The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-01-02
BEREAVED MINERS
REFUSE C|TYS AID
CALUMET PEOPLE ARE ANGERTD
WHEN THEIR PREFERRED
HELP is scoRNED.
SEND THE MINE CHIEF AWAY
Union viii Help; That's Enough
Prosecutor Has Many Descrip-
tions Of Man Who Yelled
"Flre" In TWO Languages.

"Flre" In Two Languages.
Calumet, Mich, Dec. 27.-Charles H.
Meyer, president of the Western Fed
Grafton of Miners, was put on train
and sent out of the copper strike dis
trict tonight. The deportation was the
result of refusal of families stricken
by the Christmas eve disaster here to
accept relief from a committee, the
majority of whose members belonged
to the Citizens alliance, an orsaniza-
ton combating the five months
strike of the federation.
At the local federation headquarters
Meyers departure was called kid
naping by the Citizens alliance The
action was said to have caused no
great surprise, as 1t was said that
threats of such a possibility had been
received two weeks ago. 1t was point
ed out that these threats had been re-
ported by Vice President Mahoney
when he made plea for federal in
vestigation of conditions before the
rules committee of the national house
of representatives.
THE high-handed action of the
Citizens alliance tonight will have no
effect upon the situation except TO
strengthen the men in their determine
ton to win," said one of the local
union officials tonight.
1--WE have an ample organization
and plenty of funds and plans to meet
this contingency were made weeks
ago.
IF the so-called outside agitators
are not to be permitted the right of
free speech and legal action in Mich
igan, then we will call upon citizens
of this state; then we will call upon
such leadership as may be necessary.
The Michigan Federation of Labor has
plenty of such men and their pres
ence has been promised
Calumet, Mich, Dec 27.-Inablity to
give away a cent of the $4,000 collect
ed for relief of the families stricken
by the Christmas eve catastrophe in
which seventy-two persons were kill
ed, today confronted the committee
which gathered the funds.
Every bereaved household approach
ed told the men and women in charge
of the distribution they had been prom
Used adequate aid by the Western Fed
90 MinarC nd
ance was wanted.
Members of the relief committee Sc
lected at yesterdays mass meeting
blamed this unprecedented condition
upon the rumor that the man who
started the panic among the striking
copper miners children were the EN-
blem of the Citizens alliance, an or
ganization opposed to continuance Of
the deferation's strike. To combat this
sentiment they obtained from An
thony Lucas, prosecuting attorney Of
Houghton county, statement that he
was satisfied from the progress of his
investigation that the man who raised
the cry wore no insignia of any kind
In most instances the officers of re-
lief were refused without show of any
feeling other than confidence the union
would be able to take care of all
wants. Exceptions to this rule we're
fairly numerous, however, and in one
case two women were elected from a
home where two children lay dead.
Despite the evident determination
OF the stricken families not to accept
non-union aid, the committee was not
without hope of overcoming the preju'
dices and held another meeting to-
night to consider various plans for
getting rid of the money in its hands.
Fifty-four families were on the list
as needing possible aid, and were Wis
tied by committees, each representing
one of the nationalities to, which the
vict ms of the panic belonged.
The federation's members we're not
less active and in several cases the
unofficial visitors met union workers
in the houses which death had visited.
Always the proffers of union help
were accepted in preference to the
other
Efforts to run down the identity of
the man who began the panic met wit
some success today. Several persons
gave lengthy affidavits to Prosecutor
Lucas investigators and from de.
scription furnished by one, it was
hoped an arrest may be made soon.
More important in the mind of the
local community was the explosion of
the report that the miscreant wore a
Citizens alliance button. Mrs. Herese
Sizer denied she had ever made a
statement that she had seen such an
insignia when she grasped the man
by the shoulders and tried to force
him into a seat.
CaNas Einhk ~ c.,