The Labor enquirer., 1884-12-13

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however, insist upon any ms6suss thas
y unjust q impracticsble NOR do thsy
believe In imposibilitiea As proof Of
this they ars willing to submit the Dues
ton in dispute to disintsrestsd third
party for final decision. They know and
admit that there are two sides to ali
questions aud that there is . possibility
Of them being under false impression
IS TO the actual condition Of trade and
market prices, but Whatever the actual
facts and necessities Of the case, they
should be clearly shown, An assertion
is no argument or proof, and to reach a
compromise concessions must be made
on both sides.
Whenever the companies are willing
to meet their employees in this spirit the
trouble win end, and confidence win be
restored in every branch Of industry.
JOHN L. LEWIS,
Executive Secretary Coal Miners Com
bination of Colorado and Adjoining
Territories. Office, 1858 Larimer street,
Denver.
This manifesto is intended and calcu-
lated to counteract the prevailing i'm
preston that the men insist uncondi-
tionally upon an increase in wages.
From the very start of the trouble the
main issue has been Cancellation or arbi-
'tration in a practical form-the matter of
wages to be afterwards decided by mu-
tual consent.
To this mode of settlement the large
corporations of the south object. There
is no mode of settlement that can be
made satisfactory to them. but an uncon-
ditional surrender of all rights, and the
men to resume work under the former
"iron-clad" agreements.
To those conditions the men manifest
stern resistance, and are determined to
die as freenien, rather than live in
bondage. The effort put forth at Pueblo
convention to compromise the trouble
having been repudiated by the officials
of the Colorado Coal and Iron and Santa
Fe companies las been the means OF
consolidating the forces of the miners
into solid phalanx 1t now remains
for all in sympathy to contribute liber
ally in order that the families of our
noble brethren may get the necessary
means of existence. 7
The appeal" for aid has gone forth
with the authority Of the General Exec
utive Board. Letters from Kansas report
that our cause is being taken up by the
miners of that state, and that aid will be
forthcoming on the twentieth. Wyoming
reports cases where men are victimized
for no other cause than having joined
the Knights of Labor. The northern
miners have resolved to tax their own
earnings to the tune of 10 and 12t per
cent, the same to be paid out to the ex-
ecutive officer weekly as long as the.
strike continues. ~E - l.
The returns having been received
from the assemblies upon the nominees
for the state executive board, show the
elected for next term:
Fred Mitchell, of Blossburg, New Mex
leo; Peter J. O'Brien, Carbon, Wyoming; !;
Jonathan Coslette, Coal Creek; Felix
Hughes, Louisville; and John L. Lewis
for executive secretary. With one as
sembly excepted, John L. Lewis was the
choice.
1 take this opportunity of assuring my
constituents that my labors, as hereto
fore, will be energetically directed, and
my efforts to further the cause of labor
shall never. cease; that am sensible of
the grave responsibilities resting upon
me as the principal at headquarters, and
that my policy in conducting matters
will be none the less firm than conserva-
tive; that 1 will keep vigilant eye over
the interests of those that repose conf.
dence in me, and shall not let any chance
go by whereby l may do good.
Measures shall be taken, when the
time arrives, to bring the condition of
the mines and miners before the legisla-
ture, and all matters tending to better
the condition of my fellow. men shall be
to with all zeal and earnestness.
Yours faithfully, JOHN L. LEWIS.