The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-06-11
THE COLORADO SITUATION.

ing camp. The terrible explosion OF
Monday is deplored by every liberty
loving citizen in America. That the
explosion was the result of a conspir-
acy there is no doubt. Who did it?
Who is responsible for the murder Of
the eleven miners and the injury Of
many others? Because there is a.
strike there, and because Of the color
OF the press reports the majority Of the
people are wont to blame the miners
union. If it can be proven that the
miners union was party to the cruel
murder it is the hope Of the Labor
World that no efforts will be spared
to wipe that organization from the face
of the earth. But we are not going to
admit for one moment that the miners
union committed the crime. We know
something about the situation in Colo
RADIO. We know something about the
plots Of the mine owners to prolong
the strike. TO create a reign Of terror
and keep the militia at the mines and
to drive union men from the state.
Two years ago the people by a ma
jority Of 41,0OO declared for consti-
tutional amendment declaring that
eight hours should be a legal workday
in the mines and smelterings works OF
that state. The members of the legis-
lature received instructions direct from
the people to enact laws in accordance
with the amendment. They failed to
do it. During the sessions Of the leg
were on hand and by bribery and cor
ruption prevented the enactment of
any such law.
In the spring following, the miners,
seeing that no relief could be secured
from the public officials, struck for the
eight hour day. The mine owners,
each and every one OF them, took an:
oath to remain in the fight until every
union miner was driven out Of Colo
RADIO.
They are keeping their word. The
first thing they did after the strike had
been in force for some time was to hire
three men to wreck a railroad train.
The union men were arrested for the
offense During the trial it was proven
that the mine owners hirelings had
committed the crime.
The very action of the militia in
handling the strike is prime facia evil
dence that the miners are the victims
of conspiracy OF the part of both the
mine owners and the state officials.
The administration has been decidedly
despotic in handling the affair from
the very beginning.
The words Of Gen. Bell, the officer
in charge Of the state militia, ought
to be sufficient to prove that the
trouble lies in the fact that the entire
state is permeated with corruption.
It became so obnoxious to Gen. Bell
that he has resigned his position. The
resignation is to take effect July 1.
The miners union has attempted to
induce President Roosevelt to come to
their rescue, If they were the culprits
In this trouble does 1t stand to reason
that they would ask for federal inter-
ference?
1t seems to us that If Grover Cleve-
land had the right to send state troops
into the sovereign state of Illinois for
the purpose OF moving the United
States mails in 1894. then President
Roosevelt certainly has the authority
to occupy the state Of Colorado, If for
no other reason than that citizens are
being denied their constitutional lib
erty.
This is borne out by the fact that
President Meyer is being confined in a
Bull Pen with no charge against him.
except that Gov. Peabody claims he
Is kept as a military necessity.
Other miners are being deported
from their homes at the point of bay
onsts. Others are being detained in
military jails with no charge against
them whatever.
~ IS evident to any careful reader
that the state of Colorado is in the
hands OF bad men. whoever they NAV
be. It is further evident that the state
government IS unable to maintain
order. More than this theUnited;
states of America are being diseraeed
as they never were before, and for this
reason President Roosevelt should take:
steps to preserve the good name. of:
our country. ~
e" .,;- 81. :
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