The diamond drill., 1917-08-04
STRIKE CALLED ON
COCEBIC RANGE
I. W. W. RGITAT0RS INDUCED A
FEW W0RKMER TO GO OUT
IRON CO. PROMISED SUPPORT
Agitator Strang Says That the Men
at Iron River and Stambaugh
Will Go Out Soon

The long expected /. W. w. effort
to stir up trouble on the iron ranges
of Michigan has materialized at Iron
wood and Bessemer where a strike
was called last Monday by the /. w.
w. and where a small effort is being
made to stop work at the mines OF
that district
The seat of the trouble seems 10
be al the Colby and Ironton mines of
the Corrigan Mckinney Co. at Besse-
mer where, at last reports, about 25O
men out of 500 had failed to report for
work on Monday morning.
The trouble on the Gogebic didn't
come wholly unexpected. Mine oper-
ators have looked for il for long
time as the l. w w had made so
many promises that II was impossible
for them 10 refrain from at least at
tempting TO do some Of the things that
they have been promising their mem
bers they would 10 and for which
they have been gathering funds.
Called Mass Meeting.
The strike was called at mass
meeting of miners held on Sunday at
Bessemer and attended by the outside
agitators who have been on the range
for some time. The men present at
the meeting voted to call general
strike on the entire range and immed-
lately preparations were made to car
nv the decree into effect
While the mass meeting was IN ses
sion the mine superintendents and
police and Sheriff William Kellett Of
Gogebic county, completed plans to
swear IN a large number Of deputies
Several already had been ordered TO
duty at various shafts. Sheriff Kel
lett said any attempt OF the strikers
TO prevent other men goings to work
would be met by action from his Of
fee.
Promised support From Here
In their decision TO strike, the men
had the assurance OF William Strang,
representing the Iron River and STAN
baugh district, that the men in that
section would go out with them and
that the mining camps on the Mesaba
range would follow as soon as any ac-
tlon is taken in the Gogebic country
Strang, who declared he Is not rep
resentiye OF the Industrial Workers
OF the World, urged the men TO strike
at once, pointing out the conditions
in Arizona, and declared there was
nothing unpatriouc in voting the
walk-out.
He told the men that the govern
ment would take over the mines, pay
them as high as ten dollars a day and
produce the ore at cost OF is per
cent less than Il Is now being brought
out
Mounted Men On Hand.
Governor Sleeper who made tour
Of the upper peninsula last week had
force OF mounted men on the way
from Lansing when the strike was
declared and they arrived az Bessemer
Monday morning early and immediate
ly took possession of the properties.
This prompt action OF Governor
Sleeper effectually stopped any at
tempt at violence for the mounted
men were well armed and were pro-
yided with riot clubs.
Picketing had commenced at the
Colby and 1ronton mines. hut when
the mounted constabulary arrived
this work was desisted in and all went
quiet for the day and has remained
practically In that state since
Strike Is Not Popular.
The strike has not any extensive
support and Is doomed to failure as
result Fully ninety per cent OF
the men who are working on the
range want TO continue az they find
.heir condition better today than they
have ever been in the history of the
range.
In addition large stockpiles are on
hand at many OF the properties, es-
pecially the Colby so that the opera
tors will not be hampered I'M the least
~ operations are suspended at their
properties for few days or weeks
strong denial of the statement made
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