The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-10
Opposing Attorneys Outline
Positions in Opening
Statements Before
the Committee
CONDITIONS WITHOUT
PARALLEL, DECLARES
COUNSEL FOR MINERS
Strikers Side of Controversy Is
First to Be Taken Up-President
Rickard of Calumet First to
Take the Stand

Hancock, Mich, February g.-Federal
topper country was formally instituted
oday by Representatives Taylor OF
Colorado, Casey of Pennsylvania and
Howell OF Utah. members of the House
subcommittee on mines and mining.
Meeting in the public hall of this lit
lie mining city into which had gathered
persons who could SIZED any light on the
n this region the inauisitors disposed OF
The formalities of organization in briet
! time and then got down to the business
|pf taking testimony.
Chairman Taylor explained tersely the
purpose of the inquiry and invited al
persons who could shed an Wight on the
controversy to testify. o. N. Hilton, ap-
bearing for the Western Federation OF
Miners, declared that inasmuch as the
committee had decided that the strikers
hide would be heard first he would sug-
kest that the causes leading up to the
alleged conditions be the first subject OF
he inquiry as necessary to determine
! The justice or injustice of the miners
slso pictured the situation as he viewed
t and said the miners would prove that
| he conditions under which they worked
were appalling.
Will Lend Assistance
In assuring the committee that the
| n getting at the truth, Allan r Rees
Ecnior counsel for the companies, said
Iiiltons statement was fair type OF
| he campaign of misrepresentation and
falsehood which has been characteris-
! ic of the situation from the inception OF
The strike
The committee decided to take up the
subjects of inquiry in regular order.
Chairman Taylor and Mr.. Howell both
Expressing the opinion that the exist
fnce of the conditions alleged should be
proven before they could properly in
1uire into the causes.
William ]. Rickard, president of the
calumet local of the Western Fedora
zion of Miners, was to the first to take
the stand. He gave his age as A years,
Ind said he had worked for mining CON-
|panies since he was II years cid. Had
barely begun his narrative. when the
Eommittee adjourned until tomorrow
morning at o'clock. Rickard was one
bf the strikers witnesses, summoned to
khow underlying causes was heard be-
'ause only these witnesses were ready.
Conditions Unparalleled
I'VE are prepared to show" said Mr.
Hilton, in his opening statement, that
For a long number of years there have
been engaged in the mines boys from
2 to 16 years of age. and that there has
|Peen an unparalleled condition of af-
Fairs. / believe we can show that many
who entered the mines as boys, and who
have worked all the time up to the pres
int time, never have averaged $3 a day
FOR their work. Many have large fam
lies. In numerous instances they have
worked under appalling conditions.
I'VE will show that it has been i'm
POSSIBLE for them to get work unless they
BRAIDED at certain stores" he continued
3.When they were hopelessly in
bebt. they were denied houses to live
! in unless they continued to patronize
these stores We will show that the
wages paid have been lower and meaner
than those of the underpaid labor In the
bid world Conditions so startling will
be revealed that they sem 70 us COM
.plete justification of the strike"
Mr. Hilton declared the rate of NOR
tality in these mines was among the
highest known In mining: that tram
.ners were compelled to push cars along
|boor tracks as much as IL miles daily
And that they never had been paid living
wages. He said many of tie miners
.were compelled to work "in vciitaole
inferno" and often had to tie taken Out
There was no ventilation
In some of the mines. and no water to
drink except that which seeped through
|cracks in The rocks.
A. comparison of the wages paid here
t,nd elsewhe re Will be presented he said
|hnd the way the demands of the mer
(Continued on page Eightl