Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-28
$50
MONDAY EVENING. SEPT ~. 1906
a DISGRACE TO COLORADO.

Al the aim OF the Goiorado aulnufif
ties becomes better known
the support OF the people OF
to west, largely ~alienated be-
cause Of the ill.adgised and
foolish actions III the strikers hi the
camps Of Cripple Greek and vicinity,
is coming back 10 the miners. The
action Of the military OF the centen-
NAL state, for which the governor Is
largely responsible. Ii tyrannical and
In violation Of the reight OF the peo-
pie TO govern themselves. No martial
law has been declared and yet men
have repeatedly been arrested and
without shadow Of legal authority.
This Is nm outrage. The military ON
GERS even got so bold as to defy the
orders or the courts. However, tho
governor weakened and tho courts
orders were finally observed.
But upon the minds OF the people
OF the state Is slowly dawning tho
fact that the purpose of the Colorado
authorities Is 10 crush out unionism
In the state.
II may MS well be admitted at the
start that the strike was ill-aivised
and incxcusable. There was no dis.
satisfaction among tho miners OF Col
orado. Because the men In n Colo
RADIO mill had a passing grievance. the
committee of the Western Federation
Of Miners called out all the miners In
tho district. A very large proportion
OK the miners. in fact. ali the consery-
alive. sensible mon Of tho district, de.
plored the call. We nnd In some
mines the miners appointing commit
tees OF armed men to keep tho walk
Ing delegates away, but thousands out
III loyalty TO the principles OF their
organization responded 20 the call to
strike. The leaders thought 10 force
fhe operators 70 coerce The one Colo
RADIO Springs mill 70 come 10 terms
Instead they found the operators
ready and perhaps anxious for the
strug8le and determined u make d
nsbt U tho death ~ Union ncn. And
ihe lhoussp1s 81 bonest and good
wofslng nea, mauy haylng famllia HI
support, arc Tho uaes VINO san sugfar.
All fbe irresponsible and a~gitalors
have 0iraaay Ieft fhe alsirlct. We
haye no sympathy With tie leaders
Of the Western Federation ot Miuers
They ARE socialists and Il they are
true 10 their beliet IL socialism, The
sooner The conditions become intoler.
able the sooner WIN tho propaganda
which they promote become possible.
They would force tho union man Into
politics, they would array class
against class, capital against labor.
and when the wreck cumes. as his.
tory teaches Ii has Inevitably como
under such conditions. they hope TO
build out of the riot and ruin and fail
Of the constitutional government a
government which must be the acme
on organization. which can not possi.
bly, be buildcd ON any other fonn1a-
ton Than the absolute honesty 81 al
lion than mo absolute honesty u al
the people who are thus trusted alb
solaleiy With their own and others
interests.
This u~tophian dream Of ideallsts
ana fools has no place IN the program
Of the union man or today. THE
Western Federation Vt Miners a not
follow out Ia present program and
i've. but because Of the quartet 81
rabld s~ocialistic leaders, Illegal aaas
ures should hot be iases asninsi iae
organized miners 81 Colorado. The
atrike was silly. bul the men Who real
Izcd this and went out from loyalty x
principle are TO be honorea. The mof
had a perfect right 70 qait their lobi
II they wanted %, and they dla y
peaceabie. AZ the outset there wor,
one or two acts Of violence, but thnA'
were never brought 10 the doors 0
the union men.
There has never been n need 70
the soldiers. The civil authorize.
have from the eiart declared them
selves perfectly competent 10 cop'