The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-09
MINING TROUBLES IN CoLoRADO.


MINING TROUBLES IN COLORADO.
What is going TO be the end of the
labor troubles in Colorado? That is
question that it is impossible to an
swer at this tune. 1t is a fact, how
ever. that many lives have been lost,
and much property destroyed since the
trouble began, and the indications are
that many more lives will be sacrificed
before the reign of law is fully estab-
lshed
II is seldom that a more deplorable
affair than that at Independence, Col,
on Monday occurs in labor wars. In
the twinkle of an eye, as it were. fif-
teen miners were sent into eternity,
and many Others we're wounded, some
Of whom will die. All of the killed
and injured miners were non-unon
men. And yet it was stated in the
dispatches yesterday that the Western
Federation of Miners had offered a
reward of $4,000 for the arrest of the
perpetrators of the dastardly deed at
Independence. We assume of course
AlAoL AAAC " FSANli II VI NAAiA~A -
had nothing to do with the tragedy as
an organization. and yet it would be
hard to make the public believe that
union miners had nothing to do with
that horrible deed.
The real fight is, of course, between
the union miners and other union
workers on one side. and the mine
owners, together with an organization
known as the Citizens Alliance. Since
the forces have been arrayed against
each other there have been all sorts
Of lawless acts committed, including
assassinations.
OF course. the union miners have
some grievances. They secured the
enactment of an eight hour law. This
was declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court of the state. Then they
were fortunate enough to get a con-
stitutional amendment adopted max
ing eight hours a legal days work.
OF course, it was necessary for the
Legislature to provide for the enforce
ment of this amendment. This it has
never done. The union miners take the
position that corrupt politics is re-
sponsible for its failure to put this
eight hour law in force.
The union miners have been trying
to enforce the eight hour regulation
without the help of the Legislature, and
ted in the effort. For more than six
months martial law has prevailed
in large mining section of
Colorado, and there is no sign
Of a return to a normal con-
dition Of affairs. 1t is alleged that the
militia are guilty. of great excuses
of one kind and another-excesses of
power which make life a burden to
citizens who are not participants in
the strife. The Governor has been
bitterly criticised for the part he has
taken in the troubles, but he seems
to have attempted nothing more than
to restore order and preserve the peace.
No doubt the militia have done many
things that cannot be successfully de-
Tended, and have exercised power in
an dFDltTdTy ana a altogether UNI
justifiable manner According to the
accounts they have arrested law-abid
ing citizens and thrown them into prls-
on and held them there without bail
and without giving them a chance to
see their lawyers and they have pro-
hibited the publication of any mat
tiers not approved by them.
1t would. of course, take too long
to enumerate all the illegal things
charged against them. And the union
miners also have done their fair share
of Illegal acts. OF course, they don't
permit it to be said that they are re-
sponsible for the murder of the nom
union miners at Independence. but they
cannot prevent the people from think
ing they are responsible for that crime.
If the perpetrators of that awful deed
are not appfehended and punished it
will be because they have gone beyond
the jurisdiction Of any earthly court.