The daily progressive-miner., 1917-07-17
ONE SIDE OF THE MUCH TALKED OF
 CONTROVERSY
KennecOtt Mine Striker Wants The People to Know Both
 Sides of the Story

A great deal has been said about the Kennecott strike on the Copper river. Disturbances were reported and sold iers were sent there to maintain peace, but no settlement of the controversy was affected thus far, although it has l been reported that the strikers had re- turned to work pending the arrival of special mediators from Washington, D. lC.
 Evidently, papers to the westward have been publishing reports of the af- fair which were not satisfactory to the strikers and the latters are desir- ous of giving their side of the case; as the following, an exact reproduction of the letters received will show together with a statement published in the Val deg Prospector of July II. The letters and statement follow:
 Mccarthy, Alaska, July 5, 1917. Editor Progressive-Miner,
 Ketchikan, Alaska,
 Dear sir
 The following is our version of the labor troubles at Kennecott:
 On June Is, two hundred miners en- ployed in the Jumbo and Bonanza mines, Kennecott, walked out, as this was the only way to enforce their de- mands. This dispute was the fourth one in IS months. There was no walk out in the other three cases, as the company officials bluffed, brow-beat and bull-dozed the men into accepting the terms they were willing to offer. This time, at the first hint of opposit- ion, the miners walked out, as they had learned from previous bitter experi- ences that there was no chance of con- verting talk into money at the com pany's expense.
 Of course, the company officials started raving about unfairness, agita- tors, German sympathizers etc., de- clared they couldn't possibly pay such wages. and appealed to the patriotism of the men.
 Charges of unfairness, coming from company with such an unsavory past as the Kennecott Copper Corporation, were naturally greeted with derision. As to German sympathizers, there are only four or five men of German birth in camp. There are agitators, though two hundred of them, thoroughly rous. ed by memories of their setbacks in the three previous disputes.
 As to the declaration that the men could not pay such wages, they were not impressed, as they knew that the company was making daily profit of at least $50,OOO. The proposed in- crease could not possibly curtail the company's dividends more than $500 a day. Yet, the company preferred to let the men walk out, tie up the mines, and sacrifice those profits. And peo. pie think the directors are good busi. ness men:
 When Mir Stannard (the manager) returned, he offered a new sliding scale somewhat better than the old one, so that there is now only about $50 day difference between the men and the -company. Think of it, stock holders! By increasing your expenditures $50 you could save those s50,000 daily prof. it's. Yet MT. Stannard, who says the matter rests entirely in his hands, re. fuses to do it.
 When the company officials mention ed patriotism, the men knew it was simply case of the Kennecott Copper Corporations wrapping it's dividends in the American flag, and then saying: Hands off! Don't soil the flag!" Of course, everyone realizes that the gov ernment needs the copper, but when a "billion-dollar outfit" is unwilling to sacrifice $4O0 day from their already abnormal profits, how could any one expect the miners to continue working for wage scale that is 20 per cent. less than the prevailing wages for in- terior Alaska? So, stockholders, what do you think of the business sense of the men you have chosen to safeguard your investments? And, people of the United States, who is the traitor?
 Hoping you can make copy of the above, am
 Yours truly, HAROLD JOHNSON,
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