Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-08-05
GOVERNOR PEABODY'S STATEMENT
DEFENDING HIS STRIKE POLICY

VILE citizens OF Lake county. and did
those murders with rifles bought and
paid for by the local executive commit
tee OF the federation.
In San Miguel county. Vincent st.
John. president OF the local union OF
the Western Federation. bought and
paid for $50 rifles. with which he
armed his federation followers. and
these guns were used In broad daylight
on non-union miners at the SmusEier-
Union mine In one OF the most inhu-
man and barbarous crimes ever COM
mitted In the name Of any cause.
In Lake City. In 1898. against these
iawless 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 9Th OF this
year. sixty-two members OF the West
ern Federation Of miners, bearing
among them thirty-fve rifles. thirty
two revoivers and nine shot.uns.
| which were still hot with shots fired
at citizens and nt the uniformed MILL
tin Of the state.
unserupuious Men Had Federation.
This record convinced me that the
overt acts which had been committed
In Cripple Creek were but forcrunnerS
officers Of Teller county In direct col.
iusion with this organization II would
be but few days until reign Of ter
ror involving loss Of life and property
would be established In that district
The federation is led and absolutely
controlled by INSCRIPTIONS men. Only
two Of the executive committee are
residents Of tho state and none Of tho
committee has anything In common
with the states interests. The charac-
ter and history Of this federation must
be held constantly In view In deter
mining whether or not the policy
have pursued !s wise and proper. There
II no other organization with such
character and such n history In the
United States. knew and realized
this when tho strike was inau.urnicd
In Cripple Creek. ! was requested by
representatives Of the mine operators.
representative citizens Of the district
and the mayor OF Victor To send tho
troops To the Cripple Creek district
Before responding to the demand. how
ever. ] sent n commission composed OF
Hon. n. c. Miller. attorney general of
tho state: Gen. John Chase. who Mt that
timc commanded the military OF tho
state. and Hon. T. +. McCicilnnd.. ex-
United States prosecuting attorney.
tions In person and report TO me. In
response to tho recommendations OF
this commission troops were ordered TO
the Cripple Creek district on Scptcm-
Der 9Th. the commission having con-
WINGED me that only In this manner
could the peace ard quiet OF Teller
county be maintained and men pro-
tccted In their right to follow their
usual vocation.
There Is no higher daty dcvoiving
upon the executive Of any stntc than
that OF affording protection TO men
who desire to labor. In nTordtng that
protection II later became necessary. in
| my judgment. to confinc certain men
In military guard houses rs one OF the
snfcst and most expeditions methods OF
restoring order. II 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 fui-
ly sustained.
"Thc lnw.abiding citizens OF the
| state need not be alarmed by the fren.
| zicd cry that they are all In danger OF
Incarceration II the governor has such
power. II is n useful and necessary
| power. and the class that should dread
| It's exercise is not numerous. In this
regard I pursued the course which
seemed wisest and best. and ] cannot
seek higher authority for It's legality
than the Supreme Court.
There may have been occasional In.
discretions OF officers or men as Is In.
evitable with large body not accus'
toned to such scrvices-but 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
mitted. The general policy pursued in
Cripple Creek was followed in other
parts OF the state and particularly In
Telluride where the excessos and
crimes of the federation had been still
more inhumnn than in any other dis.
trict and the reign of terror still more
complete. Order now prevails there
and II 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 affiliated with the Western
Federation of Miners save only the
Portland mine where many fedora.
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 II. 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 3
o'clock on the morning of June G, a
mine Of dynamite was exploded by
means OF an Internal machine placed