Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-08
COUNSEL FOR OPERATORS DE.
cLAREs RECOGNITION OF FED.
+ERArIoN Is NOT ASKED.
TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT OF
EMPLOYEES HOLD CARDS
Operators Rejected Proposals Of Set.
Element Because Question Of Recos-
Reese Appears Before Governor Fer
ris in Interest Of Owners.

strike Of the copper miners in northern
Michigan was prepared today to ask
the mine owners as to Just how far
they will go toward compromising the
trouble. Should proposition be ad-
vanced by the operators it will be
placed before the miners. ~-.
Governor Ferris recalled to the mine
men that efforts Of a settlement had
been made thru arbitration or media
ton and he suggested that some repre-
sentative Of the operators state the
reason Of the companies in declining
advances. He barred from discussion
any thing relating to the lawful ex-
pense to the state"
Allan Reese, chief counsel for the
companies responded. He said that
the first communications from the
unions had failed to state a grievance
and each management undertook to
ascertain IL the Western Federation OF
Miners really represented the employees
of the companies.
Few Msmbers Of Union.
Ono company found III Of their men
desiring to be represented by the union
and some $500 on the negative side. All
told. he said, less than 25 per cent of
the employees of the district were found
to be members Of the federation and on
that showing the companies declined to
consider the federation as the author
ized agent for the men.
Mr.. Reese reviewed the opening in
cident Of the strike saying that the
close organization Of the union men
enabled them to stop all work at the
mines because there was no adequate
provision for preserving peace
The resumption Of work under pro-
lection Of state troops, was told Of by
sAaf. Reece. and he said It was due to
the back to work" movement initiated
at the Calumet q Hecla. The fact that
sa majority Of the employees did not ia
vor recognition Of the union confirmed
the companies in their decision to have
nothing to do with the federation, he
said.
Recognition Of Union Stumbling Block
"Plans for arbitration from Clarence
Darrow. the governors office and the
federal department Of labor. all pro-
posed that arbitration include the
question Of recognition Of the fedora
ton, and for that reason were de-
clined," said Mr.. Reese. The attorney
said that about 10000 men are at work
Of whom $500 have been imported
Most Of these men came back only on
condition that the companies would not
permit any federation, as such, to enter
the mines.
He said that it would be impossibl.
to obtain harmonious work between
union and non-union men.
The attitude of workmen and citizens
generally made it impossible for the
companies to recede from their deter
mination not to recognize the fedora
ton. The companies are willing to take
back men who have remained out be-
cause "misled by extravagant state
ments and promises" The operators
however, felt that they had waited long
enough.
Explains Eviction Suits.
Mr.. Reese denied that any time limit
for the return Of strikers had been set
Thereupon the governor asked about
the eviction suits and Mr.. Reese eX-
planned that writs had been served be-
cause the companies were not in the
house renting business and the homes
were needed for actual employees.
The Calumet & Hecla had started
none Of these eviction suits and there
had been no forcible or actual evictions
by any company so far as he knew. The
only case Of which he remembered was
one in which Andrew p. Kangue, OF
Winona, was dispossessed after he had
seemingly gone away from the district
with his family, but had left his goods