Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-06


safe and available remedy seemed 10
/ be to disperse the radical members. ii
I all Of them had not personally parti
/ clpatsd in the outrages they had al
/ least stood approyingiy by and given
/ their support, encouragement and pro
/ lection.
IF these men were scattered tbs
! avenues which ten years OF o-ganiza-
I tiOn and association had opened for
/ crime in that district would be closed.
+ IL would require much time in any
. other community before they could
{ gather rDout them a new band Of con
spirators with the inclination and
daring to inaagurate In a new field an
+ other condition OF terrorism. These
men. as / have said. had de.
Z termined never TO yield tho
strike. The mine owners had
resolved not 10 employ again
The members OF that organization
Therefore the only employment which
! remained for them was that OF stirring
Up strife-commitfing depreda ions ana
+ intimidating by inhaman crimes the
working miners.
I Il resolved that they should be dis
/ persed and I dispersed them This was
done. however. only after careful in
vestigation OF each individual case
I hope and believe that these men
/ SO sent from the district will when re-
/ leased from the evil influences OF
criminal leadership return TO lawful
living and resolve that a recognition
/ Of the rights which the laws confer is
the proper guide for conduct.
( No Attempt to Cypress Labor.
From what have said and from
fs - A. .s.z
7 citizen Of the state. it will be seen that
Z disturbances have been limited TO the
mining and its allied Industries. 1t has
{ been charged repeatedly that the mill
! ia has been placed at the disposal OF
the mine owners to oppose labor. The
I Injustice Of the charge is apparent.
/ but 1t will doubtless continue to be
made. The militia was employed to
restore order and to protect labor and
. property in the rights to which each Is
eutiued under the law. The militia
opposed the wishes and purposes Of the
I federation because that organization
was attempting TO prevent by violence
I the operation Of mines and mills. II
+ is again charged that | have been en-
/ gagged in a war upon unions generally.
and strenuous and repeated efforts are
( being made TO play upon the passions
[ oi union men |. do not believe the ef-
forts will be successful do not believe
I the conservative union men Of the state
I viii feel called upon 10 adopt the policy
/ Of the leaders OF the federation. nor
I can ! believe they will sanction IL
] believe they VIII be able to discrimin.
I ate between their own unions and prin.
ciples and the socialistIc. anarchistic
objects and methods Of the federation.
" n hxz tar - ~.
/ Western Federation OF Miners has in
/ Tolyed the state in cash outlay Tor
/ the militia OF more than 81 100000.
4 propose in the future. as in the
/ past. to see to IL that the laws are
I faithfully executed and in the accom-
/ plishment of that purpose | shall not
+ Inquire whether the individual entitled
/ TO protection is. or is not, a member Of
l any labor organization. No one can
appreciate more than |. not only the
/ right and wisdom OF laboring men to
/ join together for the purpose OF bet
/ teriug their wages and working condi-
/ tious. and no cue can beifese more
/ heartily than In a fair Mage and
I reasonable hours. II will be a matter
I OF great regret to me II the laboring
/ men OF the state fail To see that am
/ fighting their battle. for sincerely be
u ufht Atidl fEGIaatA tdAnI mas no ftfpHt
/ dangerous enemy than the Western
/ Federation of Miners. which Is seeking
/ under the cloak OF organized labor, to
/ protect Itself alike in the promulga-
tion OF its dishonest soclalistic theo-
i rfes. which recognize no right to pri-
/ yate property. and from the result OF
! its anarchistie tcnets and tendencies
I Legitimate labor organizations OF ne
/ cessity suffer from the criminal ag-
I gressions OF the federation. Its claim
TO the cAraeter Of a labor organiza-
tion is ia only title to respectability.
\ | believe that no greater good can be
! conferred upon the cause of union la
1 bor striving to better the condition
4 OF its members. than that the members
/ OF such legitimate labor unions con-
denim the methods of the federation.
Those who are charged with the
| duty of seeing that the lives and prop
/ erty Of citizens are respected have diff
\ ficuit and perplexing problems to
solve in times OF insurrection and
/ great public stress.
Il have had to deal with an organiza-
ton which has no counterpart In this
country. Its official proclamations, full
/ of defiance and challenge. issued from
time to time, have amounted. as has
| been said. TO a DECLARATION Oh "af
/ against the state
L have met the challenge with
policy none too vigorous for the out
lawry was called on to oppose. But
through II all have had but one OBJ
/ ject. and that to show the people OF
i Colorado that the laws will be upheld
that a criminal organization cannot
dictate the policy Of this administra-
/ ton. and that everywhere within the
| borders OF Colorado. property shall be
| secure and labor shall be free.
| JAMES H. PEABODY.