Hellraisers Journal: General Strike Led by Western Federation of Miners Begins in Michigan’s Copper Country

Wealth to Producer, WFM Motto, Miners Mag Jan 1, 1914 —————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday July 24, 1913
Copper Country, Michigan – General Strike Begins, Led by W. F. of M.

From The Calumet News (Michigan) of July 23, 1913:

The first general strike in the history of the Lake Superior copper region. which has long been forecasted, become a realization today. Following a mass meeting of the miners, called by local officers of the Western Federation of Miners last evening, the strike was declared this morning, and underground operations have been suspended at practically every mine in the Lake Superior copper region.

Local officials of the Western Federation of Miners give the folowing as the principal demands of the strikers:

Recognition of the union.
Shorter hours.
Increased wages.
Two men to operate the one-man drilling machine.

Three members of executive board of the Western Federation of Miners, Guy Miller, J. C. Lowney and Janco Tersich are here to direct the strike. They state the strike will be financed by the Western Federation of Miners and the American Federation of Labor, and that the men are prepared to hold out as long as necessary to gain the points for which they are contending.

Union officials claim the membership in the Western Federation of Miners is 9,000, out of a total of 11,000 men employed in underground work in the district.

Strike Is General.

The surface as well as the underground employes of some of the mines, laid down their tools this morning, declining to go to work, but this is the exception to the rule, for at most of the mines the surface work has not been interrupted so far. The strike, however, is general throughout the entire district, about the only mines now affected so far being the Hancock, Winona and Franklin. At the latter mine a few of the men remained away from work today, but operations continue as usual.

At the Mohawk. Ahmeek, Allouez and Centennial mines, underground was suspended, and at the Wolverine mine, surface as well as underground work came to a stop. No mining work was conducted at the Tamarack, Osceola or Kearsarge shafts today, and the same condition prevailed at Quincy, Isle Royale, Superior and other mines in the portage Lake territory. Work was started at two shafts, the No. 4 and 6 shafts the Isle Royale this morning as usual, but later was discontinued. The shut down at the Champion, Trimountain and Baltic Mines of the Copper Range Consolidated and the Houghton Copper company is complete, as well as all other mines except Winona, Hancock, and Franklin.

It is understood the mining companies will decline to recognize the Western Federation of Miners.

No Disturbances Reported.

The strike is being conducted in an orderly manner so far. Except for the air of suppressed excitement which prevails, it would be difficult to realize a strike is in progress in the district. At some of the shafts and mine buildings the men congregated and discussed the situation, but for the most part the men returned to their homes when they discovered the strike was on.

General Manager James MacNaughton of the C. & H. Mining company was asked for a statement today, but declined to be quoted at this time.

[Emphasis added.]