Rocky Ford enterprise., 1896-10-01
LEADviLLE SITUATION.
General Brooks Addresses IL Meeting OF
Strikers.


Leadville. Sept. 2S.-The meeting of
the miners union was held last night
as per agreement with General Brooks,
and he was present. 1t opened In the
opera house at 7:3O o'clock. The
building held about 1000 union men,
while n crowd of fully us many citi-
zens blocked the street In the vicinity
of the theater. The early part Of the
proceedings We're strictly executive, no
outsider being admitted. What
was done, or at least the all-important
business transacted, got abroad later.
Speeches for and against settling the
strike by going back to work at the
old schedule Of wages We're made. 1t
is said that the majority sentiment Ia
vored calling OFF. provided all the union
men We're allowed to return to work.
After brief discussion motion
was finally adopted appointing hve
prominent known men as committee
to consider the question and report at
another meeting on Monday what they
had decided was best to be done under
the circumstances. The committeeman
are all said to be conservative. Ihey
will probably find out the feeling OF
the mine owners on the plan OF settle
ment before preparing their report for
Mondays meeting.
Joseph W. Taylor OF Denver. nttor-
ney for the strikers who have been un-
der arrest, addressed the meeting. He
talked for nearly half an hour. He de-
nounced the killing Of Fireman
O'Keefe and the destruction of the
Coronado property. Such conduct, he
said, had lost the strikers many SYM
pathizers. II It was continued, even
In the least violent form. the union
miners Of Leadville would find them
selves with still fewer friends than
they had now. The members OF the
union must In the future keep strictly
within the lines of the law. If not, all
the outrages committed In the past
would be laid at Its door. Attorney
Taylor is quoted then as using Ian
gunge which surprised some of those
present. He went directly ut the lues-
tion of calling on the strike. He said
the families of the idle men were al-
ready suffering for bread, and strong
~ advised all before him. In the most
friendly spirit, TO return to their places
In the mines.
General Brooks followed Mr.. Taylor
and was received with hearty cheers. He
said he was In Leadville as n military
officer under orders TO keep the peace. He
took no cognizance OF what had occurred
In the past, but would take care Of the
present and the future. He did not rep
resent any body or class OF men. His
orders from Governor McIntire were to
preserve life and property and see that
the laws were obcyed. and this he would
do ut all hazards. rs lie was only ma.
chine, knowing neither friendships. poll
tics or religion. In all kindness, he said
he requested his hearers not TO boot OF
jeer at his men on the street, rs most Oi
them were workin. men. who had CONF
to Leadvillc to do their duty. In conclu
sion General Brooks said: ~ do not ex
pcct any acts OF violence from the men
see before me. You are not the class OF
men who incite riots. and am sure YOU
will forbear from lawlessncss yoursclve,
and discourage II In others"
After leaving the hall General Brooks
remarked: 81 never saw more Intelligent
faces In all my life than the faces of th'
men In that meeting" When he had don,
speaking lie was rendered an unanimous
vote OF thanks.
From an authoritative source II was
learned this evening that rs ii" co'nmit
tee created nt Saturdays nr' now
stands, two are In favor OF 1T. ,.ig NJ
attempt to make terms OF surrender
while three are for continuing the s,rlk'
| In Its present Iuicscent v!gor.
1t Is asserted that the mine owner
strongly object to taking back some O
the men who have been making trouble
Several members Of the union to-da!
came TO General Brooks and agreed to re
port the names OF any men who shoul'
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