Arizona republican., 1917-07-08
What the Strikes Mean


 GLOBE, Ariz., July 7.-The total cop per production of North and Soutt America during the first half of the year is approXimated at 210,000, 900 pounds the month. North Americas proportion of this is somewhere around 190, 900 pounds the motnh. Strikes now in effect in Arizona cut off 46, 6,000,- 900 pounds of this the month, with 22,- 100000 more pounds of Arizona copper the month seriously threatened by the I. w. w efficiency destroying organiza- ton responsible for the agitation work ing the present havoc.
 Copper production loss through the l. w. W. strike promotions outside Of Arizona include Butte's 90,000, 900 pounds the month, Cananea's 1000, ,00G pounds, Alaska's 6,000,000 pounds, or a total of 43,O0O,OO0 pounds, the whole loss to the metal market being 89,000,- 900 pounds the month. Threatened with L w. W. strikes and not at all unlike ly of going out of commission at any time, in view of the manner in which terrorism has taken hold of the Mon- tana and Arizona districts, are camps in other copper districts Of Arizona ana Utah representing 46,00O,O00 more pounds of copper. Should this latter copper be called out, the cut into the monthly production of 19O,O0O,O00 pounds in North America would repre- sent total of 135, 100000 pounds, leav- ing a production of 55,000, 900 pounds the month, or 5,OOO,OO pounds less than the June purchases of the federal gov. ernment for it's own uses.
 Arizona's loss of 46,000,000 pounds of copper from it's monthly production was brought about through three strikes In which I. w. w. influence dominated and which were got underway within one week. In all three instances l. w. w. past record for violence and free dom with dynamite was the important factor in getting response to strike calls l far exceeding any expectations in the mining districts affected The same factor has kept and is keeping hundreds of men from returning to work. It is n situation that abundantly justifies ur- gent recommendations which were made earlier in the year to the govern ment to provide federal troops in the mining districts in order that this man , her of terrorism could be prevented ane the mines operated at efficiency, in- surfing the federal government not only all the copper it might need but an abundant supply for it's allies. along
 
 would go to the latter by reason of the i copper industry being kept intact from i the efforts of Germany to slow it down and win .prOportionate encouragement for German troops in the field, if not actual advantage through shortage ol copper metal in the hands of the Az lies. How far reaching disaster might be in connection with a shortage of tht metal for the Allies, it is not poss1oIe to conceive.
 l The mines now suffering strikes can not get back into efficient. full handed operations under two months-not II the strikes should end within the day Some of the properties cannot get back to where they were in May, befors strike rumors and talk began to GU, into efficiency. under five months, and it is within the range of possibilities ! that some of theem may not get back within years, and then only al the cost of vast sums drawn from surplus ac- counts which it is now realized were most wisely and fortunately built ur against emergency hours.