Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-01-08
is PROTECTED BY SHERIFFS
IS ACCOMPANIED BY TANNER,
WHO WAS DEPoRTED WITH
HIM LAST MONTH
TO INVESTIGATE OUTRAGE
DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED IN
PROBE INTO SHOOTING OF
UNION OFFICIAL

G1Ou6ubOu, NiCu'y Joh' O. O%AesA ~
II. Meyer, president of the Western
Federation Of Miners, returned to the
copper country today, accompanied
by Charles H. Tanner, auditor of the
federation, who was deported with
him on December 20. The men came
under guard Of deputy sheriffs and
will appear before a special grand
jury this afternoon.
Governor Asks Pertinent Question
The settlement aspect was en-
pasis at the start Of the governors
conference with mine operators today.
Governor Ferris recalled to them
that efforts to end the strike had
been made by offers OF arbitration
and mediation, and he suggested that
some representative operators state
the reason of the companies in declin-
ing such advances. He barred from
discussion anything relating to the
lawful expense to the state"
Allan Reese, chief counsel for the
companies, responded. He said that
the first communication from the
unions had failed to state. a griev-
ance, and each management under
took to ascertain if the Western
Federation of Miners really represent
ed the employees Of the company.
One company found III Of the men
desiring to be represented by the
union and some 1900 on the negative
side. All told, he said, less than rs
per cent of the employees Of the dis
trict were found to be members of
the federation, and on that showing
the companies declined to consider
the federation as an authorized agent
for the men.
The governor learned that every
company affected by the strike was
represented, and he explained how
James Cunningham, state labor COM
missioner, had collected sworn data
as to the number of men at work,
their nationality and the conditions
under which they were hired.
He then read the summary of Mr..
Cunningham, giving the number Of
men employed at the different mines
the day before the strike and the
number at the present time. The tor
tails showed 1854 men employed be-
fore the strike and 1874 now.
Mr.. Meyer excused himself from
seeing interviewers and went at once
to hotel. He pleaded fatigue, and
his appearance did not belief his
statement. Mr.. Tanner also declined
to discuss anything 1conneeted with
his experiences. gtfs1
A curious crowd gathered at the
Houghton station, but caught no
glimpse of the men. Meyer and Tan
ner took refuge in a locked stateroom
and remained there until the train
reached Hancock.
Several hundred men, evidently
union members, awaited Mr.. Moyer
there and raised cheer as he step
ped into an automobile and was
whislxed away to the Hotel Scott,
where he was domiciled when the
mob Of December rs invaded the
place and escorted him and Tanner
to a train in Houghton.
1t was learned that the federation
men telegraphed to Governor Ferris
a day or two ago offering to testify
before the grand jury. The state leg
islatiye. busted with the strike situa-
tlon generally, asked the attorney
general to come to Houghton to ar
range for the return Of the federation
leaders
An application for protection was
granted, and two Of the biggest dep
uties III Houghton county were
sent to chassel, Mich. to meet the
train and escort Meyer and Tanner