El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-07-04

HESE strikes which are paralyzng the copper produc-
ton in Arizona a dead loss to the state. Even
\ than that they a loss to the nation at a
time when cannot afford lose any valuable product
They loss to everyone They loss TO the country
which needs copper the mine operators and their stock
holders who need dVldends5 10 Tie miners ana mechanics
who need their wages the government that needs taxes
and to the host Of people who supply the miners and who
need their business
At Bisbee one Of the demands is for fiat wage rate
Of So day. but that tremendous matter The miners
are receiving wages not far from So copper keeps
going up they would have the So wage compare
lively short time 1t is not the issue IN the Bisbee strike
In the other strikes wages also Of minor importance
At Globe and Miami they included the demands.
Other demands vary from camp to camp. Those which
concern conditions Of could have been settled very
easily without strike by conferences with the employers
It might have taken little time convince the operators
Of the proPety Of the requests but it might have been
If the element Of drust and apprehension had been
kept Of the mine operators minds there little doubt
that most of the demands would have been conceded in the
COURSE Of lew par whether OF not the operators were
really favor Of them for the last thing IN the world the
mine operators time like this IS strike If It
be avoided without in their view, punging the whole
future Of the business into Of trouble.
It is because most Of the demands would probably
been granted by the mine operators under different cum
that the strike is total loss to the miners
should they win, for they will have been dePrvng them
selves Of wages which they might have earned while negO
tang with the operators for amcable and satisfactory
understanding.
How much is that wage loss? A1zonas part in the pro
dueton Of nearly half Of Americas copper represents
monthly wage distribution Of than 100000. The
and others striking with them VIII lose the greater part Of
that 100000 If all three strikes month Incidentally
the copper mines Of the state dsburse another 100000
month for supplies fuel STEEL tmbers, machinery
neals and improvements taxes and other fixed charges
It that 100000 which persons not directly connected
with the mines viii lose IN great part, the strikes con-
tnue month But many Of the miners viii lose than
their wages because they stockholders and profit
shareTs Of the companies well employees Particularly
that true Of the Warren district around Bsbee
Wages have almost doubled since the first months Of
1915 At that time The average wage for miners IN Arizona
S325 TO $3.50 day. With the great increase the
demand for copper and in its production which followed
sliding scales Of payment inaugurated both IN the
Warren and the GObe-Miami districts Last month at
Miami miners received S5z5 day. Mine mechanics
cved more and mUckers less but wage figures Of camp
ordinarily based what miners paid For the
month Of July, Miami miners would have received $50
day based copper for the month OF June The
Bisbee scale July wiz be little above that Of Miami
wage phase does figure the Clifton district
than minor degree fer the rejected very substantial
flat increase Of so cents day for classes Of labor
and IS cents day for others
This brings the point The overshadOwng issue IN
all these strikes in the copper camps Of Arizona whether
the Industrial Workers of the World force the min
1g companies under their domination The companies
afraid Of their men, Of any fair minded They
.ear Of the l. ". ". which aims take the
away from their rightful, lawful and hand
them the W ". leaders VINO would thus become
the head IN charge Of these wrongfuly acquired
properties
The J. W " leaders are very frank about It. speaker
Bsbce declared III public that this strike merely the
opening wedge Of movement TO take the mines away from
their p0sess0rs In these circumstances the operators
naturally realize that conoede the demands made
would merely invite another attack IF the strike al Cliff
tol EoTenci Eetcalf under W W direction, It has
not become evident But the situation much the
The Unions trying to force the issue with the mining