The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-23
THE COLORADO STRIKE.

The Duluth Evening Herald is ad-
vocating a remedy for strikes. In an
editorial Wednesday evening it quotes
{. statement from the New York Com
mercial relating to the strike in Col
orado. It is charged that the strike
during the past three months is res
ponsible for the loss of the regular
quarterly dividend of IA per cent,
amounting to 100000, on $6,o00,ooo of
the preferred stock of the United
States Reduction and Refining COM
pany. Everybody deplores this state
of affairs. The quarterly dividend is
nothing to be compared with the many
the workingmen forced out on the
strike.
1t Is however pleasing to note that
labor is in no way responsible for the
strike or the condition of affairs sur
rounding it. Two years ago the peo-
pie of Colorado by heavy vote adopt
ed constitutional amendment provid
ing that the hours of labor in the
mines and smelling works of Colorado
shall be no longer than eight each
day,
The United States Reduction and
Refining company refused to abide by
the constitution Of the state of Col
orado. Labor petitioned the authori-
ties for the enforcement of the law.
The petitions were spurned by a Gov
ernor who is owned and controlled by
the Mine Owners Association.
Failing to get the protection Of the
law, the only course left was to strike.
Then the mine owners conspiracy was
unfolded In all it's iniquity. Upon the
merest pretense the militia was sent
to Cripple Creek. In spite Of the pro-
tests of the citizens and the civil au-
thorities fhe mining communities were
placed under martial law. Governor
Peabody arbitrarily suspended the
writ of habeas corpus. General Bell
of the state militia, when reminded
that he was aiding to override the
constitution of Colorado, replied by
saying: ITO hell with the constitu-
tion.'' Failing to break the. strike
Peabody and Bell then further con-
spired with tho Mine Owners, and ev-
cry striker is being escorted out of
town at the point of bayonets, and
told not to return. Anarchy reigns in
state, his military tools and the mine
owners are the anarchists. Several
men were hung in Chicago in 1887
for committing lighter offenses than
those which the gang of Colorado
anarchists are responsible for. When
crimes are committed it seems to de-
pend upon which side Of the fence
they are done. This favoring of the
,rich and the punishment Of labor that
dares to assert itself, will some day
be regretted by those now in author
ity.
The military authorities have placed
"a censorship over the press In the min
ing districts. The whole force in print
ing offices have been arrested and re-
leased only upon a written promise
that they would print nothing ir
criticism of the acts Of the military
Little boys have been cruelty treated
by tin soldiers for daring to tease
them, as boys often do.
A lawyer for the miners, refusing
to give up a rifle hanging in his office
was arrested. and after tossing his rifle
was released upon giving promise thai
he would never again defend the min
ers union. When condition of af
fairs as this exists, we would ask tn.
Evening Herald and every other in
curing paper what is going to b,
done about it?
If labor committed one tenth of tn,
wrongs that are being perpetrated b,
those with power in Colorado tn
press of the country would condemn
1t most strongly. They would all say
like the Chicago Chronicle, tina
''There will be no effectual suppression
Of labor union murders until the res
ponsible men in these organization
who aid and abet such crimes are pro
ceeded against as any other criminal
would be-"
In this case it is not the labor un
ions, but the mine owners and tn
state authorities who are responsible
for the crimes that are being commit
ted daily. Where is there the dali
paper that will even criticise thes
high criminals?
The question now is not so niue
how to prevent strikes, as it is t
compel the rich and the men in powe
to observe the law, and the rights q