The Elbert County tribune. [volume] (Elbert, Elbert County, Colo.) 18??-1920, 1904-08-25

warm friend Of organized labor. has, aner csreiui
published Arrangement on the west
ern Federation Of Miners
Mr. WelIman Investigated several great strihes'
and has never place the blame where he De
iieved should justly e He twice supported tne CON
Mitchell in the anthracite coa heios o
Pennsylvania and had the satisfaction Oh seeing puDne
opinion President and the strike commission
take his view situation Mr.. Welman has recently
published several striking letters in the Colorado si,ua
ton In the New Herald. Chicago Record and otner
papers, which caused sensation in the EAST IN
his last letter he summed up and gave his conclusion IN
clear logical He the policy pursued by the
state authorities justifae and he highly
officials This letter will be very useful In correct
ing public in the East which has been isied
by the socialist bureau and its allies at the head OF
whom Senator The following excerpts from
Mr. wellman's letter will show the position he takes
any conclusion has reached after two weeks of
panstanq Investigation after hearing both Sides after
siftIng furnished by the leading OF the
rival by the authortes after scores Of
extended with neutral citizens who In position
Of the TRUTH after minute inquiry into the
details Of various episodes which throw light upon the
question responsibility, and after conscientious
impartial. Judicial analysis Of all conflict
Ing statements.
This investigation was approached with a perfectly
open mind; without any bias between the factions
without the slightest concern for the interests of any
political party candidate II there was any bent OF
instructive trend of sympathy the part of the
investigator could be found only in general molina
side of the under dog against oppression
and wrong. to champion the cause of organized labor
wherever organized labor is wholesome and conservative
has right behind It.
"The Judgment reached is emphatic and decisive. 1t
hating. doubtful divided opinion. 1t is lame
and mpotent conclusion tmd Scotch verdict no adrot
balancing of party against those of
the other In TRUTH judgment would be sheer coward
ice for have never known labor in which the guilt
responsibility side stood clearly and
mlstakaby.
This in Colorado preciptated by series of
plumbers the of the Western Federation of Miners
-biunders wicked and atrocous that they fairly
be called crimes.
usual the responsible for this blunder worse
than crime this crime against their people.
penalty They their salaries security They
live in comparative luxury. Theirs is the pleasant task
Of dsbursng the relief funds-$10000 week-whch pour
in to ameliorate the misery they have wrought 1t
not their lot to live through the reign of terror Their
wives not died in the crises of nature
terrible and often fatal by of fear lest
husband should be engulfed in the of crime
anarchy, repression. which the community
f the leaders who precipitated this conflict had
actual to right; II they had had Just be-
hind them; if they had had fair chance to gain
real advantage for the and they
IT, this basis. they had made brave and honest fight
It, no friend of labor, certainly writer
would or could condemn them.
But these had right justice behind them.
They had chance to win tangible advantage for
their followers. There was not possibility that they
could achieve practical good for the of
the rights Of the employers of the communities involved
society large. and reducing everything to the
standpoint of what good for union
labor. and still 1t a criminal blunde-
In some fit of mad ambition fcnatcal zeal lust
wanton love for these desperate leaders
made pawns and victims of the men and women whose
it their duty guard They wickedy entered
conflict which they must have known could end in
ing but defeat misery Their motives may may
been honorable.
"But II is certain fate that their action with
Justification from any point of view, and of
from that Of organized labor itself.
There may be differences of opinion to whether
not has the right himself But there
drag his children. who cling him because they
lieve is wise and strong.
Referring the calling of the at Cripple Creek
the excellent working conditions in that Mr.
Wellman says:
bad enough of the federation leaders plunge
their followers into useless 1t unfair rob
them OF the right to vote their strike Notwith-
standing all of Mr. Haywoods clever quibbling Che is
smart mani the that the national
referendum away from the local unions
what purposes? First, because the leaders were eager
this power in their hands:
ond, they knew if the question left
miners themselves they would three against
a strike
AT the Findley mine the original draft
natures a voluntarily prepared by
there the time the sympathetic strike talked
expressing sympathy for the men at Colorado City but