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Show Says Moyer Is to Blame Was Lucky To Escape Without Moro Serious Injuries From Copper Camp Houghton, March 2. lh hla opening open-ing statement for mine operators, Attorney At-torney Allen V. Rees todsy told tho congressional Investigating committee commit-tee that ho believed Unit If Charles H. Moyor hnd Joined hnhds with citizens cit-izens In recognizing tho distress of sufferers from tho Calumet disaster, tho strlko would have been settled that day. Referring to tho deportation of the president of tho Western Federation of Minors after his refusal to permit tho victims to accept outsldo help, Rees 'said: "Moyer whs mighty lucky that nothing no-thing moro serious happened to him. As Bishop Williams of tho Eplscopnl church remarked when ho heard or the affair: It was evidence of tho greatest self restraint over Tonown to mo. For fooling ran strong that night nnd Moyer wns fortunnto thht ho had men of such restraint to deal with. Rees snld that If tho Investigation wero a judicial proceeding tho operators oper-ators would rest becauso of tho lack of any evidence tending to show any thing Illegal tn our conduct. Organizers Cause of Trouble Reviewing tho Important points of tho Btriko. Rees said. "Allen agitators and organizers came Into tho copper district in 1907 and began sowing tho seed of discontent discon-tent among our employes. They succeeded suc-ceeded In doing so amctog a certain number of them by making a lot of promises Impossible of fulfillment. It was known for moro than a year that tho strlko was lnovltablo In order or-der to carry out tho plan of tho Western Wes-tern Federation of Miners to obtain recognition of their union, which would mean tho total wrecking of Industry for we could not continue to oporatb tho mines under 'tho conditions condi-tions that would bo Imposed by tho federation." Three Days Rioting Rees said thcro wero three days of rioting nnd assaults at tho start of tho strlko before Governor Ferris sdnt tho National Guard to-preserve order. No disorder occurred after that, ho Bald, until tho mines started start-ed to operate under tho protection of tho mllltln. Trains bearing strikebreakers strike-breakers wero shot up and stoned apd automobiles containing deputies were treated likewise. Tho attorney said that ft considerable number of complaints com-plaints mado by strikers wero of things occurring during th eweek beginning be-ginning December 7, when Ball and the Jano boys wore murdered In their beds at PaLnsdalo. It was a very tense week, ho Bald, ' for the community was thoroughly aroused by this cold blooded crime I following on the other lawless acta j of the strikers. I |