The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-31
PEABODY DEFENDS
 RECENT ACTION
Says EmpIoyrlont of Militia
 Was Absolutely Necessary
IS NOT AGAINST UNIONS
Thinks Ills Policy Was None Too Vigorous for the OutIawry He Was Called Upon to
 Oppose.

Denver, Colo, July Ex-Governor James H Peabody today issued an address ex- blaming and vindicating his acts in deal ing with the labor troubles in Colorado. He refutes the contention that the strike .begun by the Western Federation of
 Miners at the ore reduction works in
 Colorado City was called because of the failure of the legislature to enact an eight hour law, pointing out that it was called on the 14th of February five or six weeks before the adjournment of the legislature, which then had under con- sideration an eight-hour law. Later a sympathetic strike was declared by the federation at Cripple Creek to cut off
 the ore supply of the mills.
 Governor Peabody goes into the history of the Western Federation of Miners
 which he declares has been replete with
 assaults, dynamite outrages and murder. In affording protection to men who de-
 sired to labor, the governor explains:
 Governor Peabody's Statement.
 Ut became necessary in my judgment to confine certain men in military guard houses as one of the safest and most expeditions methods of restoring order It
 was loudly proclaimed that this was with
 out authority of law. The question was submitted to the supreme court and the action of the military in that respect fully sustained Ix is a useful and neces-
 sary power. and the class that should
 dread it's exercise is not numerous.
 The general policy pursued in Cripple Creek was followed in other parts of the
 state, especially In the Telluride district
 where the excesses and crimes of the federation had been more inhuman than
 in other districts, and the terror still more complete. Order now prevails there. Quiet had been restored at Cripple Creek when the dynamite outrage was commit
 ted June G. followed by the riot at Vic tor The governor. places the responsible ity for both of these occurrences upon the federation"
 When the excitement had somewhat
 subsided and the county was still under quasi military rule" the governor con
 tinues. 'ft was found that there were several hundred members of the Western
 Federation of Miners in the district who
 would not work, and had resolved that
 others should. not, if by such methods as those employed at the Independence sta
 tion, these men could be driven away.
 resolved that they should be dispersed
 and dispersed them"
 Denies the Charge.
 Governor Peabody denies the charge that he is waging war on labor unions generally, and closes as follows:
 "l have had to deal with an organiza- tion which has no counterpart in this country It's official proclamations, full of defiance and challenge. issued from time to time. have amounted as has been said to a declaration of war
 T have met the challenge with a policy
 none too vigorous for the outlawry I was | called upon to oppose. But through Il all have had but one object. and that tc show the people of Colorado that the ! laws would be upheld: that a criminal or ganization cannot dictate the policy oi this administration, and that everywhere within the borders of Colorado property shall be secure and labor shall be free