Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-10
STR|KEBREAKERS
FORCED TO MINES
AT PISTOL POINT
Dept of Labor's Inquiry Shows
Employment Agencies Con-
ceaIed Strike.
FINDINGS MAY BE BASIS
OF PROBE BY CONGRESS
caIumet-HecIa's Big Profits
Pointed Out-Some Companies
Operate at Loss.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Report of
the department of labor's investiga-
ton of the Michigan copper strike,
made public here today, declares that
strike breakers were imported into
the copper region by misrepresenta-
lions; that some were taken to the
asines at the point of pistols; that
strikers We're wounded by firearms In
the hands of armed guards, but that
no evidence was found of officers
being injured by the strikers.
1t was pointed out that while many
of the smaller copper mining COM
panies in the region were operating
at a loss, the Calumet-Hecla Com
pany, which employs more than 90
per cent. of men in the region, had
"had etremely large profits" With
an authorized capital of $2500,000, of
which Sl,200000 was paid in, the re-
port declares that since 1871 the COM
-pany has paid $121, ,050, 900 in dividends
and reinvested $75.000.000 in its prop
erty. 1t pays wages for ten to eleven
hour day ranging from S2.89 to $3.62
and with an average of $3.2S, while
the average day wage of the other
companies is STA. The report also
points out the welfare work the COM
DdHy COnuuCtS lO1 ll6 tllployCCot SUM
as hospitals, pension fund and the
like.
May Be Basis of Inquiry.
The report was made upon the in
vestigation of Walter B. Palmer, a
special agent of the department of
labor: John A. Moffitt, of Orange, N.
j., and John B. Densmore, solicitor
for the department, who were sent out
out to the copper region as concilia-
tors.
Secretary Wilson, making public a
summary of the report today, declined
to say what his next step would be,
but intimated that the findings of his
investigators might be made the basis
of a proposed congressional inyestiga-
tion.
THAT suggestions were made that
the managers of the companies meet
the representatives of the miners
with a view to effecting mutual
settlement.
"That the whole question in dispute
be submitted to arbitration.
"That the questions be submitted
to arbitration and no member Of the
Western Federation of Miners be
selected upon the board.
Companies Blocked Mediation.
"That the companies agree to re-
{ instate all of the workmen without
discrimination relative to their being
members or non-members OF a union.
That the companies post notices
that they will re-employ all the strik-
ers without discrimination relative to
their being members or on-members
Of a union.
Each of these propositions as made
was accepted by the representatives
of the miners as basis of settlement,
but was rejected by the representa-
tives of the companies on the ground
that they would not deal with the
Western Federation of Miners or have
any of its members in their employ.
HOUGHTON, Mich, Jan. 10.-With
the departure yesterday of Governor
W. N Ferris from the copper country
chief interest in the strike of the North
Michigan copper miners today CEN
tired in the work of the special grand
jury, which is investigating lawless-
less resulting from the strike.
Intimations that the work OF the
grand Jury will be attacked on legal
grounds were made at union head
quarters today The strikers insist
that the presence in the grand jury
room of Grant Fellows, attorney-gen-
eral of Michigan, had voided the
bodys legality and that there is no
Michigan law which would permit the
county to employ George Nichols as
special prosecutor under existing con-
ditions.
Charles H. Meyer, president of the
Western Federation of Miners, an
nounced his intention of remaining
In the district as long as he pleased,
and of prosecuting the men who de-
ported him from Hancock on the
night after Christmas.
Governor w. N. Ferris returned to
his home in Big Rapids without max
ing a direct effort to end the strike.
He blamed outsiders for the continu-
ance of the struggle and said he got
the information he came here for.