The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-02
Committee Is Given New
Angle From Which to View the La
Dor Troubles in This DistriCt--Defin-
ite and Complete Statement Of
Facts Is Presented
LEAVES NO ROOM FOR DOUBT AS TO ATTITUDE!
JAS. M'NAUGHTON ON STAND THIS AFTERNOON

With a formal statement of the posi-
tion of the mining companies in
which he outlinesl the history of cop
per mining companies, and other
events leading up TO the calling of the
strike, Attorney Allan r. Rees this
morning opened the operators side
Of the congressional inquiry. Attor
nev Rees' reference 10 the Western
Federation was brief lie said
The Western Federation of Min
ers is alien to this territory. They
have no interest here; they have moth
ing to gain by butting in here, except
that this is pretty prosperous COM
munity. our miners have large saw
ings accounts and it would be awruny
good uicking for the Western Fedora
tion of Miners. These alien organic
ers and agitators came into the dis 70
uict i'm about 1907 and began the work
of organization. They filled up the
members with promises as to what
the federation would do for them.
These promises were absolutely i'm
possible. They led them on TO be-
lieve. and they have taught from day
to day and year to year the doctrine
Of discomfort Their constitution
teaches trouble. that there is constant
war between capital and labor. The
cngendered by false speaking the de
gree of discomfort.
1T had been known for "a year that
a strike was imminent. I'm Walter Pal
mor's report YOU will lind a letter from
Moyer telling the men not to particle
pate in a strike until they were thor
oughly organized.
Recognition of the union would
mean closed shop, that no man
could work here without the consent
of the Western Federation of Miners.
That would mean to vS a total wreck
so far as our interests and the inter-
ests of our men are concerned.
Their has been no discrimination
against member or organization and
the mines were run On an open shop
principle and would have continued.
The teachings and not the conditions
cngondcred the discomfort but the
members. who we believe have been
deludcd and deceived were promised
great things-that is the way they
got their members. We will offer
proof that the Western Federation OF
Miners did not represent - per cent oil
the employees of this district. and not
10 per cent of the employees of the c.
& H
Refers TO Acts OF Violence.
Referring to the calling of the strike
Mr. Rees outlined incidents that pre-
cipitated a wave Of crime because
other men would not join them in the
strike. He said:
"On the morning the strike was cali
ed our men did not so out. only Il
few went on strike. \ large majority
came to work on the day in question.
and then began the trouble then be-
gan I series of crimes which made
it impossible for any sclf-rcSpecting ,
cmployc To have anything To do with I
the W. +. of NJ At Calumet there
gathered from AhmeeS, Mohawk and {
Franklin crowds of these strikers. Il
don't want to go through any such I
thing again. They assaulted our men,
paraded about armed cor three days /
Three Gays of that kind of riotinS /
drove every man away from work /
They tore the stars off deputies star /
and dinner pail wero the objects OF /
assault. Gov Ferris was very prompt /
on the request of Sheriff Cruise 10 send .
troops. The entire force of militia .
came in and obtained and maintained /
order.
They even stopped the pumps. The
mines were closed ann nHinc with
water The parades continued daily /
There was no open conflict until tho
mines began 10 operate under the pro.
lection Of the troops THEN began the
picketng Then men had to be es-
,orted hy soldiers deputies and fiuarda
through the strikers lines This con-
Iinued for some time until the injunc- !
ton was passed by the supreme court |
"Thc general system of violence was