The Red Cloud chief., 1902-10-24

'hdt uullnB lHe DIORTtSS Vi tue StTlke
we have more than only offered arbi-
tration. But we have invariably been
met with the reply. We will not per-
NIT outsiders to dictate to us in the
management of our affairs. We have
nothing to arbitr1te.'
NOW that the managers of the COM
panies have been compelled by o and
a thoroughly aroused public conscience
to recede from this position. we are
proud that the firmness and the heroic
endurance OF our men and women in
support of their rights and of a vital
American principal have won the vic
tory.
The poor. underpaid mine workers
or these coal regions, who toll hard
from early morning until late at night
Tor a livelihood, nobly supported by or
ganized labor In this and other lands,
have taught these corporation mana
gers a useful lesson in civic and social
duty. We exult over these tributes to
the dignity of labor because II is the
triumph of right and Of good public
policy. We do not. however, exult
over our opponents. We appeal to them
now as we have from the first to turn
their eyes to the future and to cooper
ate with us in ar effort to establish bet
ter relations between employer and en-
ploye for the advantage of both.
w forgive them their arrogant
refusal to deal with us, and in this
hour when they are forced to acknowl-
edge their inability to operate the
mines without our consent and Coop
Grafton we hold out the right hand Of
friendship and ask them to Join us in
securing amicable relations and whole
some conditions in this region. We for
give them even the false accusation
which they have made against us. They
charged us with being criminals, riot
ers and anarchists, and our organiza-
ton they denounced as 'lawless and ir-
responsible They know and did know
that their charges were untrue and
without foundation in fact; they knew
that every officer of the United Mine
Workers OF America, from the presi-
den down, has constantly urged upon
its membership the imperative need Of
respecting the law; that every man
who commits a deed of violence is an
enemy to our cause has been the
watchword. Despite these admonitions,
supported with all our influence, there
have been a few crimes and a number
OF misdemeanors chargeable to those
on strike. But, Mr.. President, we make
the unqualified declaration that the
imported guardians of law and order,
the companies coal and iron police,
have committed more ~unprovoked MUIR
ders during this strike than can be
charged to the great army of men who
have been in idleness for the past five
months. We have repeatedly and in
language not susceptible to miscon-
struction. condemned transgressions Of
law on the part of those on strike:
we challenge the coal companies to
point to n public utterance on their
part In which they have even depre-
Gated acts Of violence committed by
their hired guards.
I'VE declare that Il was unfair and
unmanly for the coal presidents to
insult us while we were your guests
and charge u organization with re-
s~ponsibility for acts of lawlessness
during the strike. 1t would be Just as
logical to charge the American army
in the Philippines with being an army
OF murderers. tOrturers and robbers.
because a few crimes were committed
by soldiers there. Until the millennium
there will be crimes in every commune
ty and human nature Is the same, no
better n no worse, among the half
million people dependent upon us in
the coal fields as it is everywhere in
our country.
THE pretense of the operators that
they were unble to produce coal be-
cause intimidation kept from work
men who were willing to work has
been proved false by the fact that
the protection they demanded has de-
creased rather than increased the num-
Der of men mining coal. A hundred
thousand troops could not have en-
abled the operators to start their mines
for the simple reason that the men who
| work them are members of the United
Mine Workers of America. men who
were determined to stand to the last
for their rights, to organize and
through their organization to demand
better wages and improved conditions
of employment. They stood shoulder
to shoulder to the last.
1.-The operators declared that they
would have nothing to do with the
United Mine Workers of America, but
they found 1t necessary TO recognize
the power of the United States Of
America. through you, Mr.. President.
and to seek terms Of peace which will
enable them to resume their business
of mining and selling coal. The recog-
milton of our strength thus forced upon
the operators by sheer necessity we
exult over. not in any narrow spirit,
but because we believe it marks a for
ward step toward a new era. Upon the
foundations laid through war we are
| ready to join with them In building for
better conditions and a long lasting
peace.
when the inevitable conflict came
on the operators attempted to justify
themselves upon the false plea that
ours Is an irresponsible organization.
which was dominated by violence.
| When society attempted to interfere to
settle the strike they declared their di-
| vinely appointed right to be left alone.
| When representatives of national and
| state governments tried to mediate
| they resented such "meddlinE by poll
%ticians." But thanks to you. Mr.. Presi-
| dent, and to the power OF public opin-