The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-10-12
AMERICAN CITIZENS SIGN STATEMENT
 ID COMMISSION
Petition Pledgins Loyalty Rears the Signatures of More than Seven Hundred Residents of District Protest Made Against Action of Alien Element.


 American citizens of the Clifton Morenci-Metcalf district to the num- Der of over seven hundred this week signed statement addressed to the Honorable Presidential Federal Com mission. which will be in this dis trict Monday and Tuesday of next week, expressing to the commission their loyalty to the Government in the present war crisis and their will insness to perform any duty pointed out to them, to the end that the Ad- ministration may not be hampered by any act of theirs
 The petition is signed by all classes Of citizens, including American craftsmen, business men, profession al men. farmers in the valley and Spanish-American citizens. While the Commission Is in the district an audience will be request c.i by committee of citizens who will present the petition and state ment, which in conclusion, protests against the industrial conditions brought about i'll 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 week reads as follows:
 To the Hon. Federal Commissioners Hon. W. B. Wilson, Sec'y. of Labor Chairman.
 We, the undersigned American citizens of Greenlee county, with our occupation and addresses set oppos- ite our names, beg leave to submit thc following statement for your consideration, in connection with the past and present industrial disturb ances ill the Clifton n-Morenci-Metcalf district:
 We fully realize the critical period and national emergency which ex- ists as a result of our countrys war against the autocratic Imperial Ger man government and alls it represents as opposed to humanity and the freedom of Democracy.
 Realizing this, we pledge to the Presidents Honorable Commission CTS our loyalty to the utmost, our willingness to perform any duty pointed out, to the end that our Gov ernment, in it's struggle for the very life of freedom, not only at home. but throughout the world, may not 
 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 cessation of operations in our cop per mines and has thus far curtailed the production of copper during the past three months to the extent ot 25,000,000 pounds.
 We beg leave to represent that upon the occasion of the first in dustrial 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 of the employees. Ow- ing to the rapid advance in the price of copper and the able efforts of the Federal Mediators, that dispute was anica ply settled and a working agree ment entered into which it was be- ; lieved by all would provide the ma chinery for adjustment of grievances, real or imaginary. without resort to the disastrous consequences of a strike.
 But, we beg leave to submit that ! the alien element among the en- ployees of thisdistrict has repeatedly violated that agreement They have considered it binding on one side only. On the smallest pretext they ] have closed down the industries of ! this district, entailing heavy finan- i cial loss not only upon the operators , but the general public as well. . We beg leave to state that we consider the present strike i'll ad- vised, uniustified, hasty. and detri- mental to the best interests of all concerned and we further beg leave to protest against such actions upon the part of aliens who shirk all ma.
 tional responsibility and at the same time hamper an industry necessary for the successful 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. : DCWEtL RESIGNS HIS WORK
 ON EXEMPTION BOARD DIST