The Labor enquirer., 1885-04-25
0ficial Organ OF the ldiner's Bo
Conciliatt,n.
ExECUT1yE EBoAT,D,

county. s,S,,,,
1858 Larimer street, Deuveh
The Weekly Report Of the Secretary
Coal MINERS HEApaEARiERs OIL
CoLoRADo, New MEXICO, WYo-
MING AND U,fAH.
With the past week / have received two
important communications from d. O. Clark
ESQ. Of Omaha; and Beckwlth Quinn & Co.
tation upon the 'Chinese Questibn.n p
Mr.. Beckwith repudiates the statement
that the Knights of Labor meet With dlsfayor
under his management; hut does snot give the
desired explanation, why, In the case OF
closing down mine at Rock Springs the Chi
nese were taken into the other mines, and
our bretheren were left sout in the cold. y
Mr.. Beckwith makes use Of the fact that the
agreement entered into between himself and
ourselves at Omaha applies only to the Car
bon mines. While this is true, 1t does not
debar them from volunta applying the
same principle In. the settlement OF differ
ences. Ii the principle Of arbitration Is emi-
nently just in the Carbon case, why not ae-
quiesce therein in the Rock Sprilgs case also
The objection does not appear to me 70 be
Nj. Beckwith makes an admission that
"the Knights of Labor are sustained by every
good citizen, and that whilst they continue
to conduct their affairs with justice to them
selves and others they will continue In
favor" need no further argu ment in sup
port, Of my claim. j DO not believe that
"every good citizen" wolld speak in so graf
flying a manner of the Chinese element.
course OF reasoning our brethren should not
be treated with such cOo8ness. That this has
been the course of the almpan!t for the last
ten years as Mr.. Beckwith states does not
determine the justnessi of its c0nttnu uance.
The antiquity of a custom does not deter
mine its wisdom. IL the praciice Is source
of injustice to our brethren who are repnta.
Bile and loyal citizens, it should, be abolished.
There does not appear 70 B. any fayor,'
practice that subjects them to Ehe demoraliz-
ing influences of this debasI1g race. Mr..
Beckwith disputes the statement that the
company had in view the Importation OF Chi
nese to labor In Carbon mines, and Mr.. ID. q.
Clark in his communications adds that $50
leng as the miners at Carbon do their work
satisfactorily, there will be no change made.
too proud that the movement anticipated is
not to become reality. While do not care
to dispute those gentlemen when they say
"they have not tried to make any such ar
rangements," l do wish to say that we could
not be blamed for looking upon certain
movements with degree Of Suspicion:
Does 1t not appear singular that the Union
Coal company should keep their own mines l,e
within the state doing comparatively moth
ing, and at the same time, shipping coal In
here from Kansas to stock the market at
such an enormous expense?i Evidence of "a
strong circumstantial character goes to point
out that preparations were being made to
meet some emergency or another. am
however, willing TO grant the possibility OF
the company having no hidden evil intent in
the matter; but our source Of information
was apparently authentic, and there is 30
question but what our suspicious were well
founded. ll'I > J
Mr.. Clark evidently feels offended at my
keeping up continual agitation upon this sub
ject. He says: 81 trust that we will see nc
further statements from you In the papers in
reference to the employment of Chinese
labor at Carbon, as 1t does you no good and
our miners which Is entirely uncalled for,
and think, unjust on your part"
1t will be to me source of pleasure ia
drop this subject forever, providing there
will arise no necessity to agitate for protec-
ton, but the moment danger from this source
is imminent, nay voice shall be heard. There
is cause to fear that whilst the element Is
pressing onward from the Pacific coast and
bringing along its train OF evil influences II
will be almost impossible to check the agita-
ton of an indignant. populace. Stop this
race from invading our country and threaten
ing serviIe condition in life, and the 'sdis
satisfaction" from this cause will cease X
exist. --'-' -
Both Mr.. Beckwith and Mr. Clark assure
me that agreements entered into betweeI
US are made on their part 5'to be kept II
good faith" This is all we ask, and we pro
pose to do likewise. But this Is not saying
that when we believe precautionary meas
ures to be necessary for self-Drotection, tina
we should cease to adopt them. l believe h
preventive, and IN trying to avoid trouble
before it arises, as it tnsures safety.
Quite number of the colored men from
Walsenburg have called at the Office during
the past week seeking advice and aid i
their dilemma. They relate pitiful tale AM
the shameful fraud perpetrated upon them b!
Brown of the Colorado Coal and Iron. com
pany. Judging from the tenor of their tall
and their demeanOr in general, | conclude
that they realize the wrongs inflicted upol
them very keenly. They appear to be yer,
sensible Of the intentions Of the company b.
this time in bringing them here, but were Lex
here under promises that were fair, the com
their design. They report having 6eer
crowded INTO filthy dwelling houses not fit b
be inhabited by dOgs-as many as Is persm
beng obliged 70 dwell in a house 20 Tee
square I From their statement 1t wattere,
not but a little what man earned, IS ther
was no money for them Cd pay day. One Q
them made a statement OF having 6lled 6
~ In n
although his whole store bill was but S2a:O
he could not get the balance due, the offici
remarking that they thought they were bot
about SQUARE" What an internal imp0sl
tion and what bare-faced scOundrelism
The unfortunate victims will endeavor toge
back to their homes IN a box-car II the mean
can in any way be mustered. In all there ar
about 10 of them and in view Of these fact
they have our sympathy.
This week | have to call attention to tn
fact that the State and Territorial Conventio
will be held on nexg Tuesday, the object Q
the convention as set forth in the circula
eonyening the sanie twill be to agree upo
measures by which our forces will becom
consolidated in the event of oppressive step
being taken by any or all Of those large col
poratiens upon any one or more branches
industry" In other words, to agree upon
systemized method by which theScombine
pressure of all braBches Of labor will be fe
BY those large corporations when even on
branch is imposed upon. The PEoteeton Pro ee ioi1t
labor in collective sense; to make an lmpt
stion upon one branch the concern 81 eacii.
This Is o long felt necessity, and Is foElpI
suggested by the experience OF mnumeraol
past failures.
When corporations and Cmonopolies az
made to realize that q blow to the miner,
also a blow to tie mechanic, and strS
upon the railway hand, strike upon svel
other branch as we'll, they will think tHie
before declaring war upon our rlghS an
wages / believe that ali will agree with n
that by such system only can labor hold Y
own. To put the principle into .practic'
shape for operation IS our prime object 4,
1t gives me great pleasure to report IN,