Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-11-18
Mine Operators Are Severely
Denounced and Conditions
Under Which Men Worked
Described as IntoIerabIe
FRAUD is ALLEGED IN
TITLE OF PROPERTY
Speakers Declare Soldiers.
Rode Down Women and.
Children and Did Everything
Possible to Provoke Violence

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Seattle, Wash. Nov H., Fiery
speeches were made I'm the American
Federation of Labor convention today
attacking the Michigan copper minc
owners whose employees are on strike
Resolutions demanding congressional
investigation and calling FOR contrihu-
tons for the support OF the strikers
were adopted and President samuel
Gompers said the convention undouht-
edly would adopt resolution, n il
were presented, demanding investlga
ton of the charge that the Calumet
and Hecla company obtained title TO-
it's copper land by fraud. ~ this
means, said Gompers, the workers
might obtain an adjustment and per-
haps visit rctrbution on the company
THE resolution which was adopted
sets forth that whereas the mine
owners have ignored the demands Of
the men. spurned their attempts al
Cancellation and in many ways treated
them with contempt: have imported
gun men. thugs and so-called detect
ives into the strike zone. and these
men have deliberately killed strikers
in cold blood assaulted women and
beaten and terrorized children;
whereas. twenty-five hundred mi-
uua have 1een sent into the strike
district and the soldiers have driven
their horses over men, women and
children. beating them with guns
hayoncts and swords and outragins
women and girls,
Resolved, That the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor demands 4 congress
sional investigation of the strike and
the causes leading up to IT,
Resolved THAT the American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor unqualifiodly ape
proves OF the stand of the Michigan
miners and calls on an affiliated
unions to contribute at least the
amounr asked by The executive coun-
ell Of the federation and, where it can
De afforded. that larger amounts be
donated. ana that II possible means
be devised by the union To furnish
money for the purpose Of food, cloth
ing and shelter for those fighting the
battle of oppressed humanity"
Joseph d. Cannon, of the Western
Federation of Miners, described the
conditions under which the workers
reyoted and declared documentary ev-
idenco was available to prove that the
calumet g Hecla company obtained
free from the United States govern
ment in 1852 valuable mineral land
as a grant in aid Of q canal the land
never being used for canal purposes
but for the copper it contained.
John II. Walker, president Of tho
Illinois Mine workers, who has spent
months in the Calumet region said
it would be impossible to eyaggeratc
conditions there (which would dis
grace the most harbarous country ill.,
the world" Mr. walker said the min
ers worked naked in the S,000-f0ot
levels without ventilation. breathing
again the air of their own lungs mixed
with the poisonous fumes Of the cop
per
John p. Lennon, treasurer Of the
federation, described the daily paradea
OF men and women in the copper coun
try. Armed men militia and detect
i've agency employees marched along
with the paraders on the highway, he
said. seeking 10 provoke them to vlo-
lonce. Soldiers rode their horses
across and through parades he said.
after midnight" said Lennon, 81
walked through the streets Of Calu
met, in company with Michigan pub
lie officials, and. saw young soldiers
drunk in the streets with belts on and
revolvers in their belts They We're
unfit to De soldiers Of this or any
other country ! saw them insult
women on the streets and it was diff /
cult for me, old as / am to restrain !
myself from selling soldiers by the /
throat and throwing them into the
streets"
President Gompers said the eXecu- /
tive council was doing its utmost TO {
aid the copper strikers.
The convention adopted resolutions
urging the unions TO work zealously .
for the eight-hour day; condemning {
sunday work and declaring opposition
to the movement for Sunday opening I
OF postoffices, ana sympathizing with /
The postal clerks in their struggle for
shorter hours and abolition Of night I
work so far as possible
Invitations from New York and 81.
Louis for the 1914 convention We're
read.
Wool Arrivals In London.