The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-07
PALMER SIZING UP
STRIKE SITUATION
Department of Labor, However
Cannot Force Mediation

Walter Il. Palmer, labor investigator
for the federal department, who arriv-
cd in Calumet yesterday, today re-
ceived instructions from Secretary Of
Labor William r. Wilson, to make a
complete investigation of the strike sit
| uation, of the demands of the fedora
tion Of miners and the stand of the
mining companies.
This morning he spent in conference
with strike leaders, among whom was
! Mother Jones'" This afternoon he
will endeavor To obtain the view of the
| operators and Il complete report of
the conferences will be filed with the
department
The authority given MIR. Palmer is
contained in the following section,
| which was included in his order
That the secretary of labor shall
have power To act as mediator and
shall appoint "a commissioner of con-
ciliation in labor disputes whenever.
in his judgment. the interests Of in
dustrial peace may require it To be
done"
The mediation of labor difficulties
had its inception in 1905 under the
Erdman act which combined the Of
fices Of commissioner of labor and in
terstate railway commission and au-
| thorized the board to act as mediator
in railroad strikes. The act was
amended and a permanent railroad
board was created. taking this power
from the department of labor. The
bill, known as the organic law of the
department of labor. separating the de-
partment from the department of COM
merce. was signed by Former Prcsi-
dent Taft on the last day of his term,
March L.
Cannot Force Action.
"The department will act if called
upon but ii cannot force itself into the
controversy" said Mr.. Palmer, though
If there is any disposition to mediate
the department of labor will be dis
posed to act The department can act
only at the request of both parties. In
the event that this is made either Sec
y
Louis +. Post may come To this dis
,rict. NV Investigation will be the
same as that of newspaper reporter.
10 get in touch with every phase of the
situation"
Mr.. Palmer will make a personal in
vestigation of the housing and living
conditions among the miners.
I'VE have not been able To do niue h
work along the lines OF promoting me-
diation and arbitration" said Mr. Pal
mer "as We have no appropriation
sufficient To carry out the work the
department has i'm mind. The Copper
Country is entirely new 10 me and
it will require some time To grasp not
only the strike situation but the gener-
al conditions surrounding the copper
industry in Michigan and the classes
and conditions of miners as well as
the working conditions and questions
concerning the geological formations
which materially affect mining
Il understand that the great ques-
ton here will be that of recognition Of
the union. This is always the greatest
and most difficult problem in dis
trict where the employees have not had
previous organization Both sides nat
urally declare they rest upon consti-
tutional rights one To organize and
deputate To representatives the power
to contract for wages and working
conditions; the other to employ. pay
and discharge as IL desires"
We'll Known investigator.
Mr. Palmer. who has been with the
various federal departments in charge
Of such labor matters with which the
government concerned itself since the
inception OF the original bureau of
labor @2 years ago, is one of the best
known of the departments investiga
tors. He has had wide experience in
the coal fields, the southern coal and
iron fields and the western copper and