Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-07-25
Practically Whole National
Guard Of State of Michigan
on Duty to Prevent Violence
in Copper Camps of Peninsu-
la.
STRIKE LIKELY TO
DEVELOP INTO LONG
DRAWN OUT SIEGE
Union Leaders Stand Pat on
Demand for Recognition of
Western Federation of Min
ers; Deep Seated Unrest Is
Cause.
Iny I1ra.cd Mlre % E,cnIng ncrla. !

By Leased Wire 10 Evening Herald. /
Calumet. Mitch. July 25.--wIth six
militia companies ON duty and the
state troops en route from both the
upper aud lower peninsulas of Michi-
gan. the strike OF copper miners set
tied measuraoly towards state Of
dun routine today. the third OF its OK
istcncc. some OF the more cnthus-
iastic union members organized par
AIDES and marched through several io-
cations but there was practically NO
disorder up To noon.
The union leaders held fast to their
previous attitude demanding recog-
milton ~ the Western Federation OF
Miners as sine qua non but
this was nOt even considered by the
company management The pinch OF
strike conditions however. spread
more generally threugh the score or
more ot cummunities dependent on
the mines, mills and smcllrs.
The action of Hancock retailers in
refusing further credits 10 cuetomera
yesterday was repeated in other sec
tionE of the districts and Il WAS an
noduccd that the wholesalers would
take similar action Monday As a.
consequence there was little of the
holiday spirit Which frequently shows
ilsalf IN the initial stages uf mine
strikes Union and non union men
alike showed their appreciation of the
fact that thu strike Was likely toI
evolve into long siege with the COM
panics abandoning work OF all kinds
~ rapidiy as conditions required such
action.
At union headquarters plans we're
laid for big mass meeting next sun
day and for district and local meet
mss tonight aud tomorrow and Guy
T.. Miller. Colorado mcmber 0f the
executive board of the Western Fed.
GRAFTON of Miners ISSUED statement
IN which he compared conditions in
the Calumet district with those In
other copper producing sections.
"'rhc cause of the strike here was
deep seated unrest whose extent the
company management .pned 10 re0-
lizo." he said. I'm asking recognition
of the union. an elRht hour day ab0l.
iilon of one man drill and improved
conditions generally, We have simply
tried to put the miners and surface
workers nf the Lake Superior mines
on par wita men doing similar work
IN other parts of America.
I'm Butte. tor instance. the min.
mum wage with copper az hftocn
cents ia 1915 u day for underground |
men ana IN no case does Il go below |
S3.5O, ~ Arizona Is averages &3.7S
hat in the Calumet district the min
imum is from &2.0O to 22.75 and the |
men here have been wording from ten
To thirteen hours "a day whereas Ia the |
other mining sections eight hours con.
stitutes "A days labor The facts |
should ofectually dispose ur any ar |
gument by the company that compet- |
tive conditions In the metal markets
compelled them To keep their men on
the long hours and low wages basis |
that have prevailed hore."
"lnslstence on the ABOLITION ~ the |
one man drill is made on similar
grounds ahd also because the men cm-
pioyed on them undergo backhreaking |
labor and peculiarly dangerous con-
dltlons. The minimum weight TO be-
handled ON such drill h i50 pounds |
and II ls strenuous task to set up. !
brace and tend such machine.
RECOGNITION of the union, we feel !
g. reasonable request inasmuch as
We think that mon who WORK in a |
given industry should be allowed some
voice In determining conditions under !
which that industry rs to be- con- /
Quoted.
The attempt 10 Improve conditions
here came 10 climax July IL. when |
the federation sent request to all the |
companies that within a. week they |
set date for conference. one COM I
pany refused 90 acknowledge that !
such "A letter had been received. The
others merely placed them on hle, but !
vOuchsafod no reply There was noth- /
ing for the men to do then except 1
strike and / believe the companies |
we're conalderaby surprised BY the |
extent Of the movement"
Al the Baltic location body OF |
strikers olashed with deputies, remov-
ing their Etars and ordering them /
away. The mine management consld- !
ered calling for troops when one of