The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-20
GO AGAINST PEABODY.
Advice of John Mitchell to Colorado
Republicans.

Denver, Colo, April 20.-The second
days session of the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor was
devoted almost entirely to the considera-
ton Of disputes between affiliated organ
1zatlons over questions of Jurisdiction
The members of the council attended
mass meeting at night at which the prin-
cipa1 speakers were President Gompers
of the American Federation of Labor and
President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America
Mr. Mitchell devoted his entire speech
to an arraignment of Governor Peabody
of Colorado for his acts in relation to the
existing. strike in the southern Colorado
coal nelds- he repudlated the governor
as a Republican and challenged the oft
repeated assertion Of the governor tnat
he had exhausted every emOrt TO brlhs
about a settlement of the strike by bring
ing the opposing forces together in con-
II want to repudiate. as far as I can,
the acts of the governor of this state. II
L have friend in Colorado, If there IS
trade unionist in this state if there is a
good citizen in Colorado who believes my
rep1diate the acts Of Governor Peabody.
Governor Peabody has said IN regard 10
our coal strike that he had advised the
companies to treat with the men. and the
companies said they would treat with
their own employees and not with a COM
roittae dictated nv IOhn Mitchell I say
allow Governor Peabody to appoint
committee of coal miners to treat with
the operators. He has had the chance to
nominate committee of miners and has
of President Roosevelt and as a member
of the Republican party, / say that the
Republican party of Colorado should re-
pudiate Governor Peabody. I further say
that every Republican workman should
work against him I am usually called a
conservative labor leader. in fact IN this
western country, ] am said to be too con-
sentative Yet to the most radical of YOU,
[ announce myself as against any man
who is against the people stand for the
man who is the friend of the people, be
he Republican, Democrat or Socialist In
conclusion, I want to repeat with en-
phasis what I have said about Governor
Peabody. He is friend of yours. no
friend of government and no friend of
law and order. I am against him.
Mr. GOmpers said that a new disease
had developed among the business men
Of the country. which he termed trades
l1nior-phobia. The two persons most Sc
riously affected, he said, We're Governor
Pea body Of Colorado and President Parry
of the National Manufacturers associa-
ton Mr.. CsOmpers said that he did not
claim that no labor unionist was ever
guilty of violence and wrong doing, but
I ne emDhatfcally denied that all union men
were criminals. they have been char
acterized by some of their opponents lie
maintained that "A working man mad a
right to strike whenever - believed MS
employer was mistreating niTn, and tina
while he regretted the necessity for
strikes the labor unions would continue
to weld this weapon for their defense.
He discussed the eight hour movement,
/ and said that the fight for this achieve
ment had only just begun throughout
4 the country.