The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-10-05
COLORADO'S
TROUBLES
Miners Strike Tpsetting Conditions
In the Centennial State.
MILITIA KEPT UNDER ARMS
Presence Of Soldiers Causes Much
Friction with workmen and abe
Civn Authorities = Goyera-
OF Peabody saaS-

Denver, oct 5.-Strikss and lockoutS
at tile mines ia Cripple Greek and 9th
er gold mining districts In COLORADO
have already reduced the mineral pro
duction Of the state this year at least
S2,500.O0O, and If the present conditions
obtain until the end Of the year the
production win fall more. than $1,000,
600 below what It would have been
under normal conditions. In conse-
qnenee Of the strike 1000 soldiers Of
the Colorado national guard have been
doing police duty in Cripple Creek FOL
four weeks, and as yet neither the
mine owners nor tile strikers show any
evidence Of weakening. The cost &c
the state Of maintaining the military
force in the field is estimated at $50,
600 Il month.
The unsettled conditions In the min
ing industry are due TO the failure Of
the legislature to enact an eight hour
law applying to mines, mills and smell
tiers after the voters Of the state had
approved a constitutional amendment
authorizing such an amendment An
eight hour day had been generally
granted at the mines, and the Western
Federation OF Miners determined to
enforce the same in mines and snelters.
soldiers Disregard civil officials.
Three weeks after the inauguration
Of the strike two men were murderous
" assaulted by unknown men, Govern
or Peabody then sent troops 10 the
camp in response to request from
the Mine 0wners' association which
represented that many OF the strikers
would return to work IL guaranteed
protection No Yiolenea has occurred
since the soldiers took the field, but
-Nfir<ee have been many sensational In
cidenrSa resulting from the actions OF
the inilfNry in making arrests and dis
regardinN the civil authorities. All
though ma~tial law has not been de-
clared. more than dozen miners, III.
Guiding all the members Of the execu.
tive committees IN charge Of the strike,
have been arrested and incarcerated
In the guardhouse, some OF them be-
ing held there more than two weeks.
In habeas corpus proceedings Dis
trfct Judge w. L Seeds decided that the
military ofIicsrs had exceeded their au.
thority and severely censured them for
takiag possession Of his court room
with au armed force during the hearing
of tAe cases After his decision was
given the prisoners, whom he ordered
released. we're taken back to the guard
house. but were later set free by order
Of Governor Peabody.
The most sensational occurrence has
been the invasion Of the Victor Record
Office and the seizure OF the newspa-
pers entire force because Of the publ
cation Of i statement that two soldiers
on duty IN the camp were ex-conyiets.
Three thousand business men and
citizens Of Victor have sent petition
to Governor Peabody for the recall oil
the troops The governor refused, say.
ing TO the business men, 'The militia
viii stay in the strike region until am
satisfied it Is not needed
Governor Of the State Sued.
Governor Peabody has been made the
defendant ia two damage suits for
100000, each filed By Patrick H. Mul.
laney and Thomas H. Foster, union
miners who were arrested By military
officers and confined in the guard
house for fifteen days ard were set al
liberty after habeas corpus proceed.
ings were instituted in their behalf
Adjutant General Sherman Bell, Brig
adler General Chase and Major Thorn
ais E. McClelland were also made de-
PENDANTS to the suits. The plaintiffs al
lege that they were restrained Of Their
liberty, were subjected to hardships
privation, humiliation and disgrace by
the defendants. II is asserted in the
complaint that arrest and imprison
ment OF the plaintiffs were without
probable cause aud without legal proc
ase ar authority thereof