The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-06-04
GENERAL BELL AND THE COLO
RADIO MILITIA,

GENERAL BELL AND ne COLO"
RADIO MILITIA.
The situation in Colorado promises
to soon end. After an intense and re-
lentless, lawless rule, the indications
are that industrial peace will be re-
established and the miners given final
recognition in their manly struggle.
We are all familiar with the gen.
eral causes which lead up to the exist
ing troubles, and the methods and
spirit Of the representatives of the
Smelter Trusts and their allies.
Much has been written Of the re-
markab BILE conditions of this great min
ing state; both sides have given wide
circulation to their respective claim
in the matter; every paper Of any note
has discussed the issues Of battle and
urged many and widely different views
in explana ton, and Congress has been
forced to pay official attention to the
prevailing conditions and their causes,
by instituting a special investigation.
Colorado has given the world an inn
portant lesson, it has taught us that
there is hardly limit to the excuses
which the opponents of unionism, the
enemies Of human liberty, will not go
in their painstaking efforts to control
without hindrance the forces of in
dustry.
When laws are trampelled ruthless
ly. when women in the quiet of their
homes are brutally insulted, when
crime, in all its nakedness is encourage
ed, and industrial tyranny rules with
out mercy. and with unclothed arrog-
ance, then 1t is time for us to stand
out boldly and raise our voices to high
heaven in protest and condemnation.
The people of Colorado have wit
messed all these things, they have seen
corrupted legislature openly defy the
unqualified will of the people, and a
governor execute without murmur of
objection, the criminal demands and
wishes Of the mine barons Of the state.
1t takes such struggles as these to
recall humanity to it's reason, so that
1t can rightly see and understand the
trend Of human development It takes
the brazen expression and uncalled for
actions Of a Peabody to make some
men think, it takes the sharp point Of
a bayonet to awaken others, and yet
there are some who will condor the
conditions In Colorado with the pass
Ing conclusion,-" such Is the Just
punishment of unionism." No less an
able writer than Ray Standard Baker
casts this impression abroad, In an
article In McClure's magazine for May.
This Is the position OF the Mining and
Smelter Trust and that Of the Citizens
Alliance of Colorado, and very natural
ly so; some one must be given the
responsibility for the reign of .crime
and unlawlessness as they have no
desire to accept it, consequently they
charge the many offences Of violation
of law to the Western Federation Of
Miners.
At the present time the official or
gan Of the Citizens Alliance Of San
Francisco and their social mouth
piece, the Wasp, are charging almost
every crime that is committed in that
city to union men and that it. is in
spired by union motives it is natural.
we say, because their position has no
foundation in truth or justice and they
must resort to SANDER and misstate-
ment in order to argue their case.
After many months of military rule
and the political domination of Pea
bodism change has taken place,
Adjutant General Bell has formally
given notice of resigning his position
His reasons are given in statement
published recently, he says:
THE state militia was degraded tc
the uses Of corporations which con-
nived at the breaking OF the law. The
very men whom we used the troops
to protect, imported all-around bad
men, the very men ran out Of thei,
camps, to break the law in Denve,
and carry the election in their inter.
ests.'
Il shall resign the office of Adtu.
tant- General probably tomorrow and
by the first Of July there will be an
other man in my place: I do not ap-
prove of using the militia Of the state
to help any political movement. I am
accused of using the militia Of the
state In tho late campaign. This Is