The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-01
SENATOR TELLER ON
COLORADO SITUATION
Contributes Able Article on the
Rights Of Man in
Colorado.
Severally Scores Citizens Who
Attempt to Deny Men
Their Liberty.

Denver, Colo. Sept. Ex-senator Tel
Ter contributes able article on the
Colorado situation to the Rocky Noun
tain News. He said in part:
TO pass upon the conditions now
existing In this state does not require
determination Of the Justice Of the
strike which began year ago. From
the information which I then had I
did not consider that extreme meas
ures were Justified and so publicly de-
clared.
The right Of dissatisfied 1aborers to
quit work must be conceded by all
rght-thinking people; but that right
does not Justify the forcible preven-
tion from working of others who are
not dissatisfied, and, therefore, will
ing to work.
Labor organizations here and else
where. have not always acted wisely
or justly; and Individual members
have been guilty of misconduct to-
ward both employers and fellow-1a-
oorers That, however, does not
Justify either the destruction or the
prohibition of such organizations.
These unions Of labor for mutual bene-
~ I'LL I'D Olu iASIOly LVOhy liz
every civilized land, such organiza-
tions exist. not only with the consent
Of the government. but often with it's
encoura cement. Their entire legality
has been established by long line Of
decisions.
That they have been useful in en-
couraging 81 laudable ambition. among
workers. and have been distinct and
Immediate agency in the elevating of
the worlds labor, man familiar
with the history OF the race will dare
to deny; but the right of combination,
and the fact that such combinations
may and probably will be advan-
tageous to the body of laborers. does
not justify any member, or all the
members of such combination or or
ganizatlon, in edmanding that other
laborers shall become members of
such combinations. To be a benefit
to the laborer, his connection with the
organization must be a voluntary one.
and all efforts to compel membership
in labor organizations of any kind,
against the wishes of the laborers, is
not only an invasion Of individual
rights, but a crime against the or
sksa1sization,sft f;ssaIt dlss
must depend on It's ability to- help
it's membership. 1t must have fealty
among it's members, born not Of fear,
but of the hope and expectation Of
benefits to be derived from such con-
nection.
To say that, because a man is a la
borer working for Lire, he must,
therefore, join labor organization,
is an absurdity; but, If possible, it is
greater absurdity to say that he
shall not be allowed to do so If he
thinks it is for his interest that he
should. All society is but comb1-
nation Of people for mutual benefit.
and labor unions, labor guilds, society
Of workmen. organization of lawyers,
doctors, teachers, professions of all
kinds, chambers Of commerce and
boards of trade are but the recognition
of people having a like interest. How
does the Citizens Alliance. the Mine
Owners Association differ in principle
from the miners union?
Perfect freedom should be allowed
to labor organizations by all proper
means, to convince individuals of the
benefits derived from membership
therein.
1t is now said that the interests of
the people Of Colorado demands the
dissolution of the miners union. This
Is justified by charges that the miners
union. or members thereof, have COM
mitted- crimes against the laws of
the land. II crimes have been COM
mitted by order. direction, or approval
Of the union, the perpetrator of such
crimes and all accessories ought to be
punished No can shelter him.
self behind an order of the union.
But it is said that proof cannot be
had against such perpetrators, and.
therefore, we must punish innocent
and guilty., alike. What has become
Of that old maxim of the law, that
"it is better that ten guilty men should
escape, than that one innocent person
should be convicted?" Should any civil
lied government punish men charged
with crime when 1t is admitted
that the evidence cannot be had to
convict? In a free country men are
not guilty until proven guilty by due
course Of law.
Such procedure Is and must neces-
sarily be wholly outside of law. Ac-
cordingly, new, and hitherto un-
known penalty, is now inflicted upon
members OF the miners union by de-
portation from the state. 1t must be
admitted that there is no law in this
state for the deportations Of criminals
much less Of those who are only sus-
pected of crime. Indeed, these depor-
tations go beyond even those who are
suspectet Of crime. A member of the
commission appointed by the mill
tary at Cripple Creek to pass upon
tho cases Of those taken into custody
recently announced that the men
charged with crime were not de-
ported; that they were retained as
prisoners while all other members OF
the union or sympathizers With them
were liable to deportation. This is
not, then, a punishment for crimes
; committed, nor is it means of rid