Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-07-25
GUNS ARE NOT PERMITTED
DEPUTIES, uNARMED, ARE UN-
ABLE TO PREVENT DAM
AGE TO PROPERTY
CONFERENCE ASKED FOR
WESTERN FEDERATION WILL BE
REFUSED CONSULTATION
WITH MANAGERS

Calumet, Mich, July 25.-With six
militia companies on duty and other
state troops en- route from both the
upper and lower peninsulas Of Mich
igan, the strike of copper miners set
tied measurably towards a state OF
dull routine today, the third Of its ex-
istence. Some Of the more enthus-
iastic union members organized par
ades and marched through several
locations, but there was practically
no disorder up to noon.
The union leaders held fast to
their previous attitude, demanding
recognition Of the Western Fedora
tion of Miners as sine qua non, but
this was not even considered BY the
company managements. The pinch
Of strike conditions, however, spread
more generally through the score or
more of communities dependent on
the mines, mills and smelters
The action Of Hancock retailers fn
refusing further credits to customers
yesterday was repeated in other sec
tions Of the district, and II was sn.
nounced that the wholesalers tcok
similar action. As a consequence
there was little Of the holiday spirit
which frequently shows itself in the
initial stages Of mine strikes. Union
and non-union men alike showed their
appreciation Of the fact that the
strike was likely to evolve into
long siege, with the companies saban-
doning work of ali kinds as rapidly
as conditions required such action.
At union headquarters plans were
laid for a big mass meeting next Sun
day and for district and local meet
ings tonight and tomorrow. and Guy
E. Miller, Colorado member Of 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.
"The cause Of the strike here was
a deep-seated unrest whose extent the
company managers failed to realize,
he said. I'm asking recognition Of
the union, an S-hour day, abolition
Of the one-man drill and improved
conditions generally. we have simply
tried to put the miners. and surface
workers Of the Lake Superior mines
on a par with the men doing similar
work in other parts Of America. Ia
Butte, for instance, the minimum
wage with copper at Is cents is $S.75
day for underground men and in no
case does it so below $3.50. In Ari-
zona it averages ss.75, but in the
Calumet district the minimum is 81
to $2.25, and the men here have been
working from 10 to 1S hours day
whereas in the other mining sections
eight hours constitutes a days labor
These facts should effectuaIly dis
pose Of any argument BY the com-
panies that competitive conditions in
the metal market compelled them To-
keep their men on the long hours and
low wages basis that has prevailed
here"
"Insfstence on the abolition oi the
one man drill is made On similar
grounds and because the men en-
ployed on them undergo back-brea
ing labor and peculiarly dangerous
conditions The minimnla weight s.
ae hasd'ed on such 3 driIi + 0
pounds and it IS 3 strenuous tack ~
set en brace and tend snch . nla
chine
Recognition Of the union Sc fes
4 is reasonable request iuasmaeh
| we think that men who work q
given industry should be allowa
some voice ii deiafnilslas conditions