Arizona republican., 1903-10-30
November 9 Fixed as Date
of Era of IdIeness.
IN DISTRICT FIFTEEN
There Is the Slenderest Hope by
the United Nine Workers That a
Tie-up in the West May Be
Ayerted.

Trinidad. Colo, Oct. 29.-The great
strike of the coal miners pending in
District Is for the past sixty days was
officially called today, when President
Howells sent a copy of the following
letter to all the unions of the district:
Indianapolis, Ind, Oct. 2S 1908.
''wm. Howells,
President District Is, L. NJ. w. A,
Trinidad, Colo.
Dear Sir:-At the last meeting Of the
national executive board, the question
of inaugurating a strike at the coal
mines CT Colorado, Utah, New Mexico
and and Southern Wyoming, District
Is. received careful consideration, and
it was unanimously agreed to en-
power the undersigned to open nego-
tiations with the presidents of the
Colorado Fuel & Iron company, and
the Victor Fuel company. for the pur-
pose of arranging a conference with
them in the hope that an adjustment
of grievances might be reached and
strike averted. In the event of failure
to effect an amicatle adjustment, we
were given full power to endorse the
application Of the miners of District
10, and to authorize the Inauguration
os a strike en- whatever date in our
Judgment held out the greatest
promise of success.
Pursuant to these instructions we
communicated by wire with the presi-
o@ oh aA
asking them TO meet our representa-
tiyes in conference.
I'VE received replies from them de-
clining to meet us, or to accept our
Cvertures for a peaceful settlement of
the difficulties pending in District Is.
Since the receipt Of these declinations
we have continued our efforts to reach
the interests which control the Colo
RADIO Fuel & Iron company and the
Victor Fuel company, but regret to
say that up TO this time we have heen
unsuccessful, although we have net
yet abandoned our efforts to reach an
adjustment without recourse to a sus-
pension of work.
Information reaching us frtm 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 decided to authorize the inaugur-
alton of a strike in Colorado. Utah,
New Mexico and Southern Wyoming to
take effect on Monday morning, No
vember 9Th, provided an adjustment
has not been reached in the interval
or negotiations are net then pending,
which would justify us in believing
that a settlement would be secured
You are therefore advised to issue an
official order to the mineworkers of
District 15. to discontinue work and
remain in idleness on and after No
vcmber 9Th. unless they receive in
sttuCtions to the contrary from this
office.
You are authorized to inform all
minewcrkers, union and non-union,
that the national organization of the
United Mine Wirkers of America, will
render all possible assistance in con-
NOthi6 1iIc StIlhe, ara prosecuting IL
to successful issue. 1t IS of course,
unnecessary to remind you how i'm
portant and how essential it is that
miners and their friends conduct them
selves in a manner which will COM
mand respect, sympathy and support
from the public. The men should be
admonished to observe the law, and
under no circumstances, snculd they
permit themselves to be provoked in
to the commission of unlawful acts
with the earnest hope that the
miners Of District Is, may be success
full In their efforts to secure reasonable
wages, and fair conditions of employ
ment we remain, yours truly.
(Signed)
"John Mitchell, President U. NJ. w.
of America
T. L. Lewis. Vice President, U. NJ.
w. of A
wv. 3. Wilson. Secretary and Treas
urer U. NJ. w. Of A."
President Howells said to the asso-
Ciated press:
The above companies have refused
10 arbitrate the grievances and all
officials of the union have given UP
nope and the strike will occur on Nov
9Th. The reason we have waited so
long was that District Is could not
nope to win, without the sanction of
strike by the national board.