The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-05-24
AN OPEN LETTER ID GOVERNOR HUNT
The Hon. G. w. P. Hunt, Governor of Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona.


 Phoenix, Arizona.
 My Dear Governor Hunt:
 In your message to the Special Ses- sion of the Third State Legislaturs, Phoenix, Fist May, after depicting in scathing terms the Bisbee deporta- tions, wherein you express with characteristic vehemence your abhor- renee of what you term to be one of the most revolting crimes ever com imitted in the State, you ask: "Can this dastardly crime ever be eQualled in the revolting annals of American labor disputes?" I take up your challenge and answer: 'Yes, in this very State and during your own be- nign administration.
 As I read your narrowing descrip- ton of the events of the 12th day of July, 1917, an analogous, although more terrible, picture arose before my mind, to which your own words might as fittingly be applied.
 The events connected with the labor dispute in the Clifton-Morenci district during the winter of 1915-16 are still fresh in the minds of the peo- pie of this State. To some of the horrors may freely and fittingly ap- ply your own descriptive words. e
 During these awful months not only scores but hundreds of men, innocent of any intention to disturb the peace full conditions of the communities in which they were living, men against whom no charge could be preferred except that they refused to be intim- dated into joining labor organiza- ton with whose methods they were not in sympathy, were forcibly ex- pelled from this district.
 Picture the. spectacle afforded by these deportations. MOBS q use the word advisedly) under the eyes of the very officers charged with the main tenance of peace and order in the county, and whose sworn duty it was to suppress such lawlessness, organ ized, not as mobs are wont to do ur- der the spur of justifiable indignation or self righteous anger, but with ln- dian-like stealth under the cover Of darkness, premediatedly, deliberately, and swooped down upon the homes Of unsuspecting, unoffending miners who had made no violence, yea more, who had threatened no violence, but who had every lawful reason to feel se- cure as citizens under the guarantees -vouchsafed by the Constitution of the United States and the State of Ari- zona. By sheer force of arms and Of rocks and clubs and tin cans, this conscienceless mob of organized fan atics apparently immune from arrest or punishment, violated at one and the same time the sacred tenets of our Republic, and the sanctuary Of the American home. With all the brutish abandon of the unconscion- able Hun they dragged husbands out of their wives embrace, ruthlessly disengaged the arms of little terrified children from about their fathers necks, thrust mothers and sons apart and offered coarse insults to the wives and daughters of honest work ing men. Tn this exercrable manner, without a vestige of justification or legality, many hundreds of unarmed working men were driven at the point of gun or pike or by threats of violence from their homes, many of them beaten up and spat upon, their clothes torn, and bruised and bleeding, compelled to walk hatless and shoeless under the blazing Ari- zona sun without food or water Chow different to the case of the l. W. WIS who were provided with free trans portation and an ample supply or food and water) until after many railes of agony they were able to reach the sheltering arms of a com, mrnitv whose manly independent Am erican citizenry received them and assured them that there at all events they would be guaranteed the right to live in peace and quietness of which these mobs had deprived them: and as can be readily imagin- ed, the realization that their mothers wives and daughters were left in Mo renci at the mercy of their ruffian captors did not serve to assuage th''ir anguish So that what you term this dastardly crime" had already been equalled in this district, in your own day and time.
 It is not necessary to accept as cor rect my recital of these doings. The facts. which are not exaggerated. can be verified by many reputable citi zens who remained in the district throughout those terrifying months unparalleled in the history of this State, by sworn statements of scores of victims and otherwise. At the time these occurrences were given the fullest publicity and you were Iub- honorable and independent citizens in letter to the press the following question:
 ''Is it true, Governor, that large number Of law abiding in-offensive men, who resided in the Clifton-Mo renci district with their families anG themselves, were unlawfully and un mercifulIy beaten and inhuman1y abused and forcibly compelled to aban don their families, homes and prop erty and fee from the Clifton-Mo- reuci district and seek refuge in the neighboring town of Duncan, without employment, homeless refugees?
 If this be true, Governor-common public rumor says it is true-permit me, with all respect, to ask what you, as chief magistrate of the State under your solemn oath of office, t' which you refer in your statement have done, officially or otherwise, t,