Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-20
GOV. WELLS REPLIES.
Chief Executive Sends a Letter to
Striking Miners ut Sunnyslde.

The governors reply was as follows;
Salt Lake city, Utah, NOV, IL, isVS'
Messrs. William Crawford, Joseph
r. Patrick. d. Wilson and Robert
Lee, Sunnyside, Carbon County
Utah
Gentlemen-I have the honor to ac-
knowledge receipt of your letter. dated
sunnyside, Nov. 10, 1903, informing me
that you, as coal miners of sunnyside'
had decided to quit WORK until sucn
time as the Titan Fuel company would
recornize the association known as the
United Mine Workers Of America; also
complaining of an alleged outrage
against certain coal miners committed
ON the county road between Sunnyside
and Price; and further stating that
while everybody at Sunnyside was
obeying the law, you consider That the
sheriff is taking the law into MS own
hand, etc
Replying to these statements, | desire
TO say that | have communicated with
the sheriff of Carbon county as to your
allega lions, requiring full and lmmedl-
ate Investigation of the unlawful con-
duct charged against certain armed
men supposed to be In the employ OF
the Utah Fuel company, the Facts TO pe
reported to me at once. You may feel
fUllTtiY AildN 90 Ahi - ~ -
my power any injury or menace from
which the lawabiding people Of your vi
cinity may be suffering will be prompt
ly corrected and removed.
Desiring that this pledge be consider
ed universal In its application, am
compelled to inform you that COM
plants have been made to me as 10
lawful and threatening conduct on
part OF some OF the striking coal miners
toward the said Utah Fuel company.
These complaints are In effect that
armed bodies OF striking miners have
been guilty OF disturbing the peace In
seeking to coerca non-strikers into leaV-
ing their employment, joining the mine
workers society, or doing something
which seems to be repugnant 10 them'
You will recognize the propriety OF my
action in referring these charges TO the
sheriff for immediate investigation and
report.
In this connection viii be permitted
10 say that Il Is a matter Of very great
regret TO me that the coal miners OF
Sunnyside are no able to adjust their
differences with their employers WITH
out recourse To the very doubtful expe-
dent of striking. with the evil conse-
quences that inevitably ensue 10 boih
employer and +, employed from such a
course | call your attention to the fact
that the state of Utah has done every
thing In its power to dignity the labor
ing man and protect him In his lawful
rights. The Legislature has provided
that eight hours shall constitute a
days labor for men who WORK
I'm underground mines, and this law IL
rgldly enforced throughout the state
The Legislature, In further recogni-
ton OF the rights. especially of coal
miners, and for their better protection
and health and safety, has provided
for frequent inspections OF coal mines
by an adequate force OF competent IN
spectors, together with thorough ana
efficient law patterned after the most
approved methods Of modern times,
compelling mine operators to take
every possible precaution for SAFE
guarding the interests of the coal MIN
ers.
In view Of these facts. | submit that
the coal miners OF the state for this
protection extended to them by the
state, owe the state something in re-
turn. They owe Il the duty OF being
good citizens and conforming TO its
laws. Before going out upon strike,
therefore, and precipitatlng the evil
consequences which must be obvious,
| submit that II your grievances have
become intolerable and your employ
crs have refused or failed to redress
them. you should have appealed 10 the
authority provided by law for such re-
dress This authority is the state board
Of labor. Cancellation and arbitration,
whose duty II Is to adjudlcate and, II
possible, settle all differences that may