The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-06-11
THE STRIFE IN COLORADO.


The sympathy Of all right-thinking persons vii
90 out to the miners Of Colorado. These union men
banded together for protection which evidently
difficult to secure, have perhaps at times used NOR
violence than would have been in keeping with goo'
order, but every circumstance connected with thei
struggle indicates that they greatly aggravated
No more serious labor situation has ever been brough
about anywhere, and the outcome viii be watched
with intense interest all over the country
Various causes have been attributed to the in
crease in wages during the past few years, but that
the general rise has been due to the influence Of labor
unions can not be disputed Since the laboring mer
have organized employers have been compelled tc
grant better wages, and more equitable condition
OF affairs has thereby been brought about.
But the tendency of the times is to down union
ism. There seems to be widespread sentiment
among the employers that union laborers shall be
compelled to forsake their organizations. In many
instances the employers are not opposed to wage
scales but rather oppose the idea that laborng men,
acting together as union, shall make and enforce
demands affecting the wage scale This sentiment on
the part Of employers is tyrannous Laboring men
have the same right to organize for their mutual
welfare that is enjoyed by capitalists to form com
binations for their own financial wellbeing The
effort to break down the organization of the worker
IS villainous, and only those employers lost to all
sense of righteousness would lend themselves to
proposal Of the kind
In Colorado the anti-union employers seem to
be pressing the limit Totally disregarding the
moral rights of the men who are employed in the
mines, they have induced susceptible governor to
send troops to the affected districts where the strk
ers have been shot down like dogs and ordered forth
with out Of the country by an organization STYLING
itself the Citizens Alliance" The bloody scenes
incident to the operations of the Ku Klux Kan are
being reenacted in Colorado the state troops scour
ing the country in regular skirmish formation for
the purpose OF capturing more victims for the en-
ployers bulpen The spectacle of troops firing upon
Workingmen who striving to uphold their rights
is indeed amentable one and to the everlasting dis
grace of the state of Colorado there is no official act
recorded which is calculated to peaceably settle the
difficulty
The determination on the part Of the combinations
Of capital to break down the union spirit is amply
exemplied in the pre-emptory order that all union
men and women shall get out Of the country. mol
matter to what union man may belong, he must
60, or stand the chance of being shot down by SOL
ders for whose maintenance he contributes his share
Certainly the situation is an appalling one, and all
the more dsgraceful because Of the attitude of the
governor who has been hand in hand with the cut
throat capitalists who applying the rack to the
union men who have heretofore labored in the coal
mines.
The Colorado struggle should only encourage
union men to stand more firmly together. It should
teach them to be firm, but reasonable at all times
and to prepare for struggles which may arise here
after. The payment Of wages is a matter of agree
nent, and it is just and proper that aborers should
act concertedly. To place themselves in position to
demand the worth Of their hire working
men should perfect their organizations and prepare
for just such crises have recently arisen at the coal
Mines