Gilpin observer., 1904-09-01
MR.. WELLMAN'S LETTERS,

NFlOui tuc INOChy l3&WS.)
Mr. Walter Wellman's recent letters
on the industrial situation in this state
now appear to have been written by ar
rangement between the author and the
managers of the Republican national
campaign. They are being reprinted
and circulated widely in the form OF
pamphlets and are finding their way
into the ready prints furnished to
country newspapers by the national
committee.
Mr.. Wellman's letters were not writ
ten for any effect which they might
have in Colorado, where the facts on
both sides are we'll known, but for ef
feet in other parts of the country,
where the extraordinary occurrences in
this state have threatened to ALLEVIATE
much Of the labor union strength which
Mr.. Roosevelt has enjoyed. Coming
here as q supposed investigator, Mr..
Wellman wrote his first letters in q
semi-judicial tone, but the closing let
ters were entirely one-sided and gave
unqualified approval not only to the
governors course, but to the policy of
violence which has been established
at Cripple Creek-a policy adopted
IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THE
MINE OWNERS ASSOCIATION CON.
trolls EVERY PEACE OFFICER IN
THE CAMP and that there is no possi-
bility of their administration being con-
trary to the associations interests.
The Wellman letters were printed in
some of the leading papers in the coun-
try and were expected to and undoubt-
edly will give the cue to political writ
ers everywhere who will claim that the
law had broken down SO utterly in Col
orado that military rule and vigilante
committees and mob law offered the
only means of reclaiming it from the
control of rapscallions and murderers.
1t is too bad that Colorado's name
should be thus blackened, but it is i'm
possible to defend the governors ac-
tions and the actions of the mob at
Cripple Creek in any other way than
to claim that the law had absolutely
collapsed in the state. And so that
claim is being made and will continue
to be made, to the detriment of this
community, during the remainder OF
the presidential campaign. Such are
the exigencies of politics! Such are
the fruits Of the combination entered
into by the governor with the Cripple
Creek Mine Owners Association
Whenever an outbreak occurs in the
Cripple Creek district and men are de-
ported, Mr.. Wellman, in his capacity Of
political press agent. may be expected
to write another screed explaining that
It's all right and that in no other way
Is 1t possible to maintain the suprem-
acy OF law and order in a state largely
populated by criminals-a state that is
one OF those remote and undesirable
commonwealths excoriated by Grover
Cleveland some years ago. That we
may look for Wellman's reflections on
the half shell to be served at every op-
portunity was made evident by the de-
portations of last Saturday evening
from the big gold camp. Hardly had
the wires carried the news of the mob's
action when Mr.. Wellman turned out
another letter, dated from Washington,
in which he expressed the opinion that
II these men were not deported the dis
trict would "again be bathed in blood"
that there would be another crusade OF
crime. with murders, beatings, dyna-
miting, threats and terrorism on the
part OF the federation"
1t Is somewhat astonishing to learn,
even from an authority SO imposing as
Wellman, that these dire results would
have followed the presence In the camp
of three lawyers and a couple of store
keepers. none OF whom has ever been
suspected of any purpose more san
culinary than the making Of speeches in
court and the sale of beef and dry
goods.
We hope that Mr.. Wellman will
leave the state few tattered shreds of
reputation to cover its nakedness. To
hold a share of labor union support
for Mr.. Roosevelt may be a worthy aim,
but In 80 doing 1t Is q pity he blasts
the fair name OF Colorado directly In q
few great newspapers and Indirectly
through a thousand more obscure sheets
which penetrate to every town and
ham;ct