The copper era and Morenci leader., 1918-04-12
CONNECTS MUT|NY
 RETARD ROAD WORK

DEMAND RESTORATION OF DIS-
 CHARGED GUARD BEFORE RE-
 TURNING TO WORK-AFFAIRS AT CAMP CHAOTIC.
 It has been known that some kind of trouble was brewing at the further est road camp for some time. Rum ors of threatened strike by the con victs have been rife, and no one was surprised when the matter was precipitated last Tuesday, 2 .D
 In most states convicts, especially long termers, have very little to say regarding the management of insti- tutions in which they are confined, or the construction of enterprises On which they are forced to labor. Arizona is more humane. Here the convict is as gentle as a. hired girl, and as independent as a Texas negro on Emancipation Day. ? H7ze i-os
 It is the policy of the government: of Arizona to work it's convicts 2 on the public highways. Many of ac the best roads in the state have been constructed with convict labor. Un- der the provisions the expense of working the state convicts5 on the highways is borne by the. state and the county ip which the ss roads are, constructed on 50-50 basis- At the present time Greenlee county is doing much road buildingy4 andsa has two camps of convicts building the road from Clifton to the Graham county line. The camp in which the honor convicts are located is a few miles from the city, while further out are the stockades in which the other class of convicts are confined when not actively at work on the road. Among the men there are many wob- plies, who have long sentenes. N is alleged that some of the guards are of the same faith and order of the wob- state administration to perform the duties of guards at this camp. 91
 But as stated, matters have been getting worse all the time. There. has been rumors of mutiny from time. to time. At the instigation of the powers that be certain of the guards, were let out, and men alleged to be incompetent were put in their places. Three weeks ago two guards, O'Neal and Gray were relieved, then Mo 'Guire quit and Tuesday matters had reached such a pass that Superin- tendent Taylor decided he had all that he could stand. The pet of the disgruntled convicts, it is alleged, was Captain of the Guards Mccullough. Engineer Barlow gave him his time Tuesday and this brought the matter to a head. The convicts issued their ultimatum in which they declared that they would not go to work un- til Mccullough was reinstated The men organized themselves within the walls and laid their plans. Papers were drawn up and circulated setting forth the conditions on which they would consent to work, and that was the restoration of their favorite to his former position This paper was circulated in the stockade and num- erously signed, so it is stated.
 Conditions Become AiarminaI sg
 Matters were assuming alarming proportions. It was feared that the convicts would make a a break for liberty any hour. and such vas look ed for Tuesday night. ss .F
 Wednesday night Sheriff Slaughter received a message from the private secretary of Governor Hunt to take charge of the situations to procure guards and hold the men until state officials could reach here He si5 at " tions. and proceeded to the extent of guards until the state officials could arrive. Before he started to the camp another message came from State Fneineer Atwood advising the sheriff to hold the guards in Clifton and not send them to the camp until further orders. Thursday morning it became known that G. A. Franz had taken command of the camp by orders of Engineer Atwood. but MT. Slaughter had. up to Thursday even ing. not been advised of the new arraneements. and the gnards were stili awaiting his orders. When news of MT Franz being in charge of the camp reached MT. Slaughter he prom ptlv washed his hands of very disagreeable duty. and left the mat ter to those who had been put in charge of the situation. pending a set tlemert of the strike of the pets of the administra tion. who evidently feeiino secure in having friend in the executive felt that they could hold the sovereisn state of Arizona i'll cortemnt by issuing their uItina- tum to tho constituted authorities witt, inrruuitv
 JuSt why those at Phoenix should select a business man of the com muritv and p1are him in charge of the sitraticn rather than sworn off cers of the law, is not plain. It is stated that the discharged guards. some Of whom are known to be l. W. W's.. have been in the city since their disoharge. and are alleged to have heen doing some talking that had heonn to find resentm ent. and it looked at one time that travelling or ders might be issued It is well known fact that some |pf the ouards were among the de- |)ortees from Bisbee on last July 12 The above facts were gleaned by .alkiDg with former guards and other persons who were in a position to