The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-10-08
MINES ARE WITHOUT REMEDY
 STATES JUDGE


 last evening, Judge Ernest w. Lewis, who returned from the strike zone yesterday stated that it was his can did opinion that the striking miners were really possessed of several griev ances upon which to base a strike, but that these grievances were trivial and easy of adjustment provided the Western Federation of Miners had not entered the district.
 Judge Lewis said in part: '"The camp at Clifton has always been open, the mine managers have never object ed to employing union men. Many of the mechanics, machinists and cleo triciars are members of unions.
 The Western Federation of Miners have been excluded from the major portion of the mining camps of the west. They are now of the opinion that the political situation n Arizona and the attitude of the governor are favorable to their cause, and that the time is opportune to grab this state and dominate it.
 ''The attitude of the governor has fostered this feeling on the part of the Western Federation. His state ment to the mine managers to the effect that he would put them in the bull pen,' providing they refused to treat with the men, gave vent to many turbulent and antagonistic speeches and actions towards the mine man. agers. It was because of this feeling that Mr. Bennie, Mr. Carmichael and myself left the district.
 "The men somehow or other, re- fused to take us seriously. Our prop o5itions were met with no serious con- alterations. We thought because of this attitude on the part of the men, and because we believed we were actually in danger of physical violence we had better leave Clifton. I had as much right there as any one, but had no way to protect myself and didn't propose to face mob of angry miners.
 'The situation from the standpoint of lawyer is unique indeed. The mine owners can have no redress against the miners, they can have no protection; they are not allowed to hire guards to protect their property, they can not exclude the agitators from the camp, and they can obtain DO injunctions in the courts. In fact, t6ev ara without ramodv Tho only thing they can do is to sit quietly by ard wait for the storm to blow over
 Tt has been stated that Governor Hunt might in case of extreme need them. In this case, if he should take this step,he, not as governor, but as a private citizen would be responsi- ble for damages and for every mis- take he would make in their opera ton. I do not know what his pri- vate fortune is but I am of the opin- lon that it would not last long in such an event.
 "The claim has been made that the miners had been charged for hospital service. In way this is true. In some cases of certain sickness they have been charged at the rate of one dollar day, but in all cases of acci- dents they have been treated at the hospital free of charge.
 "The mine managers are ready and willing to treat with the men upon ary of their grievances, but they ab- solutely will not have anything to do with them as long as the influence of i.he Western Federation is present, or ns long as any of their representa- tives remain in the camp.
 ''The companies are ready to keep the mines closed until 1920. have this statement from the management direct.
 "As for the wage increase the men are demanding, I can say that 1t Is oft of the question. The men under stand that the cost of production in the mines, particularly the Shannon company, is so high that to pay high CT wages is entirely out of the eues- , IlOd IL WOulu US DClUtT IO ALLOW the mines to remain unworked than to work them at loss. The present trouble, necessitating the closing of the mines, will all help to increase the ultimate cost of operating the mines, and will react to the miners injury.
 q cannot put it too strongly, that the whole trouble has been the out growth of the attitude of the chief executive of the state. The fact that Q he appeared on the same platform with the Western Federation repre- sentatives gave the ignorant Mexican miners the belief that he was fo1