Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-08
President of Miners Fed
Grafton Returns to the
Copper Country.
GIVEN SHERIFF GUARD
Recites Observations on Night
of observation-disclosures
Hears Operators Side.

Houzhton, Mich. Jan. S.--A secret
co7fereuce Governor Ferris held with
o., unidentified man early last even
ing 4. believed 20 have some connec-
t,on with the sudden departure OF
Mover from Chicago. The governor
Id rbe conference was on legal af-
fsirs- and as 70 has been known he
as anxious TO see a grand jury in
veStfgation Of the Meyer deportation
ro-fen under way f. was surmised
tserefore that Mover would be taken
before the grand jury this afternoon
and some observers guessed he would
leave FOR Chicago tonight
Later today the governor was to
receive an investigating committee
Of the socialist party. iHasmuch as
the governor and committee are both
seekiug information, procedure al the
conference il cOnjecturaL
The settlement aspect was empha-
sized at the start Of the conference
with the mine men. The governor re-
called TO them efforts 10 offer
arbitration and mediation and suggest
ID that some representative OF the
0perLtOrs state the reason OF the com
panies in declining such advances. He ,
barred from discussion anything reiat-
iug to the awful expense OF the
strike
Answers for Companies.
Chief OF Counsel Reese responded I
fo- the companies. II said the first
communications from the -BUi0ns JAILED 7
io7state a grievance and each manage |
ment undertook 10 ascertain II the I
Western Federation really represent 7
ID the employees OF the company. One Z
company found IL OF their men de-
siring % BE- represented by the union, .
Thile 2.3O0 were on the negative side. Z
All told. less than % per cent OF the /
employees OF the district were found .
10 be members OF the federation. and 1
OF that showing the companies de-
ciiaed 10 consider the federation as .
N authorized agent for the men He f.
then reviewed the opening Incidents
q the strike. Plans for arbitration
from Clarence Darrow. the governor
and the federal department OF labor
Eere declined because they included
he question OF recognition Of the fed
ration. Reese said. He added that
about 10000 are al work. Of whom
bout $1,000 have been imported.
Can't Alter Attitude.
The governor found 10 almost impos-
able 70 get the operators away from
he idea that their attitude towards
he Western Federation IS not in
olved in the question. The governor
.ent on record as favoring collective
4Fgaining for labor. pointing out the I
eneral tendency towards organization
both capital and labor.
President Meyer and Auditor Tanner
the Western Federation OF Miners
-turned 20 the copper country this az {
moon. They came under guard OF {
sputy sherlfs and viii appear before
special grand jury later "a the after !
bon Arrangements for the return OF
oyer from Chicago. where he has
'en since his deportation. were made 4
J Attorney General Fellows OF Mich
An after a conference with the gov
nor last night.
The deputies accompanied Meyer
on Chassel. Mich. where they went
q night 20 act as bodyguards. Ap-
a1se greeted him on the arrival OF
nself and union men az Hancock
y understood as soon as excused !
The grand jury the men viii leave v
Washington 20 attend a meeting '
the executive council OF the Amer
L Federation OF Labor
Secrecy IN Movements.
Chicago. III. Jan. s.-A morning pa q
prints an unqualified statement N
Z President Meyer OF the American b
derat!on Of Miners. recently depOrt-
nom Hancock. Mich. left on the 4
30 Chicago. Milwaukee d St Paul
IN for Hancock last night
nquiry az Meyers hotel this morn
vas met with evasions and deniais.
'rks admitted they were under or
~ with reference 70 Meyer. There
abundant evidence upon which TO
ie a belief Meyer had secretly left 2
hotel Some Of the clerks pledged