The Springfield herald., 1904-08-05


tected in their right to follow their
usual vocation.
There is no higher duty. devolying
upon the executive of any state than
that of affording protection to men
who desire to labor. In affording that
protection II later became necessary, in
my judgment to conflne certain men
in military guard houses as one of the
safest and most expeditions. methods OF
restoring order 1t was loudly pro-
claimed that this was without author
ity of law The question was submit
ted to the Supreme Court and the ac-
tion OF the militia in that respect full
ly sustained.
"The law-abiding citizens OF the
state need not be alarmed by the fren.
zied cry that they are all in danger OF
Incarceration II the governor has such
power 1t is useful and necessary
power, and the class that should dread
its exercise Is not numerous. In this
regard pursued the course which
seemed wisest and best. and cannot
seek higher authority for Its legality
than the Supreme Court.
There may have been occasional In
discretions of officers or men as is in
evitable with a large body not accus.
TONED 10 SUCH beTVlCtS"uut whenever
such instances have been brought to
my attention they have been promptly
and properly dealt with and the ma
tional guard Of the state has been
maintained on high standard
THE troops were in the. Cripple
Creek district from September 4. 1908.
to the 11th day OF April, 1904, in di.
minishing numbers as conditions per-
mittea The general policy pursued in
Cripple Creek was followed in other
parts OF the state and particularly in
Telluride where the excesses and
crimes of the federation had been still
more inhuman than in any other dis.
trict and the reign of terror still more
complete. Order now prevails there
and 1t is believed that the people of
that district may at least enjoy peace
and quiet.
Peace but Calm Before Storm.
THE trouble in the Cripple Creek
district had apparently subsidized. The
last of the troops were withdrawn. as
have stated. on the 11th day, of
April. 1904. The mines were all being
operated with full quota of men who
were not afiliated with the Western
Federation of Miners save only the
tion members were employed. The law.
lessness which has everywhere charac-
terized the methods of that federation
seemed for time to have been
abandoned by it, The district appar-
entity was destined to enjoy a period
of peace. But 1t proved to be only the
calm before the storm. AT about
o'clock on the morning of June 6.
mine of dynamite was exploded by
means of an Internal machine placed
underneath the station platform at In
dependence and thirteen men were in
stantly blown to fragments and many
others mutilated and manned for life.
All these men were non-union miners
about to board train for their homes
in the district.
This infamous outrage, following as
it did years of intimidation, threats
countless assaults and murders, was
the last of the series which had caused
a veritable reign of terror in that min
ing district The citizens of the
county, inexpressibly shocked at this
wholesale murder of innocent men, de-
termined that the community must be
rid of the authors and instigators of
such crimes.
"a public meeting was held in Vic
tor the afternoon following the lnde.
pendence outrage and while the meet
ing was being addressed the crowd
was fired upon from the federation
store and union hall. Two non-union
miners were shot and killed and six
others wounded. The local troops
were called out the same evening at
the request of the mayor of Victor to
prevent the excesses that seemed in
evitable.
Deportation an Urgent Necessity. :.
when, the excitement had subsided
somewhat and the county was still
under quasi military rule. 1t was found
that there were several hundred mem
bers of the western federation in the
district who would not work and had
resolved that others should not ii by
such methods as those employed at the
Independence station they could be
driven or frightened away.
"It became apparent that even with
every member of the national guard in
that county 1t would be impossible to
prevent the use of dynamite in the
stealthy manner always employed by
the federation. The mountains and
gulches of that rugged country afforded
a multitude Of safe places for recon-
nOlter and nlQlng. Inc troops WHlCn
had already been there a greater part
of the year, could not be maintained
indefinitely without incurring i'm.
mense additional expense. The only
safe and available remedy seemed to
be to disperse the radical members. If
all of them had not personally parti-
cipated In the outrages they had at
least stood approvingly by and given
their support. encouragement and pro
lection.
"If these men were scattered the
avenues which ten years Of organiza-
tion and association had opened for
crime in that district would be closed.
1t would require much time in any
other community before they could
gather about them new band of con-
spirators with the inclination and
daring to inaugurate in new field an
other condition of terrorism. These
men, as / have said, had de-
termined never to yield the
strike. The mine owners had
resolved not to employ again
the members of that organization.
Therefore the only employment which
remained for them was that of stirring
up strife-committing depredations and
intimidating by inhuman crimes the
working miners