the
warning factions - mine operators.
guards and strike breakers and the
stricken union miners and their
friends gave no thought to the big
labor bt-ttle that Indirectly is blamed
for the most gruesome horror in the
history Of Calumet. There was still
a dispute over whether the offer of the
Citizens Alliance. an organization that
has been con sidered hostile to the
strikers, to defray all the burial ex
penses. would be permitted Oficials. ;.
Of the Western Federation Of Miners
de ;lared that the offer would be
spurned. ~.s
," We will care for our own dead. Ii
was the response to the alliance
| The feeling OF hostility was not &C
marked today when il was seen that
the citizens OF Calumet and other
cities in the mine district were earn
est In their efforts to raise funds for
the stricken families. Almost m
limited amounts of money were
pledged by mine owners and merchants
VINO nave been opposing the strikers.
The committees representing the
operators went from house to house
today confronting the survivors of the
Families whose dear ones were taken
from them in the unnecessary panic.
| Following these committees went
others and suggestions that peace he
declared between the forces represent.
ing capital and labor were diplomati-
calIy expressed. After the funeral Of
all the victims. which was to he rr.
ranged for later today. it WIS evnected
by many that the spirt of ficht will
have been inferred with the bodies OF
the innocent children and wives oi
the strikers and that peace will pre-
vail '
Wisconsin sympathizes.
Lansing. Mich, Dec 2G.-Gov. Fran.
cis f. McGOvern Of Wisconsin sent the
following telegram to Gov Ferris to.
day:
4 l
For the people of Wisconsin and
myself ! send you and the citizens OF
your state q message of sympathy in
the hour Of your grief because Of the
Calumet death horror. Wisconsin.
Michigan's neighbor stands ready to
offer you aid to care for the afflicted
by this disaster which has spread a
pail Of sorrow over the holiday
season.
Labor Department Assists.
Washington. D. c.. Dec. 2G.-Secre-
tary of Labor Wilson today ordered
John B. Densmore. solicitor OF the de.
partment to Calumet, Mich. to rem.
der any assistance possible In settling
the copper strike situation. The Christ
mas eve tragedy in which many lives
were lost the secretary thought was
a matter for state to settle
Request Sent to Wilson.
Washington, y. c., Dec. 26.--The re-
quest to President Wilson by Charles
Fl. Meyer, president Of the Western
Federation Of Miners, for federal in
vestigation Of circumstances surround
ing the fire horror at Calumet. Mich,
was forwarded today to the president
at Pass Christian, Miss, by Secretary
Tumulty.
Says Report is Wrong.
Chicago, Dec. 26.-Miss Grace Nc
Arron of Calumet, Mich. arrived in
Chicago from her home today and said
she knew positively that the story Of
man coming to the head of the stairs
and shouting fire" in the Italian hall
where more than seventy persons
were trampled to death was not true.
"The alarm was started right in the
hall said Miss McArron. "a little
blaze started on the Christmas Tree
and some one in the hall cried fire.
The cry was Immediately taken UP by
others and there was mad rush for
the DOORS
Miss McArron was former proof
reader in the Michigan senate and is
nov stenographer for the Houghton
county grand jury Investigating the
copper miners strike. She Is on her
way to Lansing to see the Michigan
attorney general in connection with
the grand jury work.