The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-08-28
Statement of the Mine
Operators to Gov. Ferris
Text of Report Submitted Executive Murphy His
Personal Representative.

Grand Rapids, Aug. 2S.-The state
ment of the copper operators in north
ern Michigan Ia Judge Murphy of De-
troit. special representative Of 10Y
ernor Ferris To- investigate the copper
strike. presented To- the governor lol-
lows in full:
You are authorized as rcpresen-
tatlve Of the governor to state that
the men will be re-cmuloycd ON the
same terms and conditions of labor
prior to the inception of the strike
That in such accomplishment the fact
that a former cmployc has been a
member of. or otherwise affiliated with
the Western Federation of Miners
will not of Itself be considered as a
bar To his re-enterin our employ
But we reserve the right To use our
individual discretion as To the rcem-
ployment of any who may be known
10 have engaged in acts Of agitation
lawlessness, violence or intimidation,
or melting thereto, after such en-
ployment and che cessation of strike
conditions. Any alleged grievances,
affecting the entire body of the en-
ployes - any mining property. or af-
rccting individuals, brought to the at
tention of any one of us through his
own employees, will he given fun con-
sideratiun, with the desire. as i'm the
past at each of MS sevcrally To cor
rect any wrongs that ", may find to
exist. either in Individual instances
or in general conditions.
The foregoing answer To your ques-
ton is the basis for the re-employ-
ment of our men. The great differ
ences IN working conditions existing
at the various mines have made IL i'm
possible To formulate statement 81
the terms and conditions of labor
which could be- made uni Olmly APP
plicable Ia the several mines with jus
tice To their respective employees or
with fairness to the several cOmpan
les. But you are further authorized,
assuming such re-employmcnt ensues
to state with respect to matters men
toned by YOU at our conference.
"As To wages, let MS say that the
adoption of uniform minimum wage
rate is impracticablr owing to the
great differences i'm conditions at the
several properties Bat To you, as the
representative of the governor we will
when work is resumed and for a rea-
sonable period thereafter. submit our
payrolls and all matcria! data, and If,
after being informed as To attendan:
conditions and circumstances. you find
any iniduitics in specific individual
accordance with your recommends
lions. II taking into fun considera
ton the living and working condi-
tons, the advantages and privileges
furnished to on for the employees, the
costs of mining and production and all
material circumstances, YOU find n
any of our mines that the general
rates of wages as To any class or all
classes of employees are inadequate,
unfair or inequitable we will sevcraly
give fun and fair consideration to your
recommendations in that regard.
AS to the working hours, we have
each had for some time under consid-
Grafton q change in this respect with
the intention, if and so far as found
practicable. To bring about rs near an
approach as conditions may warrant
To an eight hour day for our under
ground employees. II portion of whom
have heretofore been i'm close approx
imation to that condition. The pres
cnt situation does not alter our in
tentins. Any change of this charac-
ter involves to great extent re-
organization of the operations and for
that reason must be gradual one.
The time within which it can be
brought about cannot now be stated.
We can now state only the fact that 1t
has been and is under favorable con-
sideraticn.
AS tC the one-man drill, We can
only state that with respect to this.
as to all our operations, our efforts,
in advance of all other considera-
tions. are exerted toward securing the
safety OF our employees. The condi-
tons of competition, the low grade of
our rock as compared with other dis
tricts the increasing expense with
debts and other conditions have made
the use of the one-man drill impera-
tive for the continuation of opera
tons
The request for non employment