The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04
Attempt to Bring Warning
Interests Together Hope
less, Says Densmore
BLA \ FAILURE ON
80. NERS' ATTITUDE
,perators Refuse to Allow Men to
Return as Belonging TO Any
Union-"Means Struggle to
the Bitter End

Houghton, Mich. January 3.-Efforts
TO end the strike OF copper miners by
Cancellation failed tonight. John B.
Densmore, of the department of Ia
bor. so announced after "A final effort
to bring the warning interests toreth-
err. He did not hesitate to blame his
failure I'm settling the trouble on the
uncompromising attitude of the mine
owners.
The rock that split the negotiations and
shattered hopes of peace was the aues-
ton of recognition of the union.
In nutshell the question was whether
the union men should go back to work
with or without discrimination. The com
panies refused to anything but discrlmi-
nate against members of the union' said
Mr.. Densmore
1t means struggle 20 the bitter end"
said o. N. Hilton. chief counsel of the
Western Federation of Miners, who has
represented President c. H. Moyer here
since the latter's sudden departure. The
outcome is due entirely to the attitude of
the companies. They wanted everything
Offer to Withdraw
The unions last word was an offer to
withdraw the Western Federation from
the field, its place to be taken by a union
affiliated with the Michigan State Fedora
tion of Labor. the United Mine Workers
or some similar body This was rejected
by the companies.
Inc employing interests suggested to
Mr.. Densmore that a secret vote of the
men on strike, if properly safeguarded,
would show a majority of them In favor
OF returning to work outside the union
fold. When this was broaohed to the fed
Grafton men there was an immediate re-
fusal to submit the case to such test Re-
suits OF the negotiatioBs were wired to the
Secretary of Labor by Mr.. Densmore to-
night. He said he would make a fun re-
port of his efforts after lis return tt,
Washington He set his departure for
tomorrow night Statements by mine op-
orators took practically the same grounds
Tor refusal TO treat with the unions as
that issued in Boston tonight by the exc
cutiye heads of the Calumet and Hecla
company.
IT was simply a case of saking us TO
burden ourselves with an organiza ton
whose history is one of violence" said
f. w. Denton. of the Copper Range Con-
solidated company.
Proposals Subterfuge
The proposals that reached us We're
mere subterfuges, did not go the merits
OF the question and sought to force US
to recognize indirectly an organization
with which we will have nothing to do
and have never treated.
LAS a matter of fact we have already
settled this strike. The men now working;
for us are entitled to every possible con-
sGeration and ii would have been rank
ingra titude for the companies to have
promised them our protection and then
asked them to labor alongside members of
the Western Federation There is no
doubt that constant trouble would have
have resulted between the men. This was
g. condition which we could not and would
not overlook.
"Then, too anything less than elimna-
tion of the Western Federation from the
district would have meant that within
five years IL not sooner, we should have
had all the work to do over again
There was no doubt in Our minds that
the first work the federation members
left in the mines would be to spread a
propaganda of discomfort, follow it up
with series of unrea sonable demands
and then start another strike.
From every consideration of humanity
to our loyal employees, of self-respeet on
cur own part and of good, sound, bust
ness sense. we could do nothing else than
decline to be buncoed by such alternative
plans as were brought to attention -
Word of the failure of the negotia :
tions spread rapidly through the district
In company circles there was no sur
prise. Among union leaders there was
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