The San Francisco call., 1903-12-29
CHURCH MAKES
War ON UNIONS
President Cannon Urges Nor
mons to Take the Places of
Strikers in the Utah Mines
LABOR ACCEPTS THE GAGE
Will Retaliate by Exerting All
of It's Influence to Deprive
Reed SmOOt of Seat in Senate
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SALT LAKE, Utah, Dec. 28.-From
the pulpit of the Mormon Tabernacle
has come an official declaration of war
against the United Mine Workers Of
America and an appeal for recruits
from the Mormon membership to fill.
the places Of the striking coal miners
OF Carbon County This action has re-
ceived the Endorsement of Governor
Wells. who is a son of the church.
For several weeks the operators have
had the active support of the Mormons
in attempting to fill the places of the
strikers at Winter Quarters, Clear
Creek, Sunnyside- and Castle Gate, but
openly the leaders of the Latter Day
Saints have not heretofore taken sides
in the controversy. All doubt OF their
attitude has been set al rest i,y Angus
NJ. Cannon, who, speaking in the great
Tabernacle, asked that every effort be
put forth by the faith to fill the mines
of the Utah Fuel Company. He said
the company wanted 400 coal miners
and announced the wages offered and
the conditions of employment. Presi-
dent Cannon called upon the bishops
and other officers Of the church TO make
the call known at their ward and dis
trict meetings and to do all in their
power to keep the mines open.
LABOR WILL RETALIATE.
This address has created a sensation
in union labor circles and steps are
being taken to retaliate with an at
tempt TO array organized labor
throughout the country against Sen
atOr SmOot Tonight. following
lengthy conference Of labor leaders. the
machinery was set in molten for an
organized fight against Smoct by union
1qh na T-f,ff A
call was issued for the assembling Of
the Utah State Federation OF Labor in
special meeting and special sessions of
every labor union in the StaCe viii be
called to pass resolutions OF protest
against the utterances of the Mormon
leader and probably against the seating
of Senator SmOot.
National Organizer Kelliher, who has
been directing the fight in the coal
fields Of Utah for the United Mine
Workers, tonight sent the following
telegram to President Mitchell of his
organization and TO Samuel Gompers,
president Of the American Federation
Of Labor:
The Mormon church has openly de-
clared war on organized labor in Utah.
especially the United Mine Workers of
America, having called upon members
TO take the places of Carbon County
tiOn, militia, courts and peace officers
have been turned ever TO the Utah Fuel
Company at the behest Of the Mormon
church. United States Senator-elect
Reed Smoot, one of the twelve men who
control the Mormon church. owing al
legiance to this hierarchy that has at
tackled us. would be a dangerous and
powerful enemy TO organized labor in
the Senate. In self-defense union labor
Oh 4 a -.
the seating Of SmOOt as a rebuke TO
the Mormon church for its uncalled for
interference in this industrial dispute"
KELLIHER AND WELLS TALK.
Kelliher said tonight: This official
action OF the Mormon church against
the coal strikers is the final blow. We
have endured things that the people of
other States would scarcely believe. In
Carbon County Justice has been blind
folded and led around by the Utah Fuel
Company; strikers and organizers have
been arrested on trumped-up charges
and railrOaded to jail or out Of the
country; witnesses have been terrorized
and abused: even the Governor of the
State has declared against us"
Governor Wells, in an interview. ap-
proved President Cannons attitude and
said that If such a course as outlined
would break the strike it would be a
desirable end.
A special to the Tribune from Win
ter Quarters, Utah, says that the
timely arrival of soldiers prevented
serious trouble between striking min
ers and number of company guards
who were eVfcting families from COM
pany houses. The unmarried strikers
submitted quietly to eviction, but
when the company guards attempted
TO force the married men to leave
their homes they were attacked and
routed by $50 Firms. who had been
watching the evictions. The arrival
of the soldiers quelled the disturbance
Twenty of the company guards were
badly beaten. The evictions will con-
tinue until the end of the year.
o. .--r-1, Ar-