The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-01-08
MINE OWNERS BLAMED BY
DENSMoRE AND UNION MEN

Calumet, Mich, Jan. 6.-Facing an
other investigation of the strike situa-
ton, this time at the hands of the gov
ernor OF the state company managers
and Western Federation of Miners
leaders today preparty to open UP every
avenue of information which the state
executive may desire to explore. AT tho
sarne time both sides to the contro-
versy were dubious as to the ability Of
Governor Ferris and State Labor Com
missioner Cunningham to find any
lasting solution Of the troubles ~
The most general opinion was signs
of further activity in federal circles,
especially in regard to deportation of
Charles H. Meyer, president of the
federation, were responsible for the
governors determination to visit the
district. 1t was pointed out hat the
governor spurned every invitation to
come here when the strike started last
July and had manifested little attention
since of projecting his personality in
to the situation. Some union sources
in fact said that the time he could
have accomplished anything coward
the settling the strike had passed long
ago. At least n phase of the con-
troversy remains for the state ex-
ecutive to work on. John b. Densmore
of the federal department of labor
failed to end the strike after he had
learned how Far the union would go
and then had tried to persuade the
companies to meet 1T. So far as could
be learned the employers have never
asked officially to give their last
WORD" and the governor may And some
unsupported field for effort in that
quarter.
Those who advanced this thought!
however, were willing to concede Ia
the next breath that there was little
Likelihood of the employers receding
from their stand that only men who
would renounce all .~affiliation with, the
union would be received as workmen.
The governor will arrive in the strike
zone but a few hours after the depar-
ture last night Of John 3. Densrnore.
solicitor for the department of labor,
who returned to Washington after fail
Ing to bring together the opposing in
terests. According to information re-
ceived here, Governor Ferris started
for the copper country { early today
from his home In Big Rapids.
When he arrives here tonight 1t Is ex-
pected he will at once begin c%onsulta-
tons with h labor leaders and mine
operators. For some time the governor
has been urged to make an investiga-
ton of the strike and conditions which
caused 1t.
The rock that split the. negotiations
and shattered hopes OF peace was the
question of recognition of the union,
according 10 Mr., DenSmore.
In a nutshell. the question was
whether the union men should go back
to work with or without discrimina-
tion-the companies refused to do any
thing but discriminate against mem
bers of the union" Mr.. Densmore said.
1T means a struggle to the bitter
end, said O. N. Hilton. chief counsel Of
the Western Federation of Miners. who.
has represented President G.. II. Mover
here since the latter's deportation. THE
outcome is due entirely TO the atti-
tude of the companies. They wanted
everything and would concede nothing.
The unions last word was an offer to
withdraw the Western Federation from
the field, its place to be taken by a
union to be affiliated with the Mlchi-
gan State Federation of Labor, the
United Mine Workers or similar body.
This was rejected by the companies"
The employing interests suggested to
Mr.. Densmore that a secret vote Of the
men on strike, If properly s~afeguardcd,
would show a majority OF them in ia
Yor OF returning to work outside the
union fold. When his VS. preached
10 the federation men there was an
immediate declination to submit the
case to any such test.