The Detroit times., 1913-12-22
Charles ii. Meyer Tells of Over
lures Made 10 0nerators in
Effort to Effect Settlement
ALLEGES MILITIA WAS
READY BEFORE WALKOUT
Declares Both State Troops and
Waddell Gunmen We're in
Readiness Days Ahead


IA. Meyer, president OF tho Western
Federation OF Miners. who has be, 4
on the ground since the strike OF l6.-
600 men began in Michiean's copper
country OF the Upper Peninsula. out
lines conditions in the strike zone.
Mr. Moyer tells OF efforts made to set.
tie the strike on the~part Of the Fed
GRAFTON and oil the reception which
his proposals and those OF John A.
Mofiitt, representing the Department
OF Labor. were received.
FROM THE MINERS STANDPOINT
(5y Charles r. Meyer President West.
ern Federation of Miners.)
The cause OF the strike OF 5000
Michigan coppar miners in this dis
trict Is, | presume, understood by
most people. as lis the fact that the
employers have refused al all times
either 10 go into conference with rep.
resentatives OF the men or to submit
the differences 10 arbitration.
While three distinct offers OF arbi-
tration have been made and refused
the operators know, and have known.
that arbitration. no matter what the
decision of the committee. would be
acceptable TO and supported by the
Western Federation OF Miners of
which the strikers are a part
John A. Moffitt, special representa-
tive OF the Department OF Labor. sub
mitted the following terms OF arbitra-
tion TO the operators as a body:
That an arbitration board be
created as follows
The mine operators TO select two
men. The striking miners TO select
two who are not members OF onr loca
unions or members OF the Western
| Federation OF Miners and that tht
| Secretary, or Labor, w u. Wilson
select one. Making @ board OF flvc.
That the striking miners immedi
ately return 10 work; both the en-
| ployers and the strikers TO be bounC
by the findings OF the board.
The employers, in rejecting the good
! offices OF the department OF labor, in
| formed the departments representa-
tive that there was nothing 10 arbi
trate. and the only way the strike
could be settled was by tho with
drawal of the Western Federation OF
Miners from the district.
Since that time there have been
two other proposals To arbitrate. Prac.
tically along the same lines and both
refused for the same reasons as was
that offered TO the department OF
labor,
The Truth About Wages
4 short time ago 1t was widely re-
ported in dispatches sent ont OF Calu-
met and In the local press that the
mine managers had agreed TO the
eight.hour work day. beginning Janu-
ary first, 1914, and a three-dollar wage
scale. but as far as the Information
Of the strikers goes, they have had no
official notice from the managers.
The eight-hour work day did 20
into effect December first, and the
three-dollar minimum wage was 10
be paid only 30 miners. In the face
Of tho mine managers claims that
the miners had been receiving before
the strike as high as 1915 per day.
the minimum wage OF three dollars
would be a reduction in tho miners
wages instead OF an increase Tho
public should know that only a snail
per cent OF tho underground mineral
mine workers are miners.
The demands of the men on strike
wero three dollars as a minimum for
all underground workers Especially
were they interested I'm securing an
increase In wages for the trammsrs.
who were compelled and have boeV
for many years past to labor Tor
wages as low as $500 per month.
Hundreds OF these trammers have
worked for years for this miserable
pittancc, giving the best mat was In
them TO the mino managers, yet the
agents OF these companies have tray
eled from one end of the United
States to tho other, ofering 20 en-
gage men 10 take thoir places men
Continued on Page Four