The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-11
The Weekly Report Of the Secretary
Coal MINERS HEADoUARrERs OF
COLORADO, New Mexico, WYo-
nrNc AMI TTr.u

Coal MINERS 2HEADouARrERs OF y
COLORADO, New Mexico, WYo-
MING AND. UTAH. J
Nothing of encouragement to report.
No change for the better, but everything.
Gull and quiet, Complaint Of no trade,
and scores Of. men out of work in all
PARTS. Mines closing down, and the men
il fix. not knowing where to turn. No
work and no money is the climax of
deplorable situation, and the feelings of
men are very much aggravated when the
sympathies of company aie with the
coolies. ~. Fg.F.s--g ~ ssrss-. ..E
:: In the case!of Rock Springs, where a
large number of men are thrown cut by
reason of closing down, the company
managed to push every Chinaman into
tae other mines, but the whites are out
in the cold.
Within the past week l have opened
correspondence with BecKwith, Quinn &
Co. upon this unfair deal. having de-
sire to avoid trouble. Mr.. Qualy is back
again at Carbon, and his return is looked
upon as having an evil inter,t.
would respectfully warrf the COM
pany of the fact that the Carbon men
FIRE not to be fooled or even trifed with.
,How that peace reigns, and confidence
exists, no disturbing factor should be in
troduced. 1t is enough that men have
10 contend with hard times, without
being subjected to the demoralizing In
,luences of the coolie element. We can
not too strongly denounce any attempt
of this kind. He that hath ears to hear,
ct him hear" and take heed.
The general assembly of the state of
Colorado adjourned sine die. and the
amount of legislation enacted in the in
crest of the working classes is hardly
visible. About two-thirds Of the time of
The entire session was taken uE with
bills in favor of corporations, aud but
very little time or consideration was
given to the direct needs to the people.
The numerous bills introduced by the
legislative committee of the Trades As
sembly were almost invariably cast aside;
an unusual amount of lobbying and petit
tionlng was done, but apparently without
any avail. Beyond the enactment of
law exempting 500 of the wages of the
head of family from attachment, and
the defeat of the convict labor bill very
little can be. shown directly beneficial to
labor.
One of the hills to amend the mining
laws finally passed both houses, but in
such a crippled state that it is hardly an
improvement on theStatute. The bill
in its original form was an excellent one,
and the author, Senator Stevenson,
worked hard for it passage. 1t was sent
from the senate in pretty good shape,
but in the lower house, before the COM
mittee on mines and mining and appro-
priations, it was shorn of all its good and
important features Both Senator Stew
enson and Mr.. Bradley in the lower
house deserve credit for the efforts they
made in our behalf, and it Is to be re-
gretted that their labors did not alto
gether meet with the desired success.
No less worthy of mention were the
efforts of John Mcneil, state inspector OF
mines. Sensible of the great necessity
of improved legislation for the health
and safety of our class, this gentleman
worked hard, and was always ready to
accompany me to testify before commit
tee meetings. His experience and i'm
portant suggestions ought to have had
great weight upon the minds of the rep
resentatives, but a counter-infuence was
brought to bear against us from the
Union Pacific and especially the Colo
RADIO Coal and Iron company. Before
favorable legislation can be had in the
interest of the working classes there
must be change of legislators repre-
sentatives of the people, not railway cor
porations.
Within the past two weeks l have
received several letters inquiring
whether employment could he obtained
in the mines of Colorado. In reply would
remark that I know of no stale where
the conditions and chances are so unfa-
vorable l would strongly advise every
man to keep away from here, Until the
summer season is over at least. And
those that are in employment within the
state would advise to hang On to it,
Several have thrown up their jobs in the
north, expecting to find better. but have
met with great disappointment Scores
are roaming the streets of Denver, and
large number are leaving every week for
the far east and the Pacifc coast
Brethren, stay where you are, the
whole country is in a wretched state.
Continue to strengthen your positions
b1 organization and education.
Yours faithfully, JOHN L. LEWIS.
Miners Strike Ended.
PIrTsBURG, April 6.-The river coal min
ORG Ctrika andpd to-day in favor of the Strlk-