Salt Lake Tribune | 1914-03-06 | Page 2 | Militiamen Go on the Witness Stand

I ' MILITIAMEN GO ON J THE WITNESS STAND HOUGHTON, Mich.. March 5 Tho Michlgnn National Guard presented witnesses toda3- before the congressional , committee investigating the Michigan copptT striko to prove that the conduct of the militiamen stationed in the strike y.ouo had been good. Residents of the ) copjior country told the committee the conduct of the guardsmen in general l had been excellent. Specific charges against tho militiamen will be taken up at the Chicago hearing. ' Workmen imported by the mining companies to take the places of strikers strik-ers told the committee thoy came here of their own volition and remained because be-cause thoy liked the work. Tho imported men, a score of thorn testified, said thev had signed contracts to como hero to work as trammers at .$2.60 a day, the prevailing wago in this district. Manager MocNaughton of the Calumet & Heel a company was erroneously quoted as Faying trammers were paid $1.60. Many or the witnesses said they had be'en given work as miners in a short time, for which they woro paid $3 and $3.25 a day. It appeared that as tho now men were inexperienced inexperi-enced none had been placed on contract work. They said under tho agreement with the companies they were to have their fare here refunded if they remained re-mained six months and were to be furnished fur-nished board aud lodging for $22 a month. , The testimony of Harry Parks and Herbert Shauu, witnesses for the strikers, strik-ers, that imported men wero kept under armed guard in the bunkhouse and not permitted to leave was contradicted by several witnesses. Frederick Love, who was brought from Detroit with Shann and Parks, said armed guards wero necessarv to protect the imported men. He also said ho made a night trip to Calumet with Shann and no attempt was made to prevent them from going. Stephen Au-derson Au-derson gave similar testimony. Eric Bamberg, brought from New York, testified strikers bad offered him $10 and a free trip to Chicago to quit work. He &aid' he replied he would go if paid $250. The committee held a night sossion tonight.