The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-10-25

n,r,ne the last few weeks ] have
,od the opportunity of studying the
a,,,ation in various mining camps of
,.;uopa where strikes have occurred.
Although the strikes in the various
aims have been conducted different
!, n was very interesting to note the
common factors, the methods of hand
ito the strikes taken by the strikers
and the companies and the results as
we have them today.
At Bisbee, Ariz. the strike was dis
t;,ctly an /. w. W. disturbance. At no
lime were the mines completely shut
down. although after alleged lntimida-
tlon the low point was reached two
DAVIS after the strike was called, when
hut 30 per cent of the men reported
for work. From that time on there
was continual gain in the percent
ace working. On July II, by one sud-
don swoop, the sheriff, Harry c.
Wheeler and 1900 deputies deported an
eoual number of |. w. WIS and SYM
nathizers. Since that time the dis
,rict has been closed to men with the
red card. Production has been stead
ilv increased; men are being put on as
fast as possible, although the short
age of labor all over the country is
also having it's effect upon the mines
and it will probably be some time be-
fore they regain their normal capac-
ity. Everything is quiet, however, and
while there has been certain tense
ness in the air that is gradually dis
appearing.
Conditions. at Jerome were similar
in many ways, although when the l..
w. WIS We're being sought for depor-
tation, there were found to be less
than one hundred. One hundred men
had faced strike in a camp of six
thousand, and with the deportation of
these men the camp was at peace
again.
Months of Trouble at Clifton -Morenci.
The situation at Clifton Morenci
was more like a real strike than at
any other place. Almost two years
ago a four months strike occurred in
the district, which was finally settled
by concessions on the part of the mine
operators. In the II months follow
ing the settlement there were II other
strikes all of which were small, in
volying but few men, but they were
so constant and so regular that it be-
came necessary to have definite un-
derstanding and settle the policies
once and for all. AT this camp the Ia
Dor is largely Spanish and Mexican;
they are striking for Miami scale of
wages and Miami conditions.
In the Globe Miami district, short
ly after the strike was called, which
was a combination |. w. w. and Am
erican Federation of Labor strike, the
feeling was so tense that it would have
taken but little to have caused blood
shed. Fortunately the governor Of
Arizona, Thomas E. Campbell, wit
messed some of the demonstrations,
and soon afterwards troops were sent
into the district. From that time on
public gatherings were prohibited, and
while the district was not under mar
tial law, it was certainly under martial
notice. After considerable period of
occupation by the troops 1t was an
nounced that those who wished to re-
turn to work could so so and be as
sured of ample protection. Many re-
turned although none but American
citizens are being given employment
In all of these camps the sliding scale
of wages, based on the price of copper
has been maintained and, in fact, all
ether conditions that existed previous
to the strike.
Changing Demands Of Strikers.
The demands of the strikers in the
various districts of Arizona are var
led and long, including Sc a day, r.
respective of the price of copper,
hour day, grievance committees
hospital control, recognition OF th'
union, and numerous other things.
is remarkable to notice, however, tina
during the agitation preliminary u
the strikes these things were not IL
particular evidence but rather wer
excess profits, government agita
ton, the draft, the high cost OF living
the war of capital and such things
has been wondered by many II tn
high price of, copper and the urgen
need of the government for it did no
lead the strikers to believe that the
could force a settlement in which the
would gain their demands. This ma
have been the case but it is considere
by many others to be doubtful.
1t is no secret that 1t has been DC
lieved that an industrial war; war
capital and labor, was coming. &c
many years unrest has been growing
feeling Of lack of security. re
thought that this war of capital an
labor which in reality means strike
would come at this time, 1t being ger
orally believed that 1t would come
the conclusion of the world war VIII
the lower price of copper and the coi
sequently lower wages. 1t was PR
cipitated earlier than was an ticipa
ed, however, by l. w. w. propaganda