Bisbee daily review., 1917-10-19
CLIFTON CITIZENS
SIGN PROTEST TO
U. S. COMMISSIONER

| American citizens of the Clifton
Morenci-Metcalf district to the num-
Der of over 700 this week signed a
statement addressed to the Honorable
Presidential Federal Commission.
which will be in that district Monday
and Tuesday of next week, expressing
20 the commission their loyalty to the
government in the present war crisis
and thier willingness to perform any
duty pointed out to them, to the end
hat the administration may not be
lampered by any act of theirs.
The petition is signed by all classes
of citizens. including American crafts
men, business men, professional men,
farmers in the valley and Spanish
American citizens.
While the commission is in the dis
trict an audience will be requested by
committee of citizens who will pre-
cent the petition and statement, which
in conclusion protests against the in
dustrial conditions brought about in
this district during The past three
months by the action and domination
Of the alien element in the district.
The statement and petition. which
was circulated and freely signed this
" eek, reads as follows:
To the Hon Federal Commissioners,
Hon. W. B. Wilson, Secretary OF
Labor. Chairman:
We, the undersigned American citi
gems of Greenlee county. with our oc
cupatiCn and addresses set opposite
cur names, reg leave to submit the
following statement for your consid-
Grafton in connection with the past
and present Industrial disturbances in
the Clifton-Morenci-Metcalf district:
We fully realize the critical. period
and national emergency which exists
as a result of our country's war
against the autocratic imperial Ger
man government and all it represents
as opposed to humanity and the free
dom of democracy.
Realizing this, We pledge 10 the
presidents honorable commissioners
our loyalty to the utmost, our willing
ness to perform any duty pointed out.
to the end that our government, in its
struggle for the very life of freedom.
not only at home. but throughout the
world, may not be hampered and en-
barrassed by any act of ours.
As loyal American citizens we take
this opportunity to protest against the
unsettled industrial conditions in this
district which has caused the cessa.
ton of operations in our copper mines
and has thus far curtailed the produc-
ton of copper during the past three
months to the extent OF 25.000,000
pounds.
We beg leave 70 represent that upon
the occasion of the first industrial
dispute in this district in 1915. when
the question of increased wages was
the main point at issue, that public
sentiment was largely upon the side
VI INC tAii DibNfo- CNAll6 " NV iGBih
advance in the price of copper and the
able efforts of the federal mediators. !
that dispute was amicably settled and
a working agreement entered into |
which it was believed by all would |
provide the machinery for adjustment |
of grievance, real or imaginary, with |
out resort to the disastrous conse |
quences of a strike.
But. we beg leave to submit that /
the alien element among the employees |
of this district has repeatedly vio- /
lated that agreement. They have con I
sidered it binding on one side only. |
On the smallest pretext they have
closed down the industries of this |
district, entailing heavy financial loss
not only upon the operators but the /
general public as well.
We beg leave 10 state that we con-
slider the present strike i'll advised, |
hasty and detrimental 10
the best interests of all concerned, (
and we further beg leave to protest /
against such actions upon the part
of aliens who shirk all national re-
sponsibility and at the same time
hamper an industry necessary for the Z
prosecution of the war,
and at the same time prevent by their
balance of power in this district
American citizens from earning an
honest livelihood.