The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-10-15
LET US HAVE PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

the Era prints statement made by Assistant General Manager Thomson, of the Phelps, Dodge Co.,, owners of the Detroit Copper Company, giving resume of the strike situation and in another column appears a letter to the El Paso Herald, signed by a resident of Morenci, stating griev- ances complained of by employees, and conditions that have existed there during the strike. Both articles are reproduced in full in order that the reader may draw his own conclus- ions
 As usual, during exciting times, ex- aggerated statements are made. Un- reliable rumors grow into narrowing tales as they are passed from lips to lips. Very seldom two eye wit nesses to the event tell the same story, but after all is said and done, the bare fact remains that the acts of violence in the present strike has con sisted in breaking windows, assault ing non-sympathizers and the depor- tation of persons who were believed to be actively opposed to the pro- gram of the Western Federation. All of these were lawless acts. That they have been committed is a we'll known fact, but, the toll of violence and destruction that usually follows in the wake of such controversies in mining camps, has been remarkably small in this instance.
 In the prevention of violence and destruction in this district during the past five weeks several factors have played an important part. In the first place, the mine managers have avoided clashes between opposing forces by making no attempt to oper- ate their properties by the importa- tion of strike breakers; the speeches made by agitators and organizers, with possibly one or two exceptions, have not been of an inf1amatory char acter; instead of attempting to guard their own property, as is usu- ally the procedure, the mining com panies placed their property in the hands of the sheriff and withdrew their watchmen, and with the well known sympathy of the state officials, the burden of preserving the peace has been placed squarely upon the shoulders of the men on strike, with no further disorder or lawless acts than above recited. The Clifton-Mo- renci strike in this particular, up to date, has been unique and we believe for the first time on record, we find the state militia and the local peace officers welcome at union headquart- CTS, where usually they are received with bricks. There has been loud complaining because of the fact that citizens have been ordered to leave the district by strikers and some have received bruised heads and broken noses, but the disinterested onlooker is forced to the conclusion that so far as the peace officers of this district were concerned, discre- tion, in this instance, was the better part of valor. The sheriff's office has carried heavy. burden during this crisis. Property valued at mil lions of dollars has been under his control for protection in addition to the duty of preventing rioting and bloodShed. He has received the brunt of the complaints from both
 
 criticised from some quarters, we must bear in mind that five thous- and men in this district, most of them smarting under real or imaginary a manner as to prevent serious blood shed. The end has apparently justi- fed the means employed. The spark which might have touched of the powder magazine of violent disorder has not been ignited.
 In the beginning the Era was of the opinion that nothing was to be gain ed by the advent of Western Feder- attQn of Miners officials into the dis tric&. We are still of that opinion The record of their leadership in other mining districts has not been complimentary. The Butte union, the strongest in the world, was dis rupted nuder this same leadership and mine managers throughout the west have steadfastIy refused to en- ter into negotiations with them. So, we find here determined disposition on the part of the mine managers to have no conference with them in any manner, shape or form. With the departure of the Western Feder alton officials and the organizers,