The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-09-17

The anticipated strike, which was last week thought inevitable, but the proximity of which was a matter of speculation, hit the Clifton-Morenci district with suddenness and thoroughness that swept everything before it and as a result the entire works of the Arizona, Detroit and Shannon Copper companies are at standstill, not a wheel turning in any department, power for lighting pur poses at night being the only sign of industrial life among the plants of the big companies in Clifton and even this necesnity was for time ne nied the residents of Morenci where all was in darkness for three nights.
 Although the public was not in ig norance of a threatened strike, the swiftness and effectiveness of the move was unlocked for. Guy E. Miller, organizer for the Western Federation of Miners, has been in the district for the past three weeks effecting an organization of the miners and in that short time has enrolled suff- cient number of members to paralyze industrial conditions. It is estimated that approximately 5000 men are af- fected by the strike in the Clifton Morenci district. On Saturday of last week. committees from the un- ion requested interviews with the managers of the companies. M. H. Mclean, general manager of the D. c. company at Morenci, in communi- cation to. Miller stated that the com pany which he represents would not recognize the Western Federation of Miners. .r.z =,
 J. w. Bennie, general manager of the Shannon Copper company, was on the coast at. the time but was ad- vised of the communication by wire and telegraphed answer back which was posted at the mines to the eff feet that he declined to have any meeting in which the Western Fed eration of Miners. was represented, but would meet and discuss matters with the company's employees Norman Carmichael was not i'll town when the communication was received at his office and in conste- quence was not heard from until the following Monday, but states that his reply would have been. in similar terms to those of the other mana gers.
 {. Immediately thereafter a strike or der was issued and at Il o'clock on Saturday night concentrators and smelters at Morenci were closed, and other departments being shut down automatically as a direct result. The A. c. mines and works at Morenci received the same treatment Satur. day night, thus completely shutting down the various workings of the entire camp and work was stopped at the A. c. smelter in Clifton at o'clock Sunday afternoon
 The Shannon works suspended oper. ations at 1 o'clock Sunday afternoon while both the Shannon and A. c. works at Metcalf also closed Sunday morning. The machinists, boilermak. CTS, blacksmiths, carpenters, and in fact every department which goes to make up the workings of the three big copper companies, have laid down their tools and the district is tied up tight industrially. With the ex ception of the ice plants a1t1 electric lights, which are necessity, no other operations are permitted. Also as a result of the inactivity in the dis trict the A. & N. M. Ky. is run ming but two freights a week.
 Public meetings are being held al Clifton and Morenci at different inter vals which are attended by large but orderly crowds and acts of vio 1ence have been cautioned against.
 Guards have been stationed fol the protection of company property while the strikers have pickets out to enforce their interests and nc pated at this time. That a thorough organization has been perfected an( that the strikers are prepared for { long siege is shown from the fac that the employees Of the compan! stores both in Clifton and Moreno state that the men have nearly al exhausted their credit for provisions and necessities with which to fortif! themselves.