Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-08-05

promises made.
"The strike was declared OF. On
May Is the federation insisted that
the promises made as l have stated
had not been kept.
Reported All Promises Kept.
The commission reasscmbied. The
statements OF the federation and Of
the mill management was presented.
The commission unanimously reported
to me that the promises had all been
fulfilled. closing rs follows:
"'Your advisory board Is OF the
opinion that Manager MncSeill has
used all possible efforts to re-employ
the striking mill men In accordance
with his assurances made before said
board
Notwithstanding this report .
strike was again declared against the
mills. II was Intellectual. and there
upon q sympathetic strike was de-
ciared by the federation In Cripple
Creek to cut on the ore supply OF the
mills. The president Of the fedora.
tion stated before the commission
that no grievance existed against the
mine owners.
at has been contendcd. and appar.
entity generally believed. that this
strike was called because OF the fall.
ure Of the Legislature to enact an
eight.hour law. Az q matter OF fact.
the strike at Colorado City was called
on tho ltth Of February. some hvc or
six weeks before tho adjournment Of
the Legislature which then had under
consideration an ci.hthour law. and at
a time when every Indication pointed
to the enactment thereof. Tho Stand.
ard mill. at which the strike occurred.
had an cight.hour plant for i've years.
working the ci.ht.hour day In every de-
pnrtmcnt save one. and that one ON.
pioying but n small proportion OF It's
men. In his testimony before tho
governors commission. above referred
to. Mr.. Meyer. president OF tho fcdcr.
alton. In response TO the direct qucs.
tion as to whether or not he had any
complaint to make as to the hours OF
labor. replied. None whatever.
Eisht.Hour Day For Ten Years.
$50 far ms the Cripple Creek district
Is concerned. the mine workers have
worked maximum Of eight hours per
day for over ten years. and out OF
this time onc.haif hour Is allowed for
luncheon. receiving tho union scale OF
wnEcs which Is . minimum OF 81 and
nm average Of nearly 81 per day.
In response to the cali for strike
in the Cripple Creek district some 1000
men discontinued work and every
mine except one was cffcctunlly
closed. The sheriff and nearly every
peace ofiiccr Of the county were mem
bcrs OF the Western Federation Of
Miners nnf owed their positions to the
votes and influence Of that orgnniza'
tion. Almost imYcdiaicly after the
calling OF the strike the mine owners
decided to open their mines as rapidly
rs possible. One property was opened
under heavy private guard. Early In
September. however. mn effort was
made to brin. about the general open
Ing Of tho mines Of the district. As
soon ms this was done pickcting and
intimidation and murderous assault
were rcsorted to.
II well know the history and char.
nctcr OF this organization. II IL. In
fact. n matter OF common knowledge
In Colorado that for ten years this
federation has stopped Mt nothing to
accomplish It's purpose-threats. intim
idation. assaults. dynamite outragcs,
murders. have everywhere character.
lied It's policy. II has been the occa'
sion OF more trouble and expense to
bined. including Indian raids. II has
never had n strike that has not been
bloody. The catalogue of its crimes
affrights humanity. In times OF strike
Its action has amounted to open insur.
rcction against the state. The leaders
Of this organization have instilled into
the minds OF Its membership the ne
cessity of arming themselves for the
purpose OF resisting constituted au.
thorities.
I'm his speech delivered In Salt Lake
City in 1897 Mr.. Boyce. since president
OF the Western Federation OF Miners
and the man who organized the Colo.
RADIO branch OF this organization.
said:
"1 deem Il important TO direct your
attention to article of the constitu-
tional amendments of the United
States: "Thc right of the people TO
keep and bear arms shall not be in-
with Immediately. Every union should
have a rifle club. strongly advise
the latest improved rife. which can be
obtained from the factory at a nominal
price. l entreat you to take action on
this important question. SO that in two
years we can hear the inspiring music
of the martial tread OF $4,000 armed
men in the ranks of labor
This utterance is in line with ad-
vice repeated and reiterated by other
leaders of the organization.
Federation has a Bloody Record.
Nor have these words been sterile
of fruit. In every strike inaugurated
by this union in the state of Colorado
has been the precedent set in Idaho, in
1899 when 600 mon armed themselves
with rifles. pillaged boldly from the
state armory. and openly proceeded to
take life and destroy property by dyna-
hitting the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mill.
I'm 1894 federation members armed
to the teeth. entrenched and picketed.
and with precise military organization
defiantly held prisoners for exchange
on Bull hill. in Cripple Creek.