The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-10-15

agers in Fl Paso this week, to treat with local officials, representing the Western Federation, it is evident that if a settlement is to be reached it will be made between the mine managers and their employees in this district, regardless of Western Federation dictation or influence. We had just as well face the facts. It is condition and not theory. It is unanimously agreed that everyone concerned is hoping for settlement and a resumption of activities. The parties most directly concerned are the mining companies and their em- ployees and happily at the end of the fifth week, we find the official media tors using every effort to bring to- gether a committee of employees, as such, and the mine managers for a conference.
 In a subsequent editorial several weeks ago the Era stated that the sympathy of the community at large was with a certain class of employees | in this district in their demand for increased wages. That sentiment still exists today, but there is a woe ful lack of intelligence On the part of the general public as to what that increase should be. We have no patience with those who take the position that unless some of the mining companies in this district can pay the demands, originally propos- ed three weeks ago, they should close down their properties and go out of business To those who care to in- lvestigate it is well known fact that two of the operating companies in this, district are operating on a close margin of profit and of the three operating companies the Shannon Copper company may be hkened to the weakest link in the chain; the Detroit Copper Mining Company, the stronger; and the Arizona Copper Company, Ltd, the strongest. It is manifestly apparent under these conditions that any increase in wages in any department of labor, or all departments, would necessarily have to be based upon what the Shannon Copper Company can afford to pay on 13 cent copper market and operate at profit for it's stockholders. That | is the meat in the cocanut. There can be but one scale of wages in the entire district and in our opinion that scale will ultimately be established, based on the operation profits of the Shannon Copper Company. One can in this controversy over wages in this district, which after all is the big issue, can the employees afford tc kill the goose that lays the golden legg. It will be necessary for the employees to look at this phase of the question before any settlement is in sight as to the wage demands. Other minor grievances, in our opinion, can be quickly arranged, and we do hope that out of all this there will come some plan for presentation of petty grievances on the part of en- p1oyees to mine managers which will promote better feeling.
 The mine managers have repeatedly stated that they were willing to confer with representative commit tee of their employees regarding grievances and labor conditions, free from any outside influence. After some preliminaries the managers have accepted a committee of five of their employees for such purpose and the employees and the general public ex- pect to see this committee and man. -agers pave the way for final adjust ment of differences and industrial ac- tivity again resumed in this district. Although very few people are free to express it there are two sides to this controversy and it remains to be seen if the employees and mine man agers can reach an adjustment with out injustice to either side.
 Let us have peace and prosperity, not the kind of peace that comes with dishonor, but a lasting peace without 9 ranking feeling of revenge at some future date. Judging from events happening elsewhere, especi- ally the visit of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to the Colorado coal fields, we believe the day is at hand when en- ployers, through their subordinates, must come in closer contact with their army of employees in order that just grievances may be quickly remedied, and instead of a feeling of animosity prevailing, good will and loyalty may take it's place.
 The Era believes the end of the present strike is in sight. We be- lieve the mine managers and em-