Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-01-07
STRIKE NOT SETTLED
IN COPPER COUNTRY
Federal Mediator Fails to Bring
Peace at Mines.
Puts Blame Mostly on Operators Gov
Ferris is Now Making Personal
Investigation.

Houghton, Mich, Jan. 5.-Efforts to
end the strike of copper miners by
of the department of labor SO an
nounced after final effort to bring
the warning interests together.
He did not hesitate to blame his
failure upon the uncOmpromising at
titude Of the mine owners, who re-
fused to recognize the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners as a party to arbi
tration proceedings or other peace
projects.
Densmore Tells Story.
I'm a nutshell, the question was
whether the union men should go back
to work with or without discrimina-
ton. The companies refused to do
anything but discriminate against
members of the union," said Mr. Dens-
more.
1T means a struggle to the bitter
end" said o. n Hilton, chief of coun-
sci of the Western Federation of
Miners, who has represented Presi-
dent G. H. Meyer here since the lat
ter's deportation. "The outcome is
due entirely to the attitude of the
companies. They wanted everything
and would concede nothing"
Compromise Is Rejected.
The unions last word was an offer
to withdraw the Western federation
rom the field, it's place to be taken by
union affiliated with the Michigan
Federation of Labor, the United Mine
Workers, with which the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners is affiliated, or some
similar body. This was rejected alb
solutely by the companies.
The employing interest suggested to
Mr.. Densmore that secret vote of the
men on strike, If properly safeguard
ed, would show a majority of them in
favor of returning to work outside the
union fold. When this was preached
to the federation men there was an
immediate declination to submit the
case to any such test. Word of the
negotiations was telegraphed to the
secretary of labor by Mr.. Densmore.
He said that full report of the ef-
forts made would be made by him aft
er his return to Washington.
The strike has been in progress
since July %. Now that Mr. Dens-
more has given up and is going back
to Washington, there are prophecies
that it will last much longer. J. E.
Roach, a representative of Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, said
This strike will not be settled for
eight months. 1t will run longer than
that. 1t will go a year. The American
federation will aid the strikers, and
other organizatinos will help"
Attack on Meyer Up to Grand Jury.
The Houghton county grand jury
was specifically charged by Judge H.
H. O'Brien of the circuit court to in
vestigate the kidnapping of Meyer.
Meyer was forcibly deported, beaten
and shot.
IF the jury believes there is reason
able amount of evidence pointing to-
ward persons connected with the kid
naping, they are to be investigated
and indicted" Judge OBrien charged.
The grand jury is made up of James
NAclCANclN NUN C1ldullSuI, EUSdI Dye,
several mine superintendent and two
Socialists. The evidence is being
placed before the grand jury by
George Nichols, a special prosecutor
appointed by Governor Ferris to con-
duct the investigation
Judge O'Brien has been condemned
by the mine managers and the mem
bers of the Citizens alliance without
mercy. Placards charging that he
tried to mediate the strike in the
cause of the Western Federation of
Miners have been posted on the bill
boards in Calumet township, and in
the Calumet & Hecla stamp mills one
OF the largest posters is displayed.
Ferris on Way to Calumet.
Calumet, Mich, Jan. 5.-Governor
Ferris, Labor Commissioner Cunning
ham and Secretary Nesbit will arrive
in the copper country tonight. The
governor will prosecute a vigorous in
vestigation of the strike in the hopes
of bringing about settlement. He
is accompanied by several lower
Michigan labor leaders.