The Red Cloud chief., 1904-06-17

The Federation Denies That it
Countenanced OutIawry.
MINE OWNERS TO BLAME
Facts Regarding Cause Of strike-Fed-
GRAFTON Caring for Deported MIN
ers Women and Children.

bueu ~ sldteIuenL TesdTulHB tne Sltud-
tion In Cripple Creek in reply to the
statements made by General Sherman
M. Bell and Secretary c. e. Hamlin,
Of the Cripple Creek district mine
owners association. II is as follows:
THE cause of the strike OF the west
ern federation OF miners in Colorado
In one OF long standing, and involves
tho failure on the part OF mine-owners
In far parts Of the state to live up to
their W agreements. As far back as
1884. az a result of the strikes at that
time, the ~mine-owners agreed that
eight hours should constitute a days
work: that the minimum daily wage
should be 81. and that there should be
no discrimination against union men
In the hiring and discharge of labor.
At the outset Of the present trouble
Manager MacNeii, OF the Standard
mill at Colorado City, peremptorily
discharged forty-fve men. members Of
the western federation of miners, for
no other reasons than that they had
become union men. All of these we're
old employees Of from two to six years
standing. Mill men are affiliated with
the western federation OF miners and
are entitled to all Of the protection
that goes with such membership.
To-day the only questions involved
are the enforcement of the eight hour
day. the right OF men to organize in
the unions and to prevent discrimina-
ton against union men Of all kinds.
The responsibility for the lawless-
ness connected with the contest re-
suits entirely on the shoulders of the
mine operators. the citizens alliance
and their allies backed up by the ready
power OF the state government.
"The responsibility has been placed
on these persons and organizations by
District Judge Theron Stevens, who
denounced the military usurpation in
Telluride In strong language from the
bench: by District Judge j. Walter
Dixon, republican. who openly on
dennis Governor Peabody and severely
critlcises his acts. involving the de-
portation OF men from the state with
out trial or other chance of hearing: by
Ex-Governor Charles ~. Thomas. who
plainly points to the mine-owners' as
ISOLATION and citizens alliance As being
committed on the persons Of helpless
and innocent miners: by the recent
democratic state convention, which de-
nounced in u%nscathing terms the line
Of policy pursued"
Seventy-six depprted Victor. Colo.
miners sent u from their state on
a special train in charge OF half a
hundred Colorado m%ilitiamen. were left
destitute upon the prairie. with a part
ing volley. fired into the air. the mill
tiamen deserted their charges and re-
turned west. Later the unfortunate
miners we're turned back to Colorado
by an armed Kansas sheriff and forty
deputies.
The miners had been placed on the
train, which vas a special made up by
the authorities in control in the dis.
turbed Colorado town, and in charge
OF we'll armed militiamen, and started
for the east. At La Junta. Col, where
the first stop was made. the cars were
guarded closely. The miners were mo-
permitted to leave the cars, nor were
any Of the hundred or so men who
gathered at the station. allowed t.
communicate with them. When a poin.
holt a n,iIn uynct ne Tho Kancoc ctat.
line was reached. a halt was made. 1
was a deserted spot on the wild prai
RE. with no railway station, eatin,
house nor farmers house within sew
eral miles.
The men started east afoot, but wer
met and turned back by Sheriff Jacl
Brady Of Hamilton county, Kansas
and forty armed deputies. After
long. weary tramp. they struggled int
Holly, Col. a small todwn near the Col
orda-Kansas line. where they wer
furnished food at the big Salvatio
army station located there.
Despite the emphatic command {
Colonel Kennedy, the men after a res
again took up their journey west an
started overland for Lamar. Col.
They were notified that a speci'
train would be sent to take them all I
= Denver.
| They decided to await instructor.
from the officers OF the federation
Denver as to- their future movement
The federation of miners has furnishe
the men with money to pay their e.
p ysenses and there is no immediate ne
r essity for them to move to anoth'
9 town. All the miners were the CUES
OF the mayor OF Holly at dinner.
q Supplying the wives and children
the union members OF the Cripp
4 Creek district with provisions and ia
ing care OF the deported men are 6
Successful Trip with OIL Feel.
Nine thousand, six hundred and thi