Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-11

! Calumet. Mich, March 1.-THE fed
Grafton of Miners will take referen-
dunn vote on the question of calling off
the strike. according to President
Rickard of the Calumet local.
Chicago. Ill, March live will
sanction calling off of the copper min
ers' strike If the men themselves want
us to do it." declared President Meyer
of the Western Federation of Miners
here today. Meyer recommended
referendum vote to determine whether
the strikers desired to waive their de-
mand for recognition of their union to,
surrender their union cards and re-
turn to work
The men could make their own in
diyidual terms with the mining COM
panies, said Meyer. AS far as the
western Federation was concerned,
that organization was willing to &C
cept changes in working conditions
the companies have made since the
strike, and would be content to have
the strikers return to work with the
understanding that they would go
without prejudice. Meyer wished to
could take any action they desired.
without any interference from the fed
Grafton.
Companies Willing.
Alien Rees, senior counsel for the
mining companies, said the men would
be taken back without prejudice upon
surrendering their union cards. Places
doubtless would be found for all ex-
L., arc Nf
, violence and lawlessness-
I'VE will start on with clean
slate" declared A. Z. Petermann, an
other attorney for the companies.
Details of the deportation of Charles
II. Meyer, president of the Western
Federation of Miners, from Hancock,
Mich, on the night of Dec. 26 were
related to the congressional commit
tee last night by Mr.. Meyer. Meyer
said he was beaten and shot as he
was being taken from the Hotel Scott
across the bridge over Portage lake to
Houghton. where he was placed on a
train and sent TO Chicago.
Meyers testimony concluded the in
vestigation of the house subcommit-
tee. The members OF the committee
left at once for Washington and will
formulate a report to the house OF rep
resentatives with recommendations in
few weeks.
The president OF the miners organi-
cation appeared at the hearing after
spending the afternoon at the bedside
of c. Z. Mahoney, vice president OF
the federation, who underwent an
operation at the Englewood hospital
for appendicitis.
Were you in Hancock, Mich, on the
night of Dec. 26 at about s o'clock"
Attorney o. n. Hilton OF coucsel for
the Western Federation of Miners
asked.
81 was at the Hotel Scott" Mr..
Meyer replied slowly.
Tells of Citizens Call.
Tell what happened on that night"
"At about o'clock" Mr.. Meyer said
"a committee composed Of John Black
of Houghton, Sheriff Cruise of Hough-
ton county, and another person came
to my room in the hotel. They asked
me il / would see a larger committee
of citizens, and replied that i always
was glad to meet the citizens. Then
committee of 15 or Is, headed by Mr..
Peterman and a man whom they called
| Doctor entered the room.
"They said they desired to discuss
with me the disaster of Italian hall,
which took place the evening before,
where many lives were lost by false
alarm OF fire. They said a sum of
money lad been raised by the citizens
for the benefit of the families that had
lost children in the accident They
said they had heard / had advised the
miners not 70 take the money. They
demanded that 1 retract any state
ments TO that effect IL 1 had made
] them.
II rerlied that told the people we
would bury their dead. so they decided
not to accept the money raised by the
citizens.
Story Of Attack.
"Mr. Petermann insisted / was re-
sponsible for the attitude of the peo-
pie. Just before the committee left
the room Mr.. Petermann said: We
will not be responsible for anything
that happens TO you after you have as
sumed the position you have
! Then took down the telephone
receiver to call the secretary OF the
Calumet local 20 tell him TO stop the