Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-14
LABOR SOCIETY
INVITES PROBE
Federation of Miners Says
1t Is Willing to Be
Investigated
BITTERNESS SHOWN
IN STRIKE HEARING
Congressional Inquiry Into
Colorado Trouble Is
Proceeding Nicely

Hancock. Mich, Feb. 13.-An offer to
submit the Western Federation of Min
ers to searching investigation if an
equally full inquiry was afforded into
the affairs of the Calumet and Hecla
Mining Co., was made today at the
opening Of the congressional's commit
tee hearing.
"I want to meet the exhibition OF
buncombe made yesterday by counsel
for the other side" said 0. Il. Hilton OF
counsel for the union, lin asking
whether the Western Federation was
to be excluded from this investigation.
We are willing for an Investigation OF
the federation if the Calumet Il Hecla
Co., also is investigated. We would
like to inquire into its interlockinS d.
rectorates, its operations in stocks ana
into it's Offices. We desire latitude also
to Investigate the citizens alliance"
Chairman Taylor said the committee
wanted to give both sides wide latitude
to inquire into anything pertaining to
the strike situation and causes leading
up to it.
IF all those matters arc merely OF
fered for the purpose of elimination
and recrimination and not to assist in
getting at the bottom of the trouble y
he continued, Il don't think we would
want to inquire into them. l don't sup
pose the mining companies want to go
into the murder of Governor Steuen-
berg and other events that have been
charged against \. the. federation else
where III the past. II we did it wCuid
fequire year or more. We must con-
fine ourselves to something germane
to the situation here,
Representative Robert NJ. Switzer OF
Ohio. arrived today and sat with the
committee. Representative Ham!in
Of Missouri, now is the only absentee.
The announcement was made that
the hearings would be held at the
county court house in Houghton begin
ming Monday, owing to the limited
capacity of the hall here.
Tells Owners Side.
Denver, Colo. Feb. 13.-The mine
owners version of the labor war in
Colorado with John G. Osgood. chair
man of the board Of the Victor Amer-
ran Fuel Co.. as the narrator, was re-
sumed when the congressional investi-
eating committee met this morning.
Osgood at yesterdays session had
testified regarding the inception Of the
strike and calling out of the men and
some of the earlier disorders in the
strike zone. He assumed for the
operators responsibility for the arminS
Of the mine guards and the importa-
ton OF machine guns. He explained
this policy as necessary in order to
protect the lives of woGkmen and the
property of the companies.
At the opening Of today's session the
time of departure for Trinidad seems
still remote. There was little pros
pect that the committee would start
south tonight. and in fact, most of the
members believed the hearing in Den
yer will continue through the week.
The strikers have introduced all the
evidence they have ready for the COM
mittee here but it is believed that the
operators have several more witnesses
to be heard
Resumes Testimony.
John c. Osgood resumed his testi-
mony telling of the efforts Of his COM
pany to comply with the law.
"Our company maintains first aid
crews at all our mines and has a
mine rescue car" he said. The wit
ness told of the importation of strike
breakers being delayed by the COVER
nor's order against bringing in men.
He said the company had hired no
men except on contracts which stated
plainly that 2 strike was in effect.
"We asked Gov. Ammons." he said,
ito have the militia examine all the
imported men and make sure that they
understood the conditions and had not
been deceived. This was done by or
der of General Chase.
The witness identified payrolls of
some Of the Victor American mines
showing wages for one month in some
cases excee Ing SITS. Mr. Osgood
said he was willing to submit to the
committee all the books Of the COM
pany. executing those showing con-
tracts which the corporation did not
wish revealed to competitors.
Osgood then told Of The visit Of
Ethelbert Stewart Of the federal de-
partment Of labor who came to Den-
yer in an effort to settle the strike.
"Mr. Stewart spent practically all
his time with the labor men while in
this state he declared. 'We met
him once in the governors office. We
offered to furnish him any information
available, but he said he did not want
any information-tha he was not an
Investigator but mediator.
Secretary Wilson during his visit
did not ask us for any information re-