Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1898-08-25
Who Are Anarchists?

Tho last Colorado legislature enacted an arbitration
law for the settlement Of difficulties between the en-.
ployer and the employed In just and satisfactory
manner without the necessity Of a strike. The peo-
pie Of Colorado hailed the law with gladness, believ
ing that II was the solution Of the labor troubles that
had cost the state so much in the past.
But they were destined TO be disappointed and TO
learn that the mine operators were the real anarch
lists Of Colorado and not the miners as some Of the
papers would have believe.
About ear ago the miners in the Northern Colo
RADIO coal fields osked for increase OF wages claim
ing that the pay they were then receiving was not
sufficient to support themselves and families In de-
cency. The companies refused to grant the demands
Voluntarily, but agreed to refer the matter to the
State Board Of Arbitration and abide by the decision
This the minors agreed to, remaining at work while
the board was making the examination The board
of arbitration decided every point in favor Of the
miners and ordered the companies to abide by the
decision. This they refused TO do and the men
walked out and have been out since
Now the mining companies to further show their
contempt for laws that they think do not benefit
them, are importing negro miners from Missouri and
strappiDg guns on them with which to shoot union
men II they attempt to stop them from going to
| work
This shows Just how much benefit laws do
labonng 30 long the corporation can openly
defy all laws that do not benefit them, and on the
other hand hayO plenty of guns and ammunition to
shoot down workingmen who attempt to enforce the
law. Here is anarchy for you Of the most high
handed variety.
Suppose the Board Of Arbitration had decided in
favor Of the mine owners the trust fully expected
to do when it agreed to submit the matter To them,
/ a,,I boa
Why, it would be heralded all over the West that the
anarchistc miners in Colorado refused to obey the
law and ought to be shot down, and doubt some
Of them would have passed over the divide via the
Iazeton route before this time.
| Whenever striker trespasses upon any construc-
ton of the statute that a corrupt court may make
there always armed deputies "to uphold the dig
nifty and majesty of the law, in the interest of the
corporation. The poor devil who demurs at being
driven from free speech is given leaden bullet for
his pains
But it is different when the corporations defy the
employers and tell them to obey the law or be shot.
On the other hand the Governor and authorities act
as If no infringement of the law had been made
II was a citizen of Colorado and the mining cor
porations any other persons refused to abide by
law, and by such refusal trespassed upon my rights
citizen and the Governor sat IDLY by and refused
to enforce the law, would consider it privilege and
duty to take up gun and use it in defense Of the
law and in defense Of my rights a citizen under
that law. The action would be particularly justfa-
bic when the corporations imported horde of black
devils and armed them with guns to carry out their
wishes as against the statutes Of the State
| don't know how Colorado miners are constituted,
but as for would not feel disposed to take the
worst of it all the time when had every principle of
right and justice and also the law Of the State on my
| side Idaho Tribune.