The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-20
MITCHELL WRITES
 ABOUT COLORADO He Discusses the Situation and
 Cuts Off Benefit STRAIN ON THE TREASURY National Organization of the United
STRAIN ON THE TREASURY
National Organization of the United Mine Workers Contributed Approx lmately Half Million Dollars
 In Support of Strikers.

The official letter addressed to repre- sentative of the Colorado strikers signed by President John Mitchell, Vice Presl- dent Lewis and Secretary Wilson of the United Mine Workers, has recently been made public. It appears in the Denver News under date of Trinidad. Colo, and is as follows:
 Ofice of National President,
 United Mine Workers of America,
 Indianapolis, June 9. 1904 Mr. Harry Bousfeld, Trinidad, Colo:
 Dear Sir and Brother-At the last meeting of the national executive board, held in this city April 2 to May l, in- elusive, a motion was adopted lnstruetlng he three resident officers to take such steps as they might deem necessary to close up affairs in Colorado Since the adjournment of this meeting we have made a very careful investigation into the status of the strike and have exhausted every means at our command to effect settlement upon any basis that would secure to our membership some conces- sion. In all of these efforts we have failed, the coal companies refusing to recognize or to confer with anyone not actually Tn their employ and their representatlNes confidently stating that they have a sui-
 
 their plants and to supply them with all the coal they require to III their orders. Close inquiry upon the part of our repre- sentatives satisfies us that the mines are being operated with reasonable success, and there is no possibility of winning the strike. For this reason we have decided to bring the strike to close at the earliest possible date.
 You are therefore advised to call meet Ing of the executive board members, or ganizers, financial representatives and dls- srict ofrtcers to be held within the next week. At this meeting the national repre- Eentatives and district officers should is- sue a call to all local unions Tn district l5 instr,icting them to elect delegates 10 attend a special district convention 10 pc held not later than June 70, at such place as may be decided upon at the meeting above mentioned.
 The purpose of such special convention Is to be the consideration Of the pest methods whereby the strike can De brought to a close and a general resump- lion of work be effected You are au- thorized to notify the delegates attend ing such meeting that the national organ ization. having expended approximately k500.OO0 in support of the strikers in Dis frict 15 now finds itself so pressed Tor funds that 1t cannot continue these ex- penditures after the close Of this month. For the information of the delegates, you will further state that the strike Tn District 15 has been more expensive to he national organization than any other movement in our history, in which like .imber of men have been involved. Strikes are now and aye been for some lime in progress in Pflnsylyania' West Virginia, Ohio, TennessSe and Kentucky all of which are receiving support from inc national organization Many or the men involved in these strikes have been members of the organization since the national union was formed and have dur ne all those years paid dues and assess nents, and they are therefore entitled to snoncia1 assistance: but notwithstanding The fact that the men referred to have heen loyal and continuous members of ,nr union. and have paid for years into he treasury, they had not received, ana the probabilities are they Will not re- .eive from the national organization as mnch per capita in strike benehts as mas been paid to the strikers In District ie' a vast majority of whom were not mem bers of the organization prior to the sun ]av of last November, the. day upon which the strike was inaugurated.
 , If ia unnecessary to say that we keenly ,es,et that the miners of Colorado and rItah have not succeeded in their efforts
 
 10 secure higher wages and the more Ia vorable conditions of employment, and 1t s also a source of keen regret that the revenues of our organization are not suI- Bcient to permit us to continue our pres ont expendfture in defense of our fellow workers in District 15; we are' however romnelled by circumstances beyond our sontrol to withdraw further financial sup port, and to terminate the strike upon ,ny terms obtainable It is our sincere nope that all of those who have partici- pated in the struggle may be able to se- nure speedy employment, that they may retain their interest in the organization and prepare themselves for more sue cessful movement at the first favorable opportunity. It is not our intention to abandon the work of organization in Colorado and Utah, We propose continu- Ing our efforts to organize the men of ,hese fields. We are
 Yours fraternaIiy,
 JOHN MFrCHEIL-
 President.