The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-01-08
DISCOVERS THUGS
RULE At CALUMET
Sheriff Tells Ferris He Employed
Gunner.
INQUIRY IS ON AT H0UGHT0N
Gigantic Mass Meeting Of Labor is
Planned in Copper Mine District
Await Outcome Of Gov.
ernor's Probe.

Houghton, Mich, Jan. THAT gun.
men" are employed among the peace"
forces in the copper strike region was
brought out in the hearings opened
by Gov. Woodbridge N. Ferris into the
northern Michigan labor war.
Sheriff James Cruise admitted the
employment of some of these men. He
did not know whether or not there
were others among the hundreds of
deputies employed by the companies.
The governor visited the sheriff at
the latter's home because Mr.. Cruise Is
too i'll to leave his bed. Other Off
Gals having to do with the main
tenance of law and order in this and
Keweenaw counties went to the gov
ernor's room. After they had been
questioned the state executive re-
ceived representatives of the mining
companies, of the Western Federation
of Miners. business men and citizens
generally.
Cruise Says Law Is Enforced.
Sheriff Cruise assured the governor
that the law against carrying con-
cealed weapons was being enforced.
do members of the Citizens al
lance carry guns?" asked the gov
ernor.
only when they have been duly
deputized," said the sheriff.
The largest number he had at any
one time was So, he said. Answering
further questions, the sheriff said the
largest number of legally qualified
paid deputies he has had is the pres
ent force of 22O. He said there were
between 1900 and 1900 others
throughout the county, paid by the
companies, but as they were appointed
by the sheriff they were under his con-
troll. II any of the companies are en-
! ploying gunner" the sheriff said, he
was ignorant of the fact About thir-
ty-five of the company deputies are
former members of the National
Guard
Governor Ferris day was strenu
Gus one for a birthday. He celebrated
his sixty-first, and from early morning
until 9:45 at night, when his last hear.
at work. His fortitude is in constant
demand. At his home, in Big Rapids,
Mrs. Ferris is in a serious condition
from an organic disease. He is in
hourly communication with her ply
scians, and yet throughout the long
hours of each succeeding day he
keeps a serenely smiling face, with
no evidence of the tremendous strain
under which he labors. Flowers com
menced to arrive at the governors
room early in the day and by night
his friends had banked the four walls
with fragrant blossoms. At noon the
revenue cutter on Portage lake gave
the only official recognition of the
copper country to the governors birth
day-the official salute of II guns.
Sees Statewide Strike.
Chicago, Jan. IF the state and
federal governments do not restore to
the Calumet miners their constitu-
tional rights, think it very probable
that a statewide strike of all laboring
men in Michigan will be called"
Charles f. Mahoney, vice-president
of the Western Federation of Miners.
made this statement here. The propo-
sition will be discussed at a confer
| ence of the members of the executive
council of the Western Federation of
Miners.
AS to Governor Ferris mission in
Calumet | do not care to predict" he
replied. But we are hopeful of fed.
eral action"
Another conference of greater inn
| portance is to be held on the arrival
of William Davidson. the Canadian
| representative on the executive coun-
Gil
Il do not think nationwide strike
will be considered" Mr.. Mahoney said.
This is not national affair. II be-
longs to the state. of Michigan. If
governmental Intervention fails, | feel
quite sure that every laboring man in
the state will go on strike"