Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-12
Resolution in Senate
for Thorough Probe
of Copper Mine Strike

thorough investigation of strike con-
ditions in the copper mines in the Calu-
met, Hancock and South Range districts
of Michigan was proposed in a resolution
today by Senator Ashurst of Arizona 1t
would direct the Senate education and
labor committee to ascertain:
Relations between employers and en-
p!oyes. SO far they relate to the pres
ent troubles; the justice and reasona Bile
ness OF minimum wage and other de-
mands of the strikers; original invest
ments and profits of the companies;
whether employers or employees have de-
clned arbitration; whether peonaSe is
maintained or access to post offices is
prevented; whether immigration laws have
been violated; whether persons have been
punished in violation of the law and
whether there is a comb nation in the
mining district in restraint of trade.
Extracts From Report.
The report of the investigators of the
Department of Labor contains some state
rnents not included in the summary made
public last week at Secretary Wilson's
Office.
One portion. referring to the conduct of
the militiamen points to an order of Ju Y
26, 1918. by Gen. Abbey which stated
Not more than one man of any COM
pany, troop battery may be excused
at the same time"
The so.u.e4s were not kept under,
proper disc pine. says the text of the
report. Gen. Abbey himself admitted
that this order was not enforced. The re-
suit was that crowds of privates were
daily seen on the streets: they visited
saloons, and many of them became in
toxicated, and some carried revolvers
while they were in an Intoxicated condi-
ton
Considering the number of men in
volved in the strike says the report,
the length of time the struggle was
continued. and the bitterness caused by
bringing soldiers and Waddell men to
the district. the strike was remarkably
peaceful The only persons killed were
two of the strikers. who were wantonly
shot down by Waddell men and deputies
at Painsdale, and deputy and striker,
who killed each other near Horontown.
Miners Warned by Leaders.
The leaders of the Western Fedora
ton of Miners in charge of the strike
repeatedly warned the strikers against
carrying firearms and using intoxicants
and very few were arrested for these
offenses. Undoubtedly many men that
started to go back to work were In
Inundated and some were abused and
beaten. On the other hand, the deputy
sheriffs and Waddell men acted with
great brutality toward the strikers
and in many cases beat men and wom-
IN with clubs and night sticks.
Tn many cases it would be impossible
to determine who was the aggressor. The
real facts could be determined only by
court, with power to subpoena witnesses,
and even then, there would doubtless be
miscarriages of justice. The only conclu-
sion that one can reach is that some of
the violence was caused by the strikers
and for some of ii peace officers We're
responsible
Zone of the most remarkable features
of the strike was that in spite of the ex-
element and passion which prevailed no
property of the mining companies was in
iured by strikers, and, in faint, none
showed any disposition to injure prop
erty."