The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-02-13
MINERS. OF COLORADO !.
SEND MAN TO DULUTH
JAS. kIRWlN OF MINERS *ExECU.
TIVE BOARD TELLS or
STRIKE. ",-, -.

JAS. kIRWlN OF MINERS *ExEcU.
TIVE BOARD TELLS Or {
STRIKE. 49,
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Colorado Becoming a VeritabIe ST.
beria.-Peabodyism Is Military Ty.
ranny.-ESetern Capitalists Respon-
sibIe for the TroubIe.-No Violence
is Committed by tho Miners
Awful Deeds Of Persecution.
The Labor World has devoted con-
siderable space during the past three
months to the Colorado miners strike.
Its correspondence on the subject was
received fresh from the field and at
all times has proved to be reliable.
This week the Western Federation
OF Miners sent one Of the members
OF their executive board to this city,
a Mr.. James Kirwin, who is visiting
among the unions and securing f1nan-
cial aid for the striking miners.
Mr.. Kirwin is a true type Of the
western miners. He is making a.
most favorable impression among the
trade unionists of Duluth. His mild
manner, and his honest, gentlemanly
appearance is winning for him a host
of friends.
He complimented the Labor World
for It's defense of the cause Of the
miners, and was pleased to note the
friendly feeling existing here.
The Western Federation of Miners
does not affiliate with American Fed
GRAFTON Of Labor, and for that reason
it was expected that he would have
a hard row to hoe, but it Is not so;
The most fraternal feeling exists, and
%@
help the victims of capitalistic an
archy in Colorado.
Answers False Charges
Mr.. klrWin was shown an article in
capitallstic magazine purported to have
been written by disinterested party In
Colorado, in which the miners were
condemned most strongly. 1T is false
throughout" he said. 1T accuses us
of espousng the cause Of socialism,
and says that this in itself should
defeat us. The fact is that while our
convention declared for the public
ownership Of mines and other means
Of production it has had no immediate
effect upon the politics Of the state.
In Teller county, the seat of most Of
the trouble just now, there were less
than 100 socialist votes polled at the
last election. I understand that in
your county there were considerably
more than that Our action in con-
vention should not alarm our enemies
very much.
They say that our convention took
away the power to order a strike from
the membership, and placed it in the
hands Of the executive board. This
too is false. A resolution was intro
duced in the convention along this
line but it was lost. No amendment
can be made to our constitution ex-
cept by q referendum vote Of the
entire membership. The members
would never surrender their power to
control q strike. Before a strike Is
called it must be submitted to the local
unions, and before it is ordered it
must receive a three-fourth majority.
The Colorado strike was ordered by
an almost unanimous, vote of the
membership of the miners union.
one man power organization. In fact
1t Is the most democratic organization
that I know of.
No Cause for Militia.
There has been no violence at Grip
pie Creek. The excuse for sending
the militia WAS when a union
man was assaulted. Gov. Peabody
sent committee of soldiers to in
vest.gate. They arrived at Cripple
Creek at p. m. and left on a train
for Denver before daylight the next
morning. Immediately upon their ar
rival they were taken to the home Of
a banker where they met the mine
owners.
They saw no one else in Cripple
Creek. They reported the worst kind Of
violence to the governor and then the
militia was sent. The only violence
committed was this one act Of as
saulting a lone 'scab." The folly Of
Gov. Peabody's position in the strike
was soon discovered, and public opin-
ion became SO strong that the COVER
nor was obliged to order the militia
home. They were ready to leave at
a. m. one morning, but they We're
kept about the depot until II a. M,
and just as they were about to board
the train to carry them home an ex-
plosion occurred in a nearby mine.
Naturally the mine owners used this
and the miners union was charged
with it. investigation by the coroners
jury, however, developed that the
explosion was either a conspiracy on
the part Of the mine owners, or it
was accidental The explosion had
the desired effect so far as the mine
owners were concerned, for the militia
was kept for some time longer and
martial law was completely observed
Wall Street Gives Instructions.
We have always been able to get
along with the western miner owners
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