The times., 1899-08-17
DENoUNcEs LABOR UNIONS.
Secretary Long Receives Letter
Upholding General Merrium's
Cc,trxe


Course.
The War Department made public yes
terday afternoon letter written to Sec
retary Long by ]. A. Kebler, of Denver,
Colo, regarding the criticisms of General
Merriam's military operations at Wardner,
Idaho, during the recent strike troubles.
The writer severely crfticises the actions
of the labor unions and upholds General
Merriam. He says:
Ii is very difficult for one who is not acquainted
with the West to<fealize the tyranny Of the
labor unions especially in Montana and Idaho
and more especially OF the Western Federation
OF Miners. The wages paid the men are higher
than IN any other part of the country and IN
many cases the cost OF living is no greater. For
instance, here III Colorado company employs
about 5000 Our coal miners are receiving
about 30 per cent wages than they are IN
Kansas or Iowa and the cost OF living is no
more. The wages in Montana and Idaho
larger than here.
Some years ago the Western Federation CT
Miners ~as organized in Butte, Mont, and for
the past few years their president has been
Boyce. One can hardly realize the crimes that
this order has committed in the West The
States spaTsely settled, and they practically
control the State governments. In Montana for
a number OF years none but union have
been allowed 10 work in the mines and smclteIs,
and If OF any kind is not satisfactory 10
the union he IS simply driven out Of town At
WardHer all sorts OF crimes have been COM
nntted. For instance, about year ago the fore
man OF one of the mills, who union man,
discharged three union men, not being satis-
fed with their work. lie was notified by the
members CT the union to leave town, which he
refused TO do. The next day crowd OF union
men went to his house, seized him, escorted him
out OF town, and he walked down the road
they shot him down, killing him instantly. No
jury could be found in that country to punish
the criminals, and despite all the efforts Of the
GoveTnor, OF these men have ever been
brought TO justice.
The Governor, while strong union man,
member of the printers union denounees these
outrages, and the general feeling among all the
business men here is that General Merriam
did exactly the right thing, and that law and
order will result from his work there. In Colo
RADIO we have had sample Of the working OF
this union. In 1894 the miners at Cripple Greek
struck, most OF them being union men, The
union men committed great many outrages,
capturing mine snperintendents and others, kill
ing several men; torturing their prisoners, 50
that one poor mine superintendent lost his reason
account OF the sufferings he had undergone;
destroyed property, in fact captured the entire
district, and it only after long and vigorous
campaign OF the State troops that the matter
was settled.
After rehearsing various acts Of lawless-
ness and crime Mr.. Kebler continues:
Edward Boyce the president of the union has
had indictments OF murder against him. At
present we are suffering from the ssnelter strike,
caused by this union. As you know, Colombo is
full OF an anarchistic element who are crazy
the silver question, and the government is by
ever, in the next election to have the conserva-
tive element triumph.
The Navy Department sent copy of
the letter to Secretary Root. Kebler is
an official of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company.