Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-06-10
TROUBLE IN COLORADO.

worse instead of better.
One of the worst instances OF the Whole al
fair happened last Tuesday, at Independence at
the Florence & Cripple Greek railway station.
Three hundred pounds of dynamite was placed
under the depot by unknown assassins, ana, al
2 O'Clock a. M, while twenty-five non'union
miners were standing on the dept platform, the
dynamite exploded, instantly killing eleven OF
the men and fatally injuring several Others
The dynamite was exploded by electricity. 4
wire was discovered leading from the depot to
the shaft house of the Delmonico mine.
AS soon as the news of the terrible disaster
reached Cripple Creek, train bearing COM
pany of militiamen, doctors, nurses, etc., &C.
companied by number of mine owners went
to the scene of the trouble.
sOf course, the blame was laid at the door OF
the miners union, and the Citizens Alliance"
backed by the militia, went to work TO drive
the union miners out of the country. Twenty
four union men were taken to Denver, Wednes
day, under heavy military guard. When ar
rested, the miners were searched and their union
cards, their money and whatever vauables they
possessed were taken from them. Most OF
them were penniless when the reached Denver.
Arrests have occurred all over the Cripple
Creek district, and the union men depoted. In
several instances, the militia "went through"
the union miners headquarters and stole the
records and everything of value.
Every act of the militia and the "Citizens'
Alliance" is endorsed by Governor Peabody,
aud he is backed by the supreme court of the
state, which has rendered decision the main
points of which are to the effect that the gov
eruor has the sole power to determine when
state of instruction exists in any county, and
that there is no need of calling on the state
legislature before establishing martial law. He
NAV give districts over to soldiers, and the
courts have no power to interfere. 1t also de.
cides that
The governor has the right to use the mill
tary forces of the state to quel instruction.
He has the power to order the imprisonment
AND THE KILLING of insurrectionists It, in his
opinion, that extremity is necessary.
He can detain military prisoners until ne de-
cides that the instruction is quelled.
The courts have no right to intrtere with the
military authorities and their handling OF pris'
ouers, nor to attempt to discharge military
prisoners.
Samuel Gompers, president OF the American
Federation of Labor, denounces Governor Pea
hodv in bitter terms, and blames him as the
one man above all others responsible for the
reign of terror in that state. In an interview,
he called Peabody fragrant violator OF civil
laws and human rights, and made him directly
responsible for all the rioting and bloodshed.
Said Mr.. Gompers: "Governor Peabody has
done more by his acts to provoke bitterness
than all other elements in Colorado combined.
If he acts the outlaw himself, the highest offl'
Ger in the state, is the unfortunate situation
surprisinp? am to-day more than
ever firm in my belief that the acts of Governor
Peabody himself were originally and solely re-
sponsible for the situation.
GAS the highest official of the state, he is
creature of the smelters and mine owners.
They were responsible for his nomination and
election, and he promised them that he, as gov
ernor, would prevent the enactment OF the
.;oht.hour law. No one denies this. He Is
either given credit for it on the one side or de-
rounced for it on the other. There is no dis
pute about the fact ITSELF"
Mr.. Gompers says other bitter things about
Peabody, even going SO far as to call him an
anarchist-for which he has just cause
The Chicago Record-Herald, conservative
Republican paper, holds the state administra'
80, .oually guilty with the miners, and calls