Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-04
Copper Mine Operators Posi-
lively Refuse to Extend Rec
ognition to Western Fedora
tion,
BITTER LABOR WAR IS
BELIEVED INEVITABLE
Government Agent Blames
Companies For DiScrimina-
ton Against UnionSi Federal
Investigation Asked,

isy WosaiNa JOURNAL SPECIAL lrAsap wsEl
Houghten, Mich. Jan. 3-Efforts
70 end the strike of copper miners by
cancellation failed tonight John y.
! Densmore of the department Of labor,
SO announced after final effort to
bring the warning interests together.
j lie did not hesitate to blame his fail
ure upon the incorporating atti-
iMde Of the mine owners.
The rock that split the negotiations
lgnd shattered hopes ol peace was
the recognition OF the union.
an nutshell the question was
whether the union men should go
back 70 work with or without dis
elimination The companies refused
To- DO anything but discriminate
against members of the union" Mr..
Densmcre said
"lt means struggle TO the bitter
end said o. n Hilton, chef OF
counsel for the Western Federation
no has represented President G. II.
/ MC9cr here since the latter's deporta
ticn, The outcome is due entirely
/ TO the attitude Of the companies, They
lvauted everything ana would con
Icede nothing.
J The UNIONS last word was an offer
ITO withdraw tho Western Federation
/ from The field, its place 20 be taken
+ by nnion affiliated With the Michi-
lgan state Federation gof Labor, the
United Mine Workers on some similar
ibodN This was rejected by the COM
ipanes
rhe employing interests suggested
, tc Mr. nonsmcre that q secret vote
OF the men on strike II properly safe-
guarded would show IA majority Of
them IN favor of returning to work
outsids the union fold When this
was preached to the federation men,
there was an immediate determina-
t.on go submit to no such test
Mr, Densmore said that q fun re-
port II the efforts would be made
by him after his return to Washing
ton. lie has set his departure for to-
morrow night
Statements by mine managcments
took practically the same grounds for
refusal to treat with the unions as
lhat issued In Boston tonight by the
executive heads Of the Calumet a
l1oela company
1T was simply a case Of asking us
.to burden ourselves with an organl-
zation whose history Is one of vio-
lcnce said T. H. Denton. OF the
Copper Range Consolidated company.
THE proposals that reached us were
s4t a
merits Of the question and sought To
force us TO recognize indirectly an
organization with which we will have
nothing to do. As matter Of fact
we have already settled this strike.
The men now working for US are en-
titled 10 every possible consideration
and il would have been rank ingrati-
tude for the companies to have prom
iscd them our protection and then
asked them To labor alongside mem-
hers of the Western Federation.
There is no doubt that constant trou-
bic would have resulted between the
men. with all sorts OF eases of vio-
lence and reprisals, This was a con-
dition winch we could not ana would
not overlook
Then too, anything less than cllm-
iration of the Western Federation
from the district would have meant
thar within five years if not sooner
we should have had an the work tu
do over again. There was no doubt
ia the minds of any OF US that the
IA IT wurk tiitt the frirtation men-
bcrs lc't IN the mines would do would
be- 20 spread propaganda Of dis
rontent, follow It np with a series
VI unreasonable demands and then
start another strike.
From every consideration of hui
nanity to our local employees, of self
respect ON our part and of good.
sound business sense. We could do moth
Ing else than decline to be hunc0cd
by such alternative plans as were
brought to our attention"
Word Of the failure Of the nego-
lations spread rapidly throughout the
district I'm company circles there
was no surprise Among union lead
'rs there was manifest u strong feel
ms OF indignation against tho com
lanies
Every possible resource OF the labor
World Is 60 be- called on for further
lrosc ution OF the strike. IL was am
iouuced Practically every local in
he country viii be asked to CON
nbule quota ana leaders OF expert
nee i'm conducting strikes and Of
persuasive eloquence are to be In
'itcd 10 lend their efforts TO the
trikers.
II was said, in fact that such plans
we're already we'll started when Mr.
)ensmorcs arrival caused tempo-
ary suspension of activity.
Efforts for a congressional invests
.ation are 10 be renewed also Union