United labor bulletin., 1914-02-28

years Settlementl and less SnlftlnS.
This latter fact accounts to some eX-
tent for the allying of the business in
terest so largely with the copper crowd,
and everybody deals in copper and owns
stock
A Beautiful System.
The system of government is great.
We have patted ourselves on the back
,over our Huerfano and Las Animas, but
the boys down there are in the infant
class when it comes to completeness.
Hancock has regular city government,
with mayer trustees, etc, and is about
the only one; but belongs to the sys-
tenn. Houghton is under township gov.
ernment and the township trustee is
the whole works, with his policemen,
firemen and the rest. OF necessity he
is copper man.
Calumet, with everything, is likewise
under township government, and who do
you suppose is the township trustee, chi
Why, nobody but Jim McNaughton. the
head of the Calumet & Hecla combina-
ton and all the rest. He is the man
that prevents the settlement OF the
strike and the king of the whole works
You can plainly see what fat chance
an outsider would have in that game.
And they are not content with the
towns, but also have the county govern
ment, all the courts and the whole
cheese, including the rind Everybody
has an equal break all the way along
the line there, provided that the break
favors the big boys at the head. This
influence permeates the lodges. the
churches, societies and everything
1t may be said in passing that until
the last general election this section
was strongly standpat Republican.
when the Progressives got away with
congressman and a district Judge, and
that was about all. Congressman Nc
Donald was q former copper attorney
and prosecuting attorney, and thought
to be all right. But after going to Con-
gress he took sides with the proposed
investigators and now he is hated worse
than the officials of the miners 1t is
openly said on the streets there he can
not come home. Judge OBrien of the
district bench was a former favorite of
the big ones, but when on the bench
dared to be fair and just in his deci-
sions, and he has been ostracised and
they are trying to make his life hell
on earth. But why more of this? We
all know how these things work.
What of the Future.
/ talked with many people in the
community as to the situation and
found few but who hoped a settlement
could be made. When pinned right
down to cases, however, all admitted
thd4 the whole question was in the
hands of Jim McNaughton. the Calu-
met & Hecla general manager. lie has
repeatedly stated that the Western Fed
Grafton would never be recognized The
men out and the officials of the miners
are willing to make any fair concession
to bring about industrial peace, but so
far their efforts have been unavailing
and treated with contempt. / can say
that no fairer offer could be made than
one proposed by the miners. When this
is presented to the magnates, and if it
is refused by them. they will stand out
in q storm OF public scorn and criticism
that will even permeate their hides, and
/ doubt if an elephant has anything on
some OF them when it comes to that
1t is hoped that the congressional com
mittee may be able to bring peace to
that section. Whatever is the result, /.
is cinch that when their report is
made public the country will be astound-
ed at the revelations of working condi-
tions.
Acknowledged Were Wrong.
The operators have in way acknowl-
edged that they were working human
beings like slaves by putting in effect
an eight-hour day, bettering working
conditions and establishing minimum
day wage. Had ii not been for the
Western Federation coming into the
district the 10 and 12-hour shifts 1000
and, 1000 feet under ground in heat al.
most unbearable, and water thar for.s'
men to labor more than half naked at
wages far too low, to put it mildly
would have continued. Those on strike
have the one ray of satisfaction at
least that their sacrifice, privation and
fortitude have done at least Something
Tor the toilers in the copper mines. al.
though those benefits are being en-
Joyed by those who are really unworthy
But it was ever thus. Those who set
out for the promised land and suffer
and sorrow to mark out the way often.
times fail to enjoy any of the blessings
/ hope it will not be that way in this
case.
Making Great Fight.
The Western Federation of Miners
never put up such battle in their long
career. They are today caring for more
than 5000 people in that district. feed
ing them. clothing them, doctoring them
and doing everything possible for their
comfort. And the terrible cold weather.
Truly there are martyrs to a cause in