The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-12
Local Strike Leaders Ignore Fact
That Meyer Merely Recon-
mended a Referendum
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS COMIkG
Chairman Taylor, on Return to
Washington, Knocks Com
panies as Expected

Crquching behind the vague state
mcnt that no official notification has
heon received from President Charles
u. Moycr that me was willing 10 rall
Of he strike, as reported by the AS
sociatcd Press in Chicago yesterday,
local leaders are holding their follow
crs in allegiance. Pending the arrival
Of official orders" from federation
heads there viii be no referendum
vote, according TO the local leaGers in
charge of the strike. The fact is ig-
nored that Meyer has merely recon-
mended thaO "a referendum vote he
taken and apparently has no intention
Of actually ordering one.
The local leaders apparently have
prevailed upon the strikers To discrcdi.
yesterdays statement of Meyer, hut
ia fact that the strikers are clamoring
for information cannot be denied 1T
any rate. The matter of benefits is the
paramount issue with the strikers and
tccre are many among them who real
ne the source of their meagre pay
mcnts is not inexhaus.ible
The cowteract any suspicion on the
part Of he ranks, leaders are said To
have told them that when the fedora
tons benefits cease, the Socialists Will
take care of the needy This absurd
belief has been expressed by many of
the strikers who earnestly believe pep-
pie all over the country have loosencd
their purse strings for them
one of the leaders today admitted
that the strike now is a matter or fl
nance ara that il the benefits can con-
'inue the men will continue to hold
ont. However, it also is admitted tnat
mYy Of the strikers favor "a reforen-
dhn vote indicating they are willing
to break from the fcderauon's ten
acles if mo- harm will come to them.
Will Confer With Leaders.
Chicago March 12.-WiHiam David
son, a member of the executive board
IF the Western Federation of Miners.
and James short, one of the organ
zers of the American Federation of
.abor will leave tonight for the cop
per country where Davidson will con-
'er with local leaders on the strike sit
iation.
Taylor Slams the Companies.
Washington. March l2.-The House y
committee investigating conditions in
he Michigan copper strike area re-
urned today and Chairman Taylor in
Heated the report would denounce the
nine owners for refusing 20 allow
heir men 10 return to work without
irst rcnouncing tpeir union.
Chairman Taylor condemned the
Ise Of armed men from outside the
tate at the instance of the mine own
RS and PICTURED miserable conditions
# the men ON strike.
lie announced that the committee
would obtain further evidence from
he books of the Calumet x Hccla
ompany at Boston, and said the COM
nittee will give "a hearing To John Nit
hell and probably present its report
@ the House May 1.
The companies" said Chairman
'ay lor. have the right not to recog-
i2e the union, ana the men have tho
light to belong TO the union. 1t is an
n-American proposition TO deny
nan the right To- belong 10 some organ
lation. The Western Federation of
liners is distinctly q metariferous or
anization, and these strikers could
elong To no other such organization.
nd denial of their right to its mem
ership means denial of their right %
elong TO any union. The Citizens
lliance, an organization of citizens. is
'orking along this line i'm seeking to
rive the Western Federation of Min
rs Off the map.
The Waddell-Mahou corporation
rought "a large number of strike
rcakers into the strike territory. They
FINISHED thugs. The Asher agency
kewise furnished thugs. The Bur7s
seucy sent men i'm there These peo-
le have shipped lot of men i'm there
18th instructions that if there is 30
vehement they must produce excite
Ient, but IL there is already plenty of
>citement not TO cause amy moro.
Continued on 9th Page. 4tt Column.