The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-24
Strikers Now Have No Grievances, Il Appears, But
They Would Retain Their Membership
in the Western Federation
POSITION OF COMPANIES is UNCHANGED;
Fedora ION MUST QUIT THE DISTRICT

u' those conditions are the men wlll,ne
To 20 back to work?'
The char interposed with the ques-
tion:
rs there a custom here where men
can present their case to the operator
when they are dissatisfied? ~
Hilton replied that the men would
avoid a signed agreement for settle
ment and any offer towards ending the
controversy can be met by a posted
notice.
Congressman Casey asked, The
miners are willing to return under con-
ditions as they are today? the eight
hour day, the minimum wage, and the
grievance provision are satisfactory?
Then the only difference is that the
miners want to belong TO any organi-
zation without being Disseminated
against"
Attorney Hilton: 4 have no doubt
but that is their stand
Attorney Rees replied that Hilton
proposition without any exception IS
the same that has been made fire.
quently The first time not later than
week after the strike, the next by
J. d. Densmore of the federal depart
ment of labor, both Of which were de-
clined.
! Attorney Rees said:
ION Dec ] we offered 10 take all the
men back except those who had been
guilty Of violence, intimidation or in
| citing a riot The offer was submitted
in various ways, through the Copper
Country Commercial club and throu h
public notices. The only condition 1T
that time was withdrawal from ~
Federation Of Miners. In those not.cr-
the operators said the offer could u,'
be held open for any length Of time;
that the men would he taken back
they came soon, because the mines
were fast filing up. To say now that
we will take them back would be an
| impossibility. We are not going To
] put ourselves in the position Of dis
charging our present employees.
Another thing | may show is that
after the murder Of the Jane boys and
! Daily Of the evening Of Dee. 7th, three
OF whom We're miners, the employee
Of the mine themselves made up their
minds that they would not work wit
any ore anliating with the Weztern
Tedoro t'Cn Of Miners.
their first demand was that ru
STRIKER ever be employed in the nil.
again The superintendents with coz
Siderable difficulty prevailed upon III.
men and they agreed to work with
miners if they would leave the or ami
zation. our own employees after all
the violence, assaults, beatings and
murder are not going to work with the
w +. Of VI. or it's members.
At present 10000 employees are at
work. Ninety per cent or more #
that number petitioned the companies
not 20 recognize the W. r. of NJ.
You may see that our position that
, the strikers must withdraw is not an
arbitrary one. II is in fairness and in
| the interest Of the company and loyal
employees of the company who returned
to work as soon IS they We're given
protection from the w +. Of NJ.
Congressman Howell asked the
question; DO YOU approve and en-
courage an organization of miners in
this field?
Attorney Rces 1T has been the
aim, object and feeling for a great
many years and II is so today"
Continuing Mr. Rees said: 1T is
/ the record Of the w r. OF NJ. when
makes il persona non erata in this
district. 1t is not organized labor but
! Meyer"
Chairman Taylor, Would it be pos
| sihlo FOR the miners 10 JOIN an orsani-
! Continued on 2no Page, 4th Column.