Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-27
wELLMAN'S INDICTMENT

e1oo . smallest income. labor
eight hours the ionsess day; the work 10 clean
NICE nothing like coal mining; there 10 nredamp ths
mines, tn. only dangers Of mechanical accidents
the air In the mines, know from visit to the
200 feet below the main drift. 10 almost
outdoors; the do not have to live In
houses, at many mines, but their little
cottages hiisie@s, ride and
their electric with low
living little dearer than in Chicago. single get
ting good and board for IS So week; thsrs
plenty reerestions good schools
for the children; the climate 10 heafuI
delightful"
the eight-hour Mr.. wellman makes !;
clear that this question had nothing TO do with the strike
1T has been widely published that this trouble due
the OF the labor people the defeat Of the
eighthour law in the Legislature By large majority
people adopted a constitutional the
effect the Legislature shall eighthour law
Legislature failed Ii is charged that
corporations used money corrupy defeat such
ation. do doubt this is and there is Ian
enough adequately TO condemn such crimes
by rich The Legislature had Republican branch
Democratic. Il engaged In long and bitter
struggle a senatorial election Under such circum
stances It for the corporations to manipulate
things 70 defeat the eighthour law.
"eu, the mine no. interested in that prop
They had the eishtnour for years
The eishhour defeat had nothing with bringing
the recent troubles Te that had is pretsxt.
after,housh Even the strike coIorsSo City ordered
weeks before the Legislature adjourned and while the
proposed ia~ SIN under consideration"
And to ;he responsibility for the Independence
ton horror he says:
That the federation is responsible for the appalling
crime Independence station there doubt The
Of the in that plo,
known. and all prominent unionsts who have red
the country given the Of these suspects in
confidence and there still hope OF bringing them Just
Judges lawyers and others with whom talked agree
union deliberately 4 reign terror
trying win through intimidation fight which could
no be the Justice OF the cause This was the opn
ion OF Democratic leaders in this community. who
trying TO the their political advantage and
therefore favor the federation
as their eonsciences will permit them to do
"A Judge the bench though in politics opposed 10
Governor Peabody told the unions bossec
the local officials and that ~eiiniah impossible
convict a unionIat Of any crime mi onense.
He then jus,ihes the severe measures taken by n.
state authorities:
Il inquired carefully into this whole question.
and conclusion Is that the dsporattons tus,hs
BILE: they There a work OF sig iH-
canoe what Secretary Harnin o. owners
to / willing take ,hs responsibility Of
banging a lot Of men: willing response
bility of deportfng them
Most Of the e3s men deport.d were dangerous and
guilty Some were innocent OF wrongdonr 1t
Is denied that mistakes .-Iade, and they
eretted
But Innosen, man deported may return and
establish himself An innocent hanged
ticket.
When ! came Colorado II with a feeling that
these deportaons foul blot civilization
Now. think the conditions made it necessary Bansh-
Of raised a great outcry the Fast
the truth is known nssl. TO condemn In the
method employed oosernor Peabody. the military
the citizens. They confronted
with srea. emergency ard they met it hraveiy ard
hunsney as they could.
What else could have done7 ask the
here. You say might have kept the pris-
That would only have prolonged the trouble. II
would have made them martyrs. Attempts might have
been made them That would have led rots.
IL is serious question how far in interfer
ing with rights OF others while standing his
alleged constitutional rights We carefully considered all
believed deportation the effective
humane We stand By Of good public policy
1T has been said they had right these crim
other communities But the deported
criminals heart. and many OF them all
Their presence here encouragement TO crime In
any community they would be good citizens
OF them of these simply
unfortunate the victims OF criminal system The real
cuprits reckless leaders Of organization
and circle dynamitards who planted the
Internal machine pulled which exploded r."
in the following terms:
wood be held responsible for thts
crime against organized labor, shis esense
civilization and offer to convict them before
Of leaders Of the decent honorable labor orssa
xAtors Of the county.
THE Western Federation Of Miners 10 ne
part Of honest and industrious Il Is their