The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-11-28
CRITICISM or DEPORTATION.
MOVE Against ARIZONA STRIK.
ERS Condemned.
Presidents Labor Commission Tells
OF Investigation Of Events OF July
~ i'm Bisbce.

Washington, Nov. 24.-Severe criti-
the deportation of 1,186 striking cop
per workers from Bisbee, Ariz., and
the Warren mining district last July
II is contained in report OF Presi-
dent Wilson's special labor commits
sion made public tonight by the pres
ident. The deportation was carried
out by the sheriff Of Cochiz County
and 200 armed men "presuming to
oct as deputies "nder the sheriff's au-
thority," the report said, and '"was
wholly illegal and without authority
in law, either State or federal
After extensive investigation of the
causes and circumstances surround
ing the copper miners strike, the
commission found that the deporta- {,
tions were planned by a number of
Bisbee citizens, including officials Of
the Phelps-Dodge and Calumet and
Arizona mining interests, although no
disorder or violence had been threat
ened by the strikers Most Of the men
forcibly herded together and sent out
Of the State on Il special train of box
cars were law abiding American citi-
zens. said the report. and few were
Germans or Austrians. No reference
was made in the report to the cues
ton of whether any were members
or leaders in the Industrial Workers
Of the World
The commission reported that the
deportation interfered with the opera
tion Of the selective draft law and
suggested the president refer the evil
dence to Attorney General Gregory.
IL was also said that the leader in the
enterprise utilized the local office Of
the Bell Telephone Company and at
tempted to exercise censorship ever
parts of interstate telephone and
telegraph lines to prevent informa-
ton concerning the deportation from
reaching the outside world. This sit
uation should he referred to the In
terstate commerce commission for ac-
ton, the committee suggested. Both
recommendations have been follow
ed by the president. it was annorfao
ed tonight.
The commission recommended fur.
tlier that steps he taken to prevent in
reference with men who seek admis-
sion to the Warren mining district 'fn
a lawful and peacablc manner;" that
the responsible law officers OF the
State and county pursue appropriate
measures "for the vindication of the
law" and that deportations be made
n federal criminal offense
The deportations and the usurpa.
ton of judicial functions by a self
delegated body of citizens for more
than q month afterwards, said the
commission. have been made the ba.
sis OF an attempt TO affect adversely
public opinion among some of the
people Of the allies"
The reference is believed to be
criticism of American anti-labor
methods OF Ru an workmen.
One OF the principal faults con.
tributing to the original troubles, the
commission found. was the lack of
any sort of mediation body.
The report is signed by Secretary
Wilson, chairman of the commission
which is now touring the West; w.
L. Spanger. +. C. Marsh and J. H.
Walker, members of the commission
and Felix FranEfurter, counsel. No
explanation is offered of the failure
Of Werner Reed, n Colorado mine op.
orator, and another member to sign.