The Samuel Gompers Papers

Washington, D.C., September 29, 1913.

To All Organized Labor:

Each new advance in human betterment leaves its furrows of pain and suffering across human hearts and lives. There is scarcely a worker in all America who does not know the meaning of a strike, during which the workers and their families have suffered and endured in order to obtain justice; or who has not felt the terrible fear for the physical safety of loved ones in the thick of the contest, or the heart-breaking pain because of inability to supply even the barest necessities of life for those dependent upon him. To you, members of organized labor, the brave struggle of the copper miners of Calumet, Michigan, will appeal with greatest effect.

After exhausting all other means of securing the just demands which they made upon their employers, these miners laid aside their tools on July 23, and went out on a strike. They had been working a so-called ten-hour day, which in reality was an eleven-hour day, for wages that would not permit American standards of living. Miners have been forced to handle individually heavy drilling machines which had formerly been operated by two men. After considering all matters the men decided to demand an eight-hour day, three dollars as the minimum wage, and two men to handle drilling machines as formerly. All requests for conferences or consideration of these just demands were ignored and treated with contempt.

Despite the fact that the strike was inaugurated peacefully and has been conducted by the miners without even the slightest show of violence, seldom has there been such a display of arbitrary methods on the part of the mine operators and governmental authorities. The morning after the strike began hundreds of deputies were sworn in; the employers imported companies of Waddell-Mahon guards; finally State troops were sent to the mining district that the mine owners might be enabled to operate their mines and the voice of Labor in its appeal for justice might be silenced. All of this display of force was under the pretence of protecting property (when the miners did not attack it, nor contemplate attacking it); when the miners attempted to protect and promote human rights, they were ridden down in the streets, clubbed, fired upon!

Though there have been the usual efforts to foment strife and to stir up violence among the strikers, yet no property has been destroyed and the miners have remained steadfast in their determination to win their rights, and in their determination not to be forced into lawlessness.

The officials of the miners asked for an injunction restraining the appointment of additional deputies to serve the mine operators--their request was refused. The mine operators asked for an injunction restraining the strikers from picketing, "molesting" men going to or from work and from parading in the vicinity of the mines--that order was granted.

Such are the conditions under which these copper miners are waging their fight for justice and a life somewhat better worth living. With all the forces of capital and organized society working against them, they have maintained courage, determination and good spirit. There are 16,000 miners engaged in this struggle. A large number of miners and their families were evicted from their homes owned by the corporations. The lives, safety, and welfare of something like 50,000 men, women, and children are bound up with its fate. The strike has now been in progress for over two months and still the mine operators maintain stubborn resistance and unreasonable refusal to consider the demands of the men. The long, hard winter of northern Michigan is approaching, and these brave men, women, and children who are bearing the brunt of this fight for industrial justice for American workingmen are in need.

Two members of our Executive Council, John Mitchell and John B. Lennon, have been among these strikers and presented to us unquestionable evidence of the conditions there. After consideration of the conditions, the need and importance of the issues involved, the Executive Council makes this appeal to all the members of organized labor for prompt and generous financial assistance to aid these needy and suffering fellow-workers, their wives and children.

We appeal in the name of all labor and common humanity that each local union at once make an appropriation from its funds of not less than five cents for each member; that each Central Labor Union select a committee to appeal to all workers and friends to contribute promptly and as generously as possible, and to use every other honorable means by which funds may be secured. The men and women and children of Calumet, Michigan, must not be starved into submission. They must and they will win, if the toilers of our country will but do their duty.

Remember that the splendid solidarity of the workers of America largely aided in securing the magnificent victory of the anthracite miners a few years ago. The newspapers have suppressed nearly all reference to the Calumet miners' strike. In this appeal we hope to reach the minds, hearts, and the consciences of our fellow-workers and friends, and thereby secure their ready response to the call for aid.

Send all contributions to Frank Morrison, Secretary, American Federation of Labor, Ouray Building, Washington, D.C., who will return receipt for the same and promptly forward every dollar to the immediate aid of the struggling miners of Calumet.