Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-08-04

The strike was declared off. On
May is the federation Insisted thai
the promises made as have stated
had not been kept.
Commission Reported That All Prom,
lses Had Been Kept.
The commission reassembled. The
statements of the federation and OF
the mill management was presented.
The commission unanimously report
ed to me that the promises had all
been fulfilled, closing as follows:
Your advisory board is of the
opinion that Manager McNeiIl has
lsed all possible efforts to re-employ
ne striking mill men In accordance
with his assurances made before said
Doard.'
Notwithstanding this report a
trike was again declared against the
mills. II was Intellectual, and there.
ipOn sympathetic strike was declar.
'd by the federation in Cripple Creeh
o cut on The ore supply oil the mills
.he president of the federation stated
JetOre the commission that no griey
nee existed against the mine owners.
1t has been cOntended. and appar.
-ntly generally believed. that this
trike was called because OF the fail.
re OF the legislature to enact an
'ight-hour law As a matter OF faci
ne strike at Colorado City was calico
IN the l4th of February, some five OF
IN weeks before the adjournment ol
ne Legislature, which then had under
consideration an elght.hour law. anu
time when every indication point
TO the enactment thereof The
tandard mill, at which the strike oC.
drred. had an eight-hour plant foI
Ee years, working the elght-hour daJ
every department save one. anu
.hat one employing but small pro
ioTtion OF its men In his testimun,
ietore the governors commission
Dove referred To, Mr. Meyer. presl
ent OF the federation. in response t.
he direct question as TO whether OF
.ot he had any complaint to make a.
the hours of labor, replied, None
,hatever'
-isht-rour Day in Cripple Creek for
Ten Years.
so far as the Cripple Creek dis
rict is concerned. the mine worker
ave worked a maximum OF eign,
ours per uay Tor over ten years, anu
al oi TINS time one-hali hour is al
owed Tor luncheon, receiving The un
.on scale oil wages which is a mini
..uIn oI so anu an average OF nearly
per day.
In response to the call Tor strike
the Cripple Creek district some
rVVU men discontinued work. and ey
~ mine except one was enectually
iosed. 1he snerif ana nearly every
edce oihcer oil me county were mem.
ers Of me Western Federation OF
liners, and owed their positions to
ne votes and influence OF that organ
Lation. Almost Immediately after the
alllng OF me strike the mine owners
.eciued 10 open their mines as rap
1ly as possible. one properly was
pened under heavy private guard.
.lrly in september, however, an ell
Jrt was made 10 bring about the gen
sral opening ot the mines of the dis
rict. As soon as this was done. pich.
ding and intimidation and murderous
,Ssault were resorted to.
Il well know the history and char
,cter OF this organization. 1t is, in
act, matter Oi common knowlcdg,
II Colorado that for ten years this led
ration has stopped at nothing to ac-
omplish its purpOse-threats, intimi-
sation, assaults, dynamite Uutrages,
hurders, have everywhere character
zed its policy. 1t has been the oc-
aston OF more trouble and expense
o the state than all other causes
omDlned, including Indian raids. 4,
,as never had a strike that has MOI
Jeen bloody. The catalogue OF its
:rimes anrights humanity In times
n strike its actlOn has amounted u
pen insurrectiOn against the state.
, he leaders oi this organization nave
nstilled into the minds ol It's member
nip the necessity OF arming them.
elves Tor the purpose ot resisting
onstituted authorities.
In his speech delivered in Salt
wy IA lo''s lbpgitf hlu't
PRESIDENT OF the Western Federation
II Miners, and the man who organized
he Colorado branch of this organiza.
ION, said:
''' L deem II important to direct your
-itention to article OF the constitu.
lonal amendments OF the United
tates: The right OF the people to
.eep and bear arms shall not be in.
ringed." This you should comply
,ith Immediately. Every union should
ave a rifle club. | strongly advise
Ou to provide every member with the
atest improved riiie, which can be
obtained IRON the factory at nom
nal price. | entreat you TO take ac
ION on this important question 50
hat in two years we can hear the in
Ipiring music OF the martial tread ol
5000 armed men in the ranks of la
Dor'
This utterance is in line with ad
ice repeated and reiterated by other
ieaders of the organization.
federation Has Had a Bloody Record
Throughout.
Nor have these words been sterile
If fruit. In every strike inaugurated
by this union In the State of Colorado