Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-06-08
CALL FOR WINCHESTERS,
Radical Sentiment Expressed at the FEEDER
Mtlnn COnNentLnIl.

Denver, June THE State Fedora.
tion OF Labor, which is in session here,
seems disposed to take radical action
on the subject Of the Idaho labor
troubles. Some very warm sentiments
We're expressed by speakers yesterday.
Delegate +. ii. Richardson of Pu-
eblO introduced the resolution which
caused the outburst of feeling. His
resolution was supplemented by an.
other, introduced by J. ID. Lewis and
Philip Veal of Silverton, Socialist La
Dor advocates. Both resolutions We're
referred to the committee on rcsolu-
tions with Instructions to combine
them and secure their publication.
Delegate Richardson's resolution de-
nounces General Merriam us an nnnr-
chist for his action in the Occur
dAlenes. and holds him responsible
for the death Of union men In prison
ut Wardner.
The resolution offered by Delegates
Lewis and Veal calls General Mer-
rlam n ''pusillanimOus tin soldier; de-
clares that the President Is RESPONSE
BILE for the action of the troops In the
Occur d'Alenes and denounces him for
"using the powers OF the federal gov
ernment to disrupt the labor unions NJ
the request of the robbcr capitalists.
The conditions established by the re
ulators are likened to those existing III
Siberia. and the resolution closes Dy
demanding that the President of the
United States Immediately withdraw
the troops from their dnmnable work
in the employment of the Standard Oii
trust"
Philip Veal opened the debate upon
the resolutions. In the course or MS
remarks he denounced Governor
Thomas for calling out the troops'dur-
ing the Lake City troubles. lie snid.
I'VE do not attack In our resolution
the individual alone. nor do we ann
cspccially at General Merriam, but IT'S
the system which makes such outrages
possible that we are after. we Just us
| heartily denounced Governor Ihomas
of this state for calling out the troops
to shoot down the miners during the
Lake City troubles. He was quick 10
take action at that time. yet here the
mine owners are violating the eight
hour law and he hasn't taken any nc-
tion. But passing these resolutions
will not be enough. We have nothihs
to arbltrate. we must act.
Delegate Clark said that Gener;ii
Merriam followed the dictates or tne
administration and had to do what II.
did because he is n soldier and must
obey. He advocated striking NJ III.
root of the matter, rs he termed the al
ministratiOn. .H'
This is not n matter on which TO
pass resolutions. We have got to SHOW
| them that we mean business.
Yells from all corners of the hall
greeted this statement. and drowned
the voice of the speaker for DricI
period. Turning part way around sc
| that he faced his hearers. Clark. whose
voice had risen to a high pitch. cried:
..Thc time has come-thc time mas
come. l say, when we must arm our
selves with 4-Winchesters-"
Wild cheers again drowned his voice,
and when they had subsidized he hhishen
with:
"And we must go forth and say, w.
are the producers of wealth, ana
must get our rights"
Cooler heads here intcrposcd WIN
speeches in favor of moderation. Dele
! gate Wilson said:
I'VE will never advance one step by
using the name of an individual. Ii
we attack, we should attack the policy
of the government and not persons. Let
| us eliminate the name of General Mcr'
riam from these resolutions. He was
only Il tool. Let us not go to such eN-
| tremes. And for heavens sake do not
let us degrade ourselves by PERSONAL
tipS"