The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-31
MINE OPERATORS
WILL NOT RECOGNIZE
LABOR FEDERATION
Uncompromising i'm Attitude
on Calumet Situation.
Strike Enters Upon
Final Stage

| Calumet. Mich, December 30.--Un.
compromising adherence to their deter
mination never, by direct or indirec
means, to recognize the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners was pronounced to-
day by mine managers of the copper
strike district who were willing to dis.
cuss the visit here of John B. Dens-
more, solicitor of the department of la
Dor.
The fact that Mr. Densmore had an
nounced his mission as one of concilia-
tion made most of the employers shake
their heads obviously.
I'VE could not treat with the fedora
tion. even if we wished said F. w.
Denton manager of the Copper Range
Consolidated company. 1.-The men at
work never would consider employment
underground with members of the
union, for there always would be trou :
BILE and in view of the fact that 10,-
600 men are working for the companies
we cannot ignore their interests
Enters Final Stage
The strike is to enter upon its final
stage within two days tomorrow being
the last upon which the companies wilt
receive applications for work from
strikers. Originally December | had
been set the limit, but a the re-
quest of business men the time was ex
tended for a month. Whatever good
the extra 80 days might have accom-
plshed was wiped out by the italian
hall disaster, the controversy as to who
should give relief to afflicted families
and the deportation of Charles II
Mover president of the federation.
The detailed figures obtained from
both sides today found opposing claims
as wide apart as the poles. Employers
said there were less than 5000 actual
strikers left in the district. but union
headquarters furnished statistics show
ing that weekly strike benefits are pc
ing paid to 10, 429 men.
The companies figured that 400
men We're affected by the ealing OF
the strike. Today they claim 9640 men
were at work, half of the difference
between the two totals having gone to
men We're affected by the calling of
erS.
There has been little indication OF
Increased activity in the last fortn ght.
wolverine and Mohawk, two of the
largest mines north of Calumet. are
virtually at standstill. North Kear-
sarge, In the same district, is pump
ing water out of its shafts; South Kear-
sage has a full force at work.
South of Calumet the Franklin mine
has shut down until after the strike
and Hancock, a property still in the de-
velopment stage. is Just beginning to
resume operations. The Quincy, which
adjoins these two properties has 100
men at work. 4aE
In the south range district. Superior
is working with a full force, and the
others are in fairly good shape In the
extreme south end of the range union
men are still numerous.
Virtually all mines have changed
their working hours and many of their
l.conditions since the trouble began.
The future of the strike Is something
that neither side cares to discuss
Each recognizes that chances for an
early settlement are remote. The
unions will indorse any plan for ar
bitration that includes in 1t recogni-
tion of the mems rights to organize.
The companies will treat only with
their own employees. and after the first
of the year will cease to consider the
possibility of any striker being one
of these. Observers with affiliations
on neither side can see only long and
perhaps bitter siege in prospect.