Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-07-18
CONGRESSMAN HoGG
WRITES A LETTER

At the request of a number of Re
pnblicans. the Republican recently ad-
dressed a letter to Congressman Hogg
relative to the truth or falsity OF the
statements lately appearing in the
daily press that he has been acting
as attorney for the Western Fedora.
ton of Miners. The reply which is
given below is sef.explanatory:
"TELLURIDE, Colo, June 81, 1904.
d. NJ Jones' Buena Vista, Colo: My
Dear Mr. housekeeping to yours of
the 10th inst. | have this to say, that
am not the retained the attorney of
the Western Federation of Miners,
never have been, and never expect
to be
Il have noticed in one or two pa
pers some comments on a telegram |
sent to the governor. This has moth
ing whatever to do with the withdraw
al of troops from this place, and only
had to do with the deportation of two
citizens with whom was well ac-
uuainted. men of family, one of whom
was engaged in business, had beau
tifn home. a wife and small child;
had as understand, recently given
birth to child. My desire was to de-
lay the matters until as a matter of
friendship | might inquire into the
situation and avoid the doing of what
| | considered wrong to these per
| sons.
II never sent a telegram to the pres
ident, nor have | written him con
cerning the troubles in Colorado. 1t
is remarkable how these matters can
arise. | am in favor as much as any
one can be of the maintenance of law
and order in the state of Colorado and
elsewhere, believe in the fullest
protection to personal liberty. | do
not believe it lies with any man or set
of men to say who shall or shall not
work: that there cannot be liberty
without the right of contract; that
man may sell his labor as freely as
one may sell his goods, and that each
should be protected in that right.
believe also that any man has right
to fiN his habitation. and so long as he
obeys the law ought to be protected
in that habitation. do not believe
1t lies with any man or set of men in
case one is a criminal or man dan
gerous to society to deport that man
to another place for the reason that
if he is criminal he is dangerous.
No one has the legal or moral right to
iasten him upon any other community.
Il think that the governor of this
state in his efforts to establish law
and order and industrial peace should
he sustained by all good citizens SO
far as he acts within the law and rec
ognizes rights that are guaranteed by
the constitution, that an executive,
the same as judge. should exercise
his powers impartially, fairly and also
Justly.
Il abhor the lawlessness that has
existed in this state heretofore and
hope for peace. | believe we should
not ask others to suffer what we are
not willing to suffer; that we should
extend to others the same protection
that we demand for ourselves.
Il believe confidently that out of
this turmoil and strife and bitterness
the people will assert themselves:
that order will come out of chaos and
that excesses on the one hand and on
the other will cease. Certainly there
should be reason and justice in all
things. Yours sincerely,
II, NJ. HOGG."
The above is and should be salts
factory to every lover of law and or
der. There has never been any ques-
tion with The Herald where Mr.. Hogg
stands in this matter. He has always
been n strong advocate of the rights
OF men. being at all times opposed to
the cheap rat-trap resolutions intro
duced by Senator Patterson in the
senate last winter. Again. the writer
had long talk with the congressman