Bisbee daily review., 1920-05-01

NCOnIlIueu ITOUQ rage 1nfoe.
 was no question as to the source of the demands; they were signed by avowed leaders of the l. w. w. in Bisbee. All three big companies flatly refused to consider the demands or to deal in any way with the I. w. w., an organization which they publicly termed treason able and disloyal." R
 This action on the part of, the min ing companies was followed immedi- ately by the calling of a strike in the Warren District by Metal Mine Work CTS Industrial Union No. 800. As was expected by both sides, considerable proportion of the men employed in the mines did not report for work the fol lowing day. Although the greater ma jority of the miners had absolutely nothing to say regarding the calling of the strike, many of them remained away from the mines at the beginning of the strike because they expected it to end i'll a few days. Wages at the time of the strike were based on what is known as the sliding scale" which varied with the price of copper. When the I. w. w. demands were presented, miners were being paid $5.S5 and $5.90 a day. In their demands, the I. w. w. asked for flat rate of $500 a day. The other clauses in the demands were hardly even worthy of consideration.
 The first few days of the strike were orderly. Picket lines were established by the l. w. w. at the approaches to every mine shaft in the district. Men who refused to join the strike were forced to pass through crowds of strik- CTS, the majority of them of foreign ex- traction, to get to and from the mines. Meetings were held every day in the city park, at which l. w. W. speakers told the strikers to stand fast and as sured them that the strike was certain of being won.
 The day after the strike was called Harry C. Wheeler, then sheriff of Co., chise county. came to Bisbee and es- tablished temporary headquarters. Be fore taking any action, Sheriff Wheel CT desired to have a complete under standing of both sides of the cOntro- versy Day after day he spent in walk ing over the district mingling with the strikers, comforting with their leaucI .. investigating complaints of trouble and, in general. assembling infOrma- tfon regarding conditions from cvv,y angle and in every section of the dis tPict
 After the strike had been in pro Srcss a week the situation began to show d decided change. The boast Of the I. w. w. that they would force the mines to close unless their demands were granted had fallen flat. The mines were still operating. The I. w. w had attempted to get the pump men to leave their posts and the pump men had turned them down. The |. w. w. were meeting with resistance they had not looked for. With the pump men remaining at their posts there was no possibility Of the mines being flooded, and this disarmed the strikers of one of the biggest clubs which they hoped to hold over tho head of the district.
 Speakers at the I. ". w. meetings began to adopt different tactics Where they had at. first been confident they now became desperate. Their promises and pleadings began to bc- come moro lurid. If the miners would all quit until the present strike was won. said the speakers, another strike for $500 day and six hours work ,vouId hp called following this a third strike would be called for $l0.00 u day and four hours work and then, the