The San Francisco call., 1904-06-17
THE COLORADO CASE.

Colorado
involving action of politicians and OF the Miners
Union There is iustifabe aversion in this country
to the existence of military rule anywhere, and nothing
is easier than to excite bitter opposition thereto; but
there exists also determination to resist and op
pose rule equally arbitrary that has not the excuse OF
public authority.
The mining region of Colorado that has been for
than year the seat of these troubles the face
OF the record SUBJECTED the arbitrary government OF
the union miners Without hndrance by the civil
thorities those mistaken men had dipped deeply into
crimes They had rounded up non-union workmen and
deported them from the district marching them over
stony trails numbering many, and ndulging IN acts OF
extreme inhumanity Their policy was Systematically
carried Men blown into pieces with dynamite.
Owners of mines were assassinated Mining property
was seized and held against the rights of its lawful
ers and a reign of terror established and main
tanned.
The civil law utterly powerless to protect person
property punish those who wlltuy and openly
and daily violated the rights of both This failure OF
the law was due to the fact that the civil officers, in
cudng Judges of the courts either members Of
controlled by the organization that violating the
law The Governor of the State finally extended the
arm of executive power and his military authority into
the disturbed district Order restored Mines were
reopened and worked with full force and the indca-
tons were that the law been reinstaed and that
the natural and constitutional rights of re-
stored Then the Governor withdrew the troops and the
region again returned the administration of its civil
officers Immediately the reign of terror began again
After preliminary violations of the law which were
winked at by the civil authorities there occurred OF
the appalling crimes, in the dynamtlng to death
of nearly score of non-union miners they quit work
on the night shift and proceeded to their homes
Look at is may. it is of common knowledge
that if the perpetrators OF this crime had stood in the
open while doing this wholesale murder they safe
from punishment The far-reachng sentiment of ap-
proval OF their act uttered by Democratic pol-
can delegate to the State convention, who, hear
ing the news said: "On general principles haven't any
sympathy waste the fellows who were blown up
they were working on other mems jobs"
This act was the elimination of events. Either the
of Colorado to the abdcaton of the
civil law, and the district to be governed by
secret organization which marked noffensive for
death and property for destruction, the State must
act and how? There but way and that was
chosen by the Governor who ordered the military there
to restore order The members of the organza
ton were arrested and depored from the district The
validity of the Governors act taken Immediately tc
the courts and the Supreme Court decided that his
hority ample and that he had proceeded according
the law of the State.
We are endeavorng to state merely the record with
cut criticism of any But those who decry the Gov
ernors action must say frankly what other was
legally possible When district has elected, admin
ister the law, the members of oath-bound organza
ton that violates the law, and when those officers give
the weight of their authority support such violation
is there no power in the State vndcate the law? Il
there is not then the mining regions of Colorado are
separated not only from the State but from the Natona
Government.
secret organization is exercising therein the powers
of sovereignty. 1t is sovereignty absolute and more
auocratc than any other earth. 1t has trial BY
jury habeas corpus, in its system The principles
law and equity unknown to it, and it arbitrarily de-
cides who may work or who must starve and who may
do business there and under what conditions 1t
cse all of the functions of and others which
Government claimed.
1t is answer to say that it would peace tc
the people condition that every in its move
urisdico submitted it. and all who did so would be
protected their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
When all that is conceded it is conceded also tina
wherever strong enough to do the they
have the right expe republican government, deny
the right of minority to live at all and to declare tha
there is such thing constitutional guarantee,
The Declaration of Independence says: ''We hole
these truths be se1f-evident that all are created
equal; that they endowed by their Creator with GER
naenabe rights that amongst these ife liberty
and the pursuit of happiness; that these rights
governments instituted amongst deriving the
have these rights, the majority of in any
certain district but the minority well. When til,
majority claim them, but deny them the minority
there is defiance of the fundamental principle of civil lib
erty. When this occurred in Colorado and the dena
was accentuated by dynamite murder, what was th
proper course for the State?
Reginald Vanderbilt has been making himself as e1u
sive as needle in aystack trying to dodge legal ser