The Labor enquirer., 1884-11-01
The Miners Of Colorado Quit
Work Because of Unfair
Treatment.
s----- y.
Delegates Assemble in this City
and Ask a Conference with
I the Operators.
The Manifesto "A Circular from
Walsenburg- The Mass Meeting
in the Wigwam.

| For several weeks the organized work
,Ilingmen Of this section have been awar
THAT it was only a question of timesunti
the coal miners of this state would sus
pend all work in their line, for the prr
llpose of having their wages and othe
matters equitably adjusted. The min
managers were aware that this step wa
contemplated, but nothing has been at
tempted by the latter in the way of /
condition, and so on Monday last tn,
suspension took'place.
1T had been previously understooc
that a congress of delegates from tht
various mining camps should be held il
this city during the present week, whose
business it would be to counsel with eact
other and arrive at some conclusion al
to what they were justly entitled to, anf
then to ask conference with the opera
tors for the purpose of settling presen
disputes and formulate a plan for the
peaceable adjustment of difficulties which
may arise in the future.
AS early as Sunday last delegates began
to arrive, and when the conference first
met for organization In the Brunswick
hotel, on Monday afternoon there were
represented twenty y-nine mines, and since
that meeting others have arrived.
The conference organized by eleeting
William Howells, of Coal Creek, chair
man, and JohnL. Lewis, of Erie, secre'
tary. Committees were appointed, and
the work of the conference divided and
allotted to the proper committees.
1t is not necessary to give the proceed,
ings of each meeting in detail, Suffice
it to say that the, congress has been in
session between the hours of a. m. and
p. m. excepting the noon hour) every
day this week, and there have been sew.
eral night sessions.
Reports have been received from all
sections, retailing the causes of dissatls
faction, anu have been placed with the
proper sommittees. 1t is not essential
that THE ENQUIRER should at this time
give the lists of grievances in full. The
price paid per ton is tire principal ques.
ion in some localities, the manner ol
weighing and screening in others, while
there are other troubles in some locali-
ties. ...
A committee was appointed to draw
up an address to the managers of the
mines and ask for conference, to be
held in the parlors of the Brunswick
hotel, at 1U a. IN. on Friday (to-day)
The following document was prepared
and on Wednesday presented in person
to such managers as could be found il
the city, and mailed to those outside:
MANIFESTO
To the coal operators and shippers of thu
State of Colorado, and others whom it may
|
| concern. r.
Having, as representatives of the Goa
Miners Of the state of Colorado, met in con
ference in the city of Denver on the 9th anC
| 28th of October, 1884, to discuss existing
grievance and deliberate upon measures
lhavlng in view the adjustment of all differ
fences that now and may hereafter exist, by
lmeans of mutual congress between EN-
ployer and employed, involved in the mining
| f,,l, nf a
ness-like policy to issue a brief manifesto
setting forth the causes which have led to al
organized effort; the grievances that exist
and the rational method by which we pro
pose tnat the present and all future differ
ences shall be amicable and permanently
settled: - s =,
Experience has ripened the conviction and
established the fact that the cause and vel
fare of labor can only be protected and Sc
cured by concentration of thought ant
action, and that organization is an impera
tive necessity, not for the purpose of exact
1 ing an eXt0rtionate wage-rate; not in Orde
to challenge capital into conflict neithe
with view of introducing an arltagoniSti'
and hostile feeling between the powers o.
capital and labor, nor to take any undue o
unjust advantage that organized labor, undel
certain conditions, could probably command
but to check + the tendency of aggregated
wealth reducing labor to a state OF pauperl
zation; to urgesuch measures and take sucf
concerted action that will lead to- a perma
nent understanding as a basis upon which
those engaged in the mining industry maj
secure a just remuneration for their labor
at the same time conceding to every operate
or mining company every just consideration
To advocate the adoption of a system ant
pursue such a business policy that employers
and employed will be brought. together t.
arrange and settle all differences in friend
ly manner, to the peace and eternal pres
pefity of all concerned. "A
1--WE are not opposed to the combination o
Capitalists, but experience points out TN
4 fact that immense wealth has been created
the expense of impoverlshing the toilinnI
changed-human avariciousness must D
checked, and labor remunerated according t,
its merits.
\ The time has come when capital and labo
must take steps to meet upon a basis OF equa
Justice to both. Labor being the action nee
essary to the sustenance OF life, it naturall
follows that labor has an unquestionabl
right to avoice in the distribution of its ow
products. And hence from sense OF ou
rights we have organized; and our demand
we respectfully submit.
To be brief and attte same time conye
synopsis of the whole we would submit
1 That realizing bitterly the encroachment
made upon our wages in various forms an
by different means, direct and indirect; an
taking into, consideration facts and inquire
relative 20 current market prices, we claiI
we are entitled, and accordingly seek j
some instances an increase of wages. |
other instancec wo demand that hencefort
1000 pounds shall be deemed one ton; an
further, we seek the adjustment of locs
, grievances and minor differences in genera
!, Having thus briefly explained the issut
| involved, and not being arbitrarily inclined
, we wish it to be understood that we have
: desire to enter into a prolonged strike "a
though prepared, if the issue is forced upo
us through obstinacy and tyrannlcal rule
but we purpose that the existing trouble sha
be amicably settled by conciliation or arbitr
} ton.
We make known to all concerned the fa