The Detroit times., 1914-02-28
REP. MACDONALD
SCORES FERRIS
ON MINE ISSUE
Intinaates Executive Has Play.
ed Dual Role to Get Support
Of Copper Barons
SAYS GRAND JURY WAS
CONTROLLED BY OWNERS
Declares Men Who Hired Gun
Men Are Really Answerable
For Homicide

JACKSON. Mich, veh cs.--(spe-
lcisD-0oy. Ferris and Atty.-0en.
Grand Fellows came In for q
Iscathing arraignment 1t the hands OF
Rep. william J. Macdonald, ct the
Progressive rally In the Masonic tenn.
|ple here Friday night.
Rep. Macdonald alleged that the
governor has played . dual role
Throughout al the trouble incident to
the strike Of Upper Psninsula copper
miners and han acted solely n the
interests OF TIE COPPER barouS.
He touched upon the fact that the
lcCppercontrolled press Of the Upper
for governor since the. strike and that
members from Ill political parties
CLUB In the copper country.
when ! introduced the resolution ct
|Washington asking for eongressiou-
|sl Investigation IN the mining c0un-
had been denled. Gov. Ferris sent =
said Mr.. NacDunald. Later receiv.
-
he said. VIII you tell me In plain
that Mexican SPOT from the map Of
|Michigan?"
There isn't mine.controllsd paper
|vocsting the reelection Of Gov. Fer
resolution indorsing Ferris and term
Ssn< h&v~, hn wv~nA olA man ~ MfRhl.
gam We ind Grant Fellows enthu-
|siastically abetting the governor. In
an address at q banquet q few nights
ago Fellows said the nag 10 down In
the copper country. Isn't that almost
Saying that the constitutional rights
In northern Michigan have been sur
|pendedf Fellows means chat congress
has commenced abusing and terrOrix-
ing the mine owners.
1.-The upper peninsula 70 now for
the most part In the mine 0wnerD'
hands. They have dominated every
activity In . manner that 10 almost
linconceivable. The mine owners knew
the crisis was coming. want TO call
your attention to three important
pieces OF legislation In 1911 and you
can Judge ~ to whether or not the
strike was anticipated.
1.-THE frst was the repeal OF the
mediation and arbitration statute
which was on the books since 1889. An
other was the passage Of the blanket
gunner act authorizing employees OF
companies to carry concealed weap-
ions. The third was the transfer Of
the expenses Of the National Guard
| in time OF strife from the county to
the state. This little joker has cost
| tho state about 100000 this year.
What 10 more important, It relieves
1.-THE mining companies of the burden
|of the cost of the soldiers.
The miners called the strike against
| the will Of the Western Federation OF
miners. During the nrSt few days 80
mines closed down. At Calumet $50
miners forced the surface workers 70
cease work. This action was against
the law, but no action was taken by
the sheriff. Instead he spent his time
ItelegFaphing the governor for troops.
Waddell was one Of the men ut the
! Read OF the gunner. The troops were
lrvshed to the copper country and
tplaced ct the disposal of the mine
|owners. They made their headquars
tiers In the mine owners ofaces. I'm.
lder the protection OF the soldiers
guards were brought in and trained.
From that time on conditions wero
Understandable. Thesc gunner ara
| hired to kill. Men held for homicide
acted - peace o1icerS. The grand
jury. controlled by the mine owners.
refused to indict. As for Mr.. Meyer.
| I do not know Of single act Of vio-
lence instigated by him or his asso-
tCfHtpy.
Il expressed II very mildly when I
said that the constitutional rights Of
the citizens had been dedled. The
men who hired the slayerz are equally