The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-10-05
COMMISSION WILL ARRIVE CLIFTON
 NEXT WEEK

Smoke Is Again Issuing From the Eiq Stack at the A. c. Shelter and Apparently the End of the Three Months Strike is in Sight
 With the Federal Commission. appointed by President Wilson, and headed by Secretary of Labor Wh son, in Arizona, and due to arrive in the Clifton Morenci district some day next week, probably Thursday or Friday, coupled with the fact that the old familiar white smoke may be seen issuing from the big stack at the A. c. Co. shelter. the end of tho present strike in this district may be said to be in sight.
 General Manager Carmichael stat ed on Friday of this week that it was the intention of his company to operate the shelter, if possible, on customs ore so long as the mines of the company were closed on account of the strike which continues to be sustained by the Morenci, Mine, Mill & Smeltermen's Union, who on more than one occasion have voted to return to work and then on the day following rescinded their dec1s- ion.
 During the week the three con- panies, who failed to resume opera tions at their mines on October 1, in accordance with the statement, commenced the work Of sealing the entrances with concrete, and prepar- ing for an indefinite shut down, as on that date sufficient men failed to appear for work. Those who did appear were induced to return to the ranks of the strikers by the pickets.
 Following the statement issued by the three companies that operations would be resumed on Oct. the miners at Morenci and Metcalf voted to go back to work pending the arrival of the Federal Commission and a communication to this effect was transmitted to the managers. Later however, Pascual Vargas, President of the Morenci union; re- quested an answer from the managers and the managers replied no answer was required that they were ready to resume if sufficient men present. ed themselves at the mines on Oct - and that if sufficient men were ready to go back to work, there was nothing more to be said. Later in the day the Morenci union voted to stay out.
 During the week MT. Carmichael of the A. c. Company issued the fol lowing statement on the strike situ. ation:
 MT. carmichaePs Statement.
 According to notices posted by the companies on Sept. 20 they of. fered to resume operations on Oct l provided sufficient men were avail able to warrant reopening the prop fhn timn fhpV nounced that they would expect the agreement which had been entered into between the government and the leading copper producers Qfthe coun try, dated Sept. 20 whereby the price of copper was fixed for four months at 23 1-2 cents be continued with the proviso that wages should be continued at the same rate tha was being paid at the time the agree ment was entered into, the rate be ing 25c under the sliding scale in use in Arizona It was later ascertaineC that it was understood that the Aug ust rate of wages would apply whicf was on the 26c basis and the com panies in this district posted notice: on the first of October that should operations be resumed this, rate o 26c should apply during the life o the government agreement. It should be noted here that the difference be tween the rate of pay on the 26t basis are from 30 to 34c per day more than the rates on the 23c basis which would apply on g 12c copper ., were it not for the special agreement of the copper producers. And the men would be benefitting to that ex tent were they working.
 "On Saturday the strike committed sent the managers a formal notice intimating that the men were will ing to return to work on October l which news was received with satls faction by them. The mere state ment that the men were willing tt return to work following the printed offer by the. companies to resume op erations provided the men were read! to return to work obviously called for no further reply from them. Or Sunday P NJ. Vargas, secretary O the strike committee, communicates with me by phone asking whethe1 the managers had any reply to make to the communication from th' strike committee. explained tt him that no reply was necessary that the managers had published notices stating that if sufficient mel showed up for work Monday morning operations would be begun If no the properties would have to remall closed and it was up to the men t' choose whether they would go t' work or not, and that the manager had nothing further to add to wha they had stated in the published notice MT. Vargas replied that h. did not think that would be satisfac tory to the men This closed tn, conversation.
 "The strike committee on Tues day of this week posted bills address ed to the public giving the text O certain messages sent to and received