Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-07-01
Seizure of Mines at Cananea
by Mexican Government
First Manifestation of Wide
Conspiracy.
BISBEE AND BUTTE
COME NEXT IN LINE
Several New Mexico Corpora
tions Are Objects Of Attack
by |. W. w., 1t Now Is Re-
ported.

Ell Paso, Tex. June 30.--Informa-
ton now in the hands of the proper
authorities leads to the belief that
there is a general conspiracy on to
close the copper mines of the south
west, and that the seizure OF the
Cananea properties was instigated by
German influences. The same influ-
ences are, supposed to be at work in
the Arizona copper camps and are In
all probability behind the strikes now
on in Bisbee and other copper camps
of that state. The wages paid in Bis
bee are the highest known, and the
men have greater. advantages than
anywhere else in copper countries.
The strike is not over wages. and the
demands made do not warrant
strike at this time. There Is every.
reason to believe that the work of the
strike organizers Is being carried on
in New Mexico, and that they are ac-
tive in the coal camps. particularly
Gallup.
Advantage to Enemy.
The organizers are working for or
gsnizations to affiliate with the In
dustrial Workers of the World, and
the Arizona strikes are brought about
by local organizations admittedly af-
filiated with that so-called national
organization. With the copper sup
ply reduced and the southwestern
roads short of coal, troop movements
would be hindered and some advan-
tage would be given to the enemy.
II Is well known that some time
ago the copper producers offered to
sell the United States all the copper
erage selling price of the ten years
past, which cut out the large profits
now being realized. Their wage
scales in the southwest were. by
agreement, based upon the selling
price OF copper, and had been ad-
vanced 10 a minimum of So day for
miners, but the copper producers also
agreed to continue the present wage
scale, regardless of the price to be
paid by the government, as long as
possible. 1t is not generally known
that the coal companies and copper
companies were voluntarily in the
hands Of the government for war pur-
poses, the same as the railroads are.
and will make use of every facility
at the request Of the government for
any public purpose.
Two Points Of Attack.
1t Is believed here that special ef-
fort Is to be directed against two COR
porations operating in New Mexico
the Chino Copper company and the
El Paso and Southwestern railroad,
the first having been very active in
securing needed metals for the gov
ernment. both iron and copper. and
the last named corporation believed
to be now operated almost entirely on
government account. The Ell Paso
and Southwestern Is said to be car
rying supplies Of coal to all the smell
ters of the southwest and preparing
to put it's entire equipment at the ex-
elusive use OF the government. except
SO much as may be necessary to keep
the production Of copper for the gov
ernment at its highest possible limit.
1t is believed that almost the en-
tire output Of the Chino Is being
made available for government ac-
count at price less than 20 cents. as
is the product Of the Phelps Dodge
companies. The crippling Of these
companies at this time would be Of
great advantage to the enemies of the
country, and for that reason extraor-
dinary precautions will be taken.
Property can be guarded against
violence. but strikes work the most
effective way towards reducing cop
per and coal production. and New
Mex Mexico may expect trouble.