The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-01-01
U.S. TO INVESTIGATE
STRIKE SITUATION
DEPORTATION OF MOVER LEADS
TO ACTION ON PART OF
GOVERNMENT.
CALUMET BURIES ITS DEAD
Last Sad Rites Said Over Bodies or
72 Persons Killed in the Fearful
Christmas Disaster-Not
Enough Hearses.

Washington, Dec. 30.-A special in
vestigation by the department Of JUS
tice of conditions in the copper mine
strike area in Michigan was called
for in a letter which Senator Mar
tine of New Jersey wrote to Attorney
General McReynolds.
Evidence Being Secured.
The department of labor already
has dispatched Solicitor John B.
Densmore to Calumet and Represen-
tative Macdonald of Michigan, who
is pressing for a congressional inyes-
tigation, is on the scene.
Senator MARITIME, in his letter to the
attorney general demanding an in
quiry says:
From reliable advice, ! am inform
ed that on Dec. 26 President Charles
H. Meyer of the Western Federation
of Miners was abducted and carried
out of the state of Michigan; and
it is currently stated that the abduc-
ton was advised, instigated and paid
for by the mine owners or their repre-
sentatives."
Calumet Buries Dead.
Calumet, Mich.-The Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners buried it's dead Sun
day. Fifty-nine bodies, including
A children, were carried through the
streets down a winding country high
way and laid in graves in a snow en-
shrouded cemetery within sight of
Lake Superior.
Thousands of saddened miners FORM
ed the escort of the funeral parties
and passed between other thousands
who, as spectators, testified to the
grief that has oppressed the COM
munitiy since 70 men, ONE and
children were killed in the Christmas
eve panic in Italian hall.
Services Only Sound.
For hours the Sabbath calm was
broken only by the tolling of bells
and the sound of voices intoning bur-
ial chants. In half a dozen churches
services were held earlier in the day,
and the mourners went about the
streets, passing from their homes to
the churches, back to their homes af-
ter brief respites, and again to the
churches to prepare for the last sad
trip to the gravesides.
Delegations of strikers began COM
ing into Calumet early in the day.
The special train of nine coaches
brought hundreds of federationists
from the iron mines of Negaunee and
Ishpeming, and every town and min
ing location in the copper country
sent members and friends of the
union to swell the ranks of the march
ers in the afternoon.
By noon the union host was assem-
bled. Five months of experience in
demonstrating their numbers by pa
rading had taught the men to form
ranks quickly and with little delay
they lined up -four abreast.
Not Enough Hearses.
The supply of hearses was made
quate and there were only fourteen
of these vehicles in the van.
Then came three undertakers' wag-
ons and an automobile truck, the lat
ter carrying three collins.
These vehicles contained the adult
victims and the older children.
Beside n marched eight women
'ao oSsCu 90 poiibCoiClo " a .IitII"
Der Of the women's auxiliary of the
western federation.
1t was his women's organization
which was distributing gifts of candy,
shoes, caps and mittens to the chill
dren of strikers When the panic broke
out.
Behind the hearses was a section
OF the procession which brought tears
and sobs from onlookers. Thirty
nine white collins, their size testifying
to the short life of the little forms
within, were carried by relays Of
strikers. Four men bore each coffin
n as their arms grew weary or feet
stumbled OIL the slippery roadway,
COMPANIONS relieved them of their
burden.