The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-18
LURID UNTRUTHS
TOLD OF STRIKE.
Socialist Agitators Seek Aid
Through Misrepresentation

Seattle, Wash. Nov. .1S.-Fiery
spcechcs were made in the American
Federation of Labor convention yester-
day attacking the Michigan copper
mine owners, who are resisting a strike
OF the Western Federation of Miners. -
Resolutions demanding congress
sional Investigation ana calling for
contributions tor the support of the
strikers were adopted and President
samuel Gompers said the convention
undoubtedly would adopt resolution
if it were presented, demanding an in
vestigation as 20 how the Calumet d
! iiecla company obtained title To it's
| copper land. BY this means, said
Gompers, the workers might obtain an
adjustment ana perhaps visit retribu-
ton on the company.
The resolutions which were adopted
set forth that whereas, the mine own
els have ingorcd the demands of tho
men, spurned their attempts at con-
Citation and i'm many ways treated
| them with contempt; have imported
gunner, thugs ana su-called detectives
into the strike zone, and these men
have deliberately killed strikers i'm cold
blood, assaulted women and beaten
and tcrrorized children. and.
Attack on State Soldiers.
Whereas, 900 militia have been
sent into the strike district. and these
soldiers have driven their horses over
men, women and children, beating
them with guns. bayonets and swords
and outraged women and girls, be it
Resolved, That the American Fed
Grafton of Labor demands congress
sional investigation of the strike and
the causes leading up to it, and be il
| further
Resolved. That The Federation OF
Labor uuqualiiedly approves of the
stand of the Michigan miners ana calls
on all affiliated unions To contribute
, at least the amount asked by the eX-
ecutive council OF the federation and
where it can be afforded, that larger
amounts be donated, and that if pos
sihlc, means bc devised by The unions
Ia raise money for the purpose of pro-
vding food, clothing and shelter for
| those lighting the battle of oppressed
humanity"
joseph -. Cannon of the Western
Federation of Miners described the
conditions under which the workers
revolted and declared documentary
evidence was available To prove that
the Calumet q Hecla company obtain
cd free from the United States gov
eminent in 1852 valuable mineral land
as a grant in aid of a canal. the land
never being used for canal purposes
but for the copper it contained
John II Walker. president of the
Illinois Mine Workers, who has spent
much time in the Calumet region, said
it would be impossible to oXaggerate
conditions there, (which would dis
grace the most barbarous country in
the world"
NAKED Miners" and Fumes"
Mr.. Walker said the miners worked
naked in the 5000 foot levels with
out ventilation. breathing again the
AIR of their own lungs, mixed with the
poisonous fumes of the copper.
John Is. Lennon, treasurer of the fed
Grafton, described the daily paradcs of
men ard women i'm the copper country.
Armed men, militia and detective
agency employees marched along with
The paradcrs on the highways, he said,
seeking To provoke them to violence.
Soldiers rode their horses across and
through the parades, he said.
After midnight" said Lennon. II
walked through the streets of Calumet
in company with Michigan public OIL
Gals and saw young soldiers drunk
on the streets with belts on and re-
vulvcra in their belts. They were uu-
fit To bc soldiers of this or any other
country. | saw them insult women on
the streets and it was dillcult for me,
old as I am, to restrain myself from
scizing soldiers 10y the threats and
throwing them into the street
President Gompers said the eXccu-
tive council was doing it's utmost to
aid the copper strikers.