Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-14
GREAT LABOR CRISIS
Strike Impending in the
Colorado Mining Field.
LONG FIGHT EXPECTED
GOV. PEABODY PROMISES MILITIA
AID TO EMPLOYERS.
John Mitchell of Coal Miners to Be on
Hand to Advise
Strikers.
Special From a staff Correspondent.

Colorado and the Rocky mountain states
are on the verge of the greatest labor agi-
tation which the west has ever witnessed.
struggle bewteen union labor and capital
is at hand and the crisis will be reached
in the Cripple Creek gold mining district
and the coal mining region beyond.
The statement was repeatedly made at
Cripple Creek that unionism is to be broken
up after this strike, no matter at what cost.
John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers
Association is on his way to the mines to
give the metal workers the benefit of his
experience. Their association Is called the
Western Federation of Miners. The coal
workers are a part of the United Mine
Workers. and are thoroughly organized.
In anticipation of long struggle the rail-
roads and the manufacturers are laying in
great stocks of coal. There is general ap-
prehension throughout the region of Bit
ter and disastrous contest between labor
and capital.
Gov. Peabody's Position.
The employers are given courage by the
attitude of the governor of the state, who
is determined to use the utmost resources
of the state to protect non-union workmen.
His position is best explained in his own
words. At a reception given the newspaper
correspondents at the capitol yesterday, in
discussing the Cripple Creek situation, Gov.
Peabody said:
Il intend to see that every man, whether
union or non-union, who wants to work.
shall have the opportunity. if | have to
keep every member of the Colorado mil! tia
on duty during my entire term of office"
The strike of the Cripple Creek miners
irritated the employers and precipitated the
decision to attack unionism. There are
400 workmen in the Cripple Creek district
of whom so per cent members of the
rules, getting union wages, and absolutely
without one ground of complaint as to their
own condition. The hours of labor were
satisfactory TO the union, ranging from
elght TO nine, according to the requirements
of each mine.
The workers in the ore reduction mills
struck for an eight-hour day. The miners
declared that they would not work in any
mine which shipped ore to the mills af-
1ected by the strike. The mine owners con-
tended that as their own employees were
satlshcd they should not strike because an
other class of employees in another Industry
Were not beins~treated fairly by their en-
ployers.
Non-Union Men Beaten.
The non-union men in the mines were an
xlous to work. After several of them
had been beaten by the strikers, and in con-
sequence of threats to prevent resumption
OF work, the governor ordered a portion of
the militia to the scene to give protection
TO those who desired to work The empIoy-
ers say that when the men come back to
work 1t must be without stipulation from
tle union, although they will not d.scrimi-
nate against any man because he ia a morn,
Der OF the union
II Is too early to predict how the struggle
Will end. The region is thoroughly organ
lzed and union sentiment is strong The
railway men are not in sympathy with the
strike however, and declare that they will
not go on strike.
A highly significant feature of the situa-
ton Is the attitude of the business men of
Denver, Cripple Creek and other Industrial
cites They are organizing citizens alli-
ances, the object of which is to offset boy
cottlng by the strikers. In case of Iiia boy
oottlng OF firm the alliance will by united
and collective aid prevent disastrous re-
suits. II Will also take steps, in case of
public disturbance, to protect Its members
until the state takes hold.
Policy Of the Business Men.
1 have before me the card of membership
of the alliance 1t says:
The Citizens Alliance; an association
that stands for Justice
Law and order first; creeds, politics and
unions afterward.
carry the keys
In Cripple Creek the alliance has a wider
scope than elsewhere. In case of necessity
II Will partake of militant character, II
is said
The Cripple Creek district is the greatest
gold camp in the world Since its discoy-
cry in 1891 it has produced sl2O.OoO,OOo in
gold. 1t Is turning out $lS,0O0OOO a year.
with the output constantly increasing The
district comprises an area of about twenty
four square miles, with population OF
10000. The pay roll of the workmen in the
mines and mills is 1852 OO0 a month.
Cripple Creek would meet anything but
the popular Idea of gold camp There
aro rnI6 ~
booted handlers of pick, pan and cradle
NO gambling houses, no bad men" with
ever-ready shooting irons" The wide
open days are gone for good.
A Modern Mining Community.
The city Of Cripple Creek is electric light
ed, with water works. paid fire department
and trolley cars. The bad man" who
should come careering into Cripple Creek
to shoot up a saloon would be overhauled
by uniformed policeman, carted of ig-
ANONYMOUSLY in modern patrol wagon and
put to breaking rock for ninety days.
The change In conditions comes about
largely by the change in mine working
No free gold is found in this district 1t
all comes in rock and quartz and has to
be delved for deep into the mountains.
Some OF the shafts go down 100 feet. In
one or the mines there are thirty miles of
underground workings and miles of tram
way operated by electricity
The ore Is extracted by blasting and is
hoisted to the surface by machinery that
costs fabulous sums to install 1t is then
taken to reduction mills and treated nv
various scientific processes to get the vel
low metal from the dross
Enormous Investments
Riding over the district we visited the
principal mines. The investment in prop
erty outside of the mine itself is enormous.
The region is gridironed with railway
track and trolley lines. Great brick and
stone structures are erected at the mouth
of the mines to contain the hosting and
ventilattng machinery. Down in the bow
els of the earth, thousand feet below the
surface. human lives are absolutely at the
mercy of these fans. pumps and holsters
Gold mining in Cripple Creek has thus
become an industrial proposition strictly
Labor enters into 1t as an element of cost
Men are hired to work so many hours run
ming an electric drill tamping a charge
throwing down the ore, loading into a cart