The Glenwood post., 1904-08-06

that in two years We can hear the
| inspiring music of the martial tread
| of p, 600 armed men in the ranks of
labor.
This utterance is in line with ad
vice repeated and reiterated by other
leaders of the organization.
Nor have these words been sterile
of fruit. In every strike inaugural
ed by this union in the state of Colo
RADIO has been followed the precedent
set in Idaho. in 1899. when !, 900 men
armed themselves with rifles. pill
laged boldly from the state armory,
and openly proceeded to take life and
destroy property by dynamiting the
Bunker Hill and Sullivan mill.
A Few Historical Facts
I'm 1894 federation members,
armed to the teeth, entrenched and
picketed and with precise military
organization detiantly held prisoners
for exchange ON Bull mill, in Cripple
Creek.
In 1896 federation members killed
in open conflict on the streets of
Leadville citizens of Lake county,
and did those murders with rifles
bought and paid for by the local ex-
ecutive committee of the federation
In San Miguel county Vincent
st. John president of the local union
of the Western Federation, bought
and paid for go rifles, with which
he armed his federation followers,
and these guns were used in broad
daylight on non union miners at the
Smugeler Union mine in one Of the
most inhuman and barbarous crimes
ever committed in the name of any
cause.
In Lake City, in 1898, again
these lawless men stole rifles from the
state armory, and were prepared to
use them to uphold their demands
and, finally, out of the union hall at
Victor there surrendered on June 6 of
this year 62 members of the Western
Federation of Miners. bearing among
them 30 rifles. 32 revolvers and nine
shoteuns. which were still hot with
shots fired at citizens and at the uni
formed militia of the state.
Unscrupulous Men Control Union
This record convinced me that
the overt acts which had been com
mitted in Cripple Creek were but fore
runners of others. and that with the
executive officers of Teller county in
it would be but "A few days until
reign of terror involving loss of life
and property would be established in
that district. The federation is led
and absolutely controlled by unscrup
ulous men. Only two of the execu
tive committee are residents of the
state ana none of the committee has
anything in common with the
state interests. The character and
history of this federation must be
held constantly in view in determin
ing whether or not the policy | have
pursued is wise and proper. There
is no other organization with such
character and such a history in the
Uuited.States. | knew and realized
this when the strike was inaugurated
in Cripple Creek. / was requested by
rel plesentatives of the mine operators,
representative citizens of the district
and the mayor of Victor to send the
troops to the Cripple Creek district.
Before responding to the demand
however | sent commission com
posed of Hon. n. c, Miller attorney
general of the state: Gen. John
Chase who at that time commanded
the military Of the state. and Hon.
T E. Mcclellan, ex United States
prosecuting attorney that they might
investigate the conditions in person
aud report to me. In response to the
recommendations of this commission
troops were ordered to the Cripple
Creek district on Sept 4. the com
mission having convinced me that
only in this manner could the peace
and quiet of Teller county he main
tanned aud men protected in their
right to follow their usual vocation
There is no higher duty devolviug
upon the executive of amy state than
thar of aturdiug protection to men
who desire to labor In afording
that protection it later became neces
sary, in my judgment to confue
certain men in military guard houses
as one of the safest and most eNpedi
tiou- methods of restoring order 1t
was loudly proclaimed that this was
without authority of law The ques
tiou was submitted to the supreme
court and the action Ct the militia
in that respect fully sustained
The law abiding citizens of the
state need not be alarmed by the
frenzied cry that they are all in