El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-11
Leaders
Hold Men At
Jerome Quiet
Amy Officer, Command
ing Detachment, Defies
Threatening |. w. w.

Jerome. Ariz, Feb. Heroine
passed a night Of apprehension. fol-
lowing a day Of turmoil precipitated
by a IS cent cut in wages Of the 1000
copper miners and smeltermen OF the
Jerome district
Lieut.. John Sellers, commanding p
men from the Third infantry regi-
ment, held himself in readiness
throughout the night to prevent the
execution OF a threat made by a
strikers committee. said to be com
posed OF / W W members, TO break
into the jail and release % men held
there on a charge Of traffic obstruc-
ton
Early today mine officials said the
strike call at a mass meeting held on
the outskirts Of the town had not
materialized, while the labor council
was standing by its decision to keep
the members Of the International
Union Of Mine, Mil and Smelter Work
ers at the places under protest. pend
ing the arrival Of federal mediator
HyWeu Davies, reported on his way
from Washington
Both police and mine officials
prophesfed that the mines would run
today with normal forces
Lieut.. Sellers defied a strike com
mittee said to have been recruited
from the ranks Of the l. W. W, when
it called on him with the threat that
II intended TO lead an attack on the
jail to release more than a score Of
men held on charge OF obstructinE
the streets. Lieut. Sellers told the
committee that he and his men would
be on hand ready for action If any
attempt was made to carry out the
threat
Trouble in Jerome started early yes
terday. The union miners Obeyed in
structions from their leaders TO re-
main at work pending the arrival Of
federal mediator HyweU Davies, who,
secretary OF labor Wilson telegraphed, I
would start west Immediately
A crowd OF $50 men, however. said ]
TO have been recruited from 7. W W. I
ranks. met outside the town limits I
and voted for a general strike and to I
start picketing at S o'clock at night I
When a score of traffic Instructors /
were arrested in the city a mob be- !
sieged the Jail demanding their re-
lease and threatening TO tear down /
the building
It was stated by police officers and (
mine officials that 90 percent OF the i
strikers are unnaturalized foreigners, !
less than half OF whom understand |
English.
Miners Don't Accept Cut.
me members OF the laDOE GOuncll
do not accept the cut Of IS cents a !
shift Their contention is that the
agreement signed by them with the
was 10 continue for the
duration OF the war and until the
peace treaty had been signed 7. W.
". disturbers here claim 10 have en-
rolled 1900 men, but this Is believed
untrue Many l. W VS. have been
sent out Of camp in the last few
weeks by local police, who are as
sisted by a special force at CIarkdale
under command Of Thos. B. Rynning.
formerly captain OF Arizona rangers.
Miners heretofore have been getting
$3.50 a shift, from shaft collar to col
ar, with luncheon time allowed. max
ng the actual working day only seven
hours Living costs are declared
lower than in any southwestern camp.
while the companies are relieving the
housing problem by the erection Of
new homes and apartments. The
main reason for failure TO strike is
TO be an impression that
such action would be to the profit o.
he mining companies, which now
have no sale for the copper they are
producing.