The Benson signal. [volume] (Benson, Cochise County, Ariz.) 1915-1921, 1915-10-30
STRIKERS DEMANDS RE)EC TERENCE ENDS

Tins would 90 rescued by the sher.
If and incarcerated in Jail. In order
to defeat this program of violence, the
managers left Clifton on the after
noon Of Oct. 2 in a special train. With
in a few minutes of their departure,
the sheriff and his deputy gave chase
In an automobile, striving to intercept
the special train at Duncan. Failing
In this, they returned to Clifton and
procured a warrant for the arrest Of
the managers on their arrival at
Lordsburg, N. M. The managers were
arrested at Lordsburg-by telephoned
demand--on a charge OF felony baseu
on the allegation that their depart
ure from the strike district tended to
incite rioting and hostile demonstra2
lions. The sheriff aud his deputy
fastened to Lordshurg by automobiles
arriving at 1870 a. m. They appeared
before a local justice of the peace-
and insisted upon the mine managers
being tried upon charge that they
were felons and fugitives from JUS
tice. The court found the charge
wholly unsupported by any evidence
and the mine managers we're placed
on the FL Paso train under armed
guard to prevent kidnapping. The
engineer and fireman of the special
train, upon their return to CliftonS
were set upon and severely beaten by
a mob Of Western Federation leaders;
the mine managers took up their head
quarters in Ell Paso The sheriff ap-
piled to Gov. Hunt to send troop .
the strike district and Hunt complied
with the request, thirty-five M !.
tiamen being dispatched ~ Fe
scene.
Having thus foiled the plans OF GOV.
ernor Hunt, the Sheriff and West d
Federation leaders made house ID
house canvass of Morenci an6 MeCs
calf, forcing workmen to join the Fed
GRAFTON. Bands Of Mexicans led by
American ieutenants Of the Western
Federation rounded-up non-union men
who were dragged from their homes
and beaten They were then offered.
the alternative of leaving town or
affiliating with the Federation. Nears
ly a hundred victims OF mobs have
since made affidavits as to the Wo-s
Ience visited upon them. Scores OF
victims other than those who made az
fidavits. are known A reign Of tiers
ror existed In the District. While it
prevailed from Oct, to Oct. s, Cow
ernor Hunt issued statements reports
ing that perfect ride was being main-
tanned in the strike zone.
Following their arrival in Ell PasOa
the mine managers entered into cor,
respondence with Governor Hunt. In
m
pears in one letter from the managys
ers: Governor Hunt, you, by your
inflammatory speeches and open sugs5
gestions as to putting us In jail II we,
did not reach an agreement with the
strikers in our camp, and by your open
and encouraging affiliations with the
leaders of the Western Federation OF
Miners in private and upon the streets
and public places of our respective
camps while you were there, were
largely responsible for our being CONS
PEELED to withdraw from the affected
district"
Another letter to Governor Hunt
contained the following:
"To aid you in remedying the pre-
sent deplorable situation, we beg tot
offer our assurances that we will take
immediate steps to meet our former
employees as soon as all nonresident
officers and agents Of tho Western
Federation of Miners leave the dis
trict, and committees have been fairly
chosen without the exercise OF any
control by that organization. We feel
confident that If such conferences car
be arranged all differences will be ann
icably adjusted and we will lend our
every effort to that end. AS you have
informed us that numerous allegeG@
grievances have been presented to you
on the part Of our former employees,
we most respectfully request THAI
they be presented to us and we be CIV
en- an opportunity to reply" II
Although cogniEant Of the fact that
conditions in the district had .changeG
swiftly under Western Federation tnTA
fluence, and that such committee as
would represent fairly the interests OF )
old employees would be difficult to-
secure the mine managers waived
their technical rights and sought joint
conferences with the representatives
of the w0rkmen 1t was not until Oct
16 that committee not absolutely
dominated by the western Federation
arrived in El Paso. Even this com,
mittee was so Handicapped by Westss
ern Federation influences that It's en-
forts were unavailing and the confer
ences were concluded, ~