Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-30
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company Declines to
Arbitrate Grievances
MITCHELL ENJOINS MEN TO OBSERVE LAW
Final Effort Will Be Made to Arbirate II it Fails Twenty
Thousand Men GO Out

TRINIDAD Colo, Oct. SO.-The
great strike of coal miners which has
been pending in District No. Is for
the past sixty days was officially called
last night, when President Howells
sent out copy Of the following letter
to all unions of the district:
The Order.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 29.-To
William Howells, president of District
No Is, United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea. Trinidad, Colorado.
Dear Sir and Brother: AT the last
meeting of the national executive
board the question of inaugurating a
strike in the coal mines Of Colorado,
Utah, New Mexico and Southern Wyo-
ming comprised in District No. Is, re-
ceived careful consideration, and It'll
was unanimously agreed to empower
the undersigned to open negotiations
with the president Of the Colorado
Fuel & Iron company and the Victor
Fuel company for the purpose Of ar
arranging a conference with them in
the hope that an adjustment of griev-
ances might be reached. and a strike
averted. In the event of failure to eff
feet an amicable adjustment, we were
given full power to endorse the ap-
plication of the miners of District No.
Is, and to authorize the Inauguration
of a strike at whatever date In our
judgment held out the greatest prom
ise Of success. Pursuant TO these in
structions we communicated by wire
with the presidents of the companies
above named, asking them to meet
our representatives in conference. We
received replies from them declining
to meet us or to accept our overtures
for a peaceful settlement. of the diff
culties pending In District No. Is.
Since the receipt Of these destinations
we have continued our efforts to reach |
the interests which control the Col
orado Fuel & Iron company and the
Victor Fuel company, but regret to
say that up to this time we have been
unsuccessful, although we have not
yet abandoned our efforts to reach
an adjustment without recourse to
suspension OF work.
Information reaching us from the
various mining camps indicates a
growing restlessness and impatience
upon the part of the miners, and mine
workers whose conditions OF employ.
ment especially under the two com.
panies referred to have grown to be
intolerable These reports are fully
confirmed by the official statements
sent to us by our representatives and
are repeated by special officials sent
to Colorado to investigate. In view
of these circumstances we have de-
cided to authorize the inauguration OF
a strike In Colorado, Utah, New Mex.
leo and Southern Wyoming to take ef-
feet Monday morning, November 9th,
provided an adjustment has not been
reached In the interval or negotiations
are not then pending which would
justify us in believing that q settle
ment would be secured You are
therefore advised to issue an official
order to the mine workers Of District
No. Is to discontinue work and remain
in idleness on and after November 9th
unless they receive instructions to the
contrary from this office. You are
authorized to inform all mine work
ers, union and non.union, that the ma
tional organization Of United Mine
Workers OF America will render all
possible assistance in conducting the
strike and prosecuting ii to success
full issue. II Is, of course. unneces-
sary to remind you how important,
how essential 1t is, that the miners and
their friends conduct themselves In o
manner which will command respect
sympathy and support from the pub
lie. The men should be admonished !
to observe the law, and under no cir
cumstances should they permit them.
selves TO be provoked into the com.
mission OF unlawful acts. With the