Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-08

ern Federation of Miners, returned to
the copper country today. accompanied
by Charles II. Tanner. auditor of the
federation, who was deported with him
December %.
The men came under guard of deputy
sheriffs, and will appear before the spe-
cial grand jury later this afternoon.
Arrangements for Movers return were
made by Grant Fellows, attorney gem
eral of Michigan, after conference here
last night with Gov. Ferris.
Refuses Interview.
Mr.. Meyer excused himself from see
ing interviewers, and went at once to
I room. He pleaded fatigue, and his
appearance did not belle his statement.
Mr. Tanner also declined to discuss any
thing connected with his experiences.
a curious crowd that gathered at the
doughton station caught no glimpse of
the men. They took refuge in locked
stateroom and remained there until the
train reached Hancock.
Several hundred men, evidently union
members. awaited Mr.. Meyer there and
raised cheer as he stepped into an
and was whirled away to a
iolCA, wHcIc uG WAS QOInlclleQ WnGn the
mob of December 26 invaded the hotel and
escorted Meyer and Tanner to a train in
HOughton.
Offer to Testify.
1t was learned that the federation men
telegraphed to Gov Ferris a day or two
ago offering to testify before the grand
jury. The state executive, busy with the
strike situation generally, asked the at
torney general to come to Houghton te
arrange for the return of the federation
leaders.
An application for protection was
granted and two of the biggest deputies
In Houghton county were last night sem
to Chassel, Mich, to meet the train and
escort Meyer and Tanner back to this
community. So far as could be observed
this precaution was unnecessary, as only
applause greeted the union men wher
they arrived at Hancock.
The deputies will act as bodyguards al
long as the men are here. 1t was under
stood that as soon az the grand jury ha.
excused the men they will leave fol
Washington to attend the meeting 81 tn,
executive council of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor
Gov. Ferris was prepared today to ask
the mine operators just how far they will
go toward compromising the trouble be-
tween them and their employees. Shou d
a proposition be advanced by the opera
tors it will be placed before the strikers
This was the third day of the governor s
hearing Of the operators. The labor
leaders offered their versions Of the strike
yesterday and the day before county
authorities told of conditions in the strike
zone. The union men are standing on
their proposition of a settlement which
was made recently by John B. Densmore
of the Department of Labor.
1t was stated at the hearing yesterday
that the union men are willing to return
to work without a recognition of theil
union and on the provision that the com
panies do not discriminate against strik
ton of Miners.
Why the Declinationp
The settlement aspect was emphasized
at the start of the conference with ths
mine men. Gov. Ferris recalled to then
that efforts to end the strike had beer
made, and he suggested that some rep
resentative Of the operators state tn,
reason of the companies in declining sucf
advances. He barred from discussion
anything relating to the awful expens,
to the state"
Allan Reese. chief counsel for the com
panieS, responded. He said that the frs
communications from the unions hae
failed to state grievance, and eacf
undertook to ascertain il
the Western Federation of Miners really
represented the employees of the com
parry.
Few in Federation.
Ano+,.r co,,n,,y found ~, of its
men DESIRING 10 oe represented ny lhe
union and some $500 on the negative
side All told, he said, less than rs per
cent of the employees Of the district
,oro fo,,,a - ha ,,a,hars of N.
ieuei 'ioii' ahu VI
COMPANIES oeciheo ~ cohsiuei the
federation as an authorized agent fol
the men. He reviewed the opening in
.;dan+s of the strike saving that the
close ORGANIZATION of the Union men
enabled them to stop ali work at the
mines because there was then no ade-
auate provision for preserving peace
lection of the state troops, to whom
he paid tribute. was told by Mr.;
Reese. Ine Iact thdt Dig majority oI
the companies in their decision to have
said
proposals Iurneo DoWh.
Plans for arbitration from Clarence
Darrow. the governors office and the
federal department of labor all con-
.;., ,..z,.a.,I +h,t tba ,rh;t -, tion In