The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-01
SOUND TRUTHS
Contained in an Answer to .
Private Letter from . Las
Animas Miner.

Editor Labor Enquirer.
DENVER, August 20, 1851 have just
received a letter from a prominent coal
miner of Las Animas county, asking me
several questions, one of which I hope
you viii allow me toanswer through the
columns of your valuable paper. He
asks why has not The LABOR En-
oUIRER larger circulation than it has,
and in answer would say it requires
neither demonstration nor argument to
convince a candid man, or man of
average sense and intelligence, that we,
the laboring men of Colorado, have sadly
neglected our duty, have trifed with the
trust and confidence placed in our
knowledge and wisdom by the originator
ofthe paper Gar worth is over esti-
mated; or,in other words, we are slower
than we should be in recognizing the
value Of fearless labor advocate In my
last letter to your paper | tried to show
the laboring men of Boulder county, but
more esbscially the coal miners, as they,
..szus.s s.alore rattsicts with sr.
gaIiszsd corporations than any other
class of unskilled workmen, the
benefits, influence, sympathy ETC., to be
gainedby having a labor paper in a
fourishing conditohw trouble over
takes them, as 1T has done. Since the
organization Of the first miners union in
the pprth of England. if you have read
the article referred to, it would be I'M
necessary for you to ask the question.
The man who has the honor of publish
ing this paper is not drawing on the bank
account of any soal, iron, silver or rail-
road king, and, consequently, he expects
those whom he is faithfully trying to
protect, working with perseverance and
determination possessed only by a true
man, for their advancement and ameli-
Grafton, toapprove of his action, appre-
ciate his work, and give that financial
support which is necessary under all
circumstances to make newspaper a
success, Ifyou thoroughly understand
1.-The situation of the miner and are aware
of the many difficulties and lords of Gre
alton which he invariably has to deal
with, take on yourself the responsibility
of being one Of the standard bearers of
the only labor paper printed in Colorado
you will be richly regarded. For those
who are to-day incapable Of realizing
the chain of servitude and degradation
which will soon be bound around them,
will awake from their present dormant
state and with horror behold 1.-The unjust
System which has Intentionally driven
them to poyerty and desperation.
You have in Las Animas county eleven
hundred men employed in and about the
coal mines, out of that number there is
not one who subscribes for THE ENQUIR
Err, and your memory cannot be thai
| lluCl cLIeCISu llldI Yum nave 81 6dSll y
| forgotten the treatment you received. Ir
I December, 70. You miners of Ell Mora
kreQuested an advance in your wages, you
were refused and the committee who
presented your grievances treated with
contempt and diSrespect You came out
ona strike aud were defeated through the
nefariOus actions of the company, as
sisted by unprincipled workmen, who
| had neither honor nor reputation al
stake, and would not hesitate to commit
probation Of the coal king lords, whom
they bowed to in the most humble sub,
mission. In 1882 you made the second
attempt to get living wages, like 1875
you were defeated You were reported
| through the country az something of al
unciviized nature, demanding what was
outrageously impossible. There was nc
abOr organ west Of the Missouri river to
report the facts in al unprejudiced man
ner. All news was partial and so con.
strued as to convey the idea that you
we're class of men ignorant and indo,
lent, capable Of committing the most
atrociouS acts, and priding yourselves in
the destruction of life and property
There is not class of workmen in Colo,
RADIO that should be more prompt in
responding to the honorable call Of a
labor advocate than the miners of Las
Animas county, for they have received
the ignominious lash of organized capital
time and again.
On the 28th of June, 1880, the Stark
vile miners made a like demand and
were refused. They came out on strike
manfully, declaring their intention tc
fight to the bitter end, and, like the
others, they were misrepreBented
through the public press of the state and
lost ali sympathy. shall write more
| lengthy ON the Starkville coal miners
strike at some future time if Mr.. Buch
anan will grant me space, as it was one
worthy of remembrance, the miners
winning after a struggle lasting three
months, the company failing to defeat
them after importing blacklegs from
Kansas, Missouri'and the northwest cor
ner of Indiana.
Subscribe for this paper; get up list
or send individually. Direct TO the, 36t
Larimer street, and you will receive
justice. M. w. B.
| Father Brennan Lecture.
Father Brennan will deliver lecture