Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-08-05


stantly blown to fragments and many
others mutilated and maimed for life.
All these men were non.union miners
about to board train for their homes
In the district.
This Infamous outrage. following as
II did years OF Intimidation. threats,
countless assaults and murders. was
the last Of the series which had caused
q verItabie 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 Vie
tor the afternoon following the Indc-
pendence outrage and while the meet
ing was being addressed the crowd
was fred upon from the federation
store and union hall. Two non.unioS
miners were shot and killed and six
others wounded. TIE local troops
were called out the same evening at
tho request Of the mayor OF Victor to
prevent the exccsses that seemed In
evItablc.
Deportation an Urgent Necessity.
"when the excitement had subsidized
somewhat and the county was still
under quasi military rule. II was found
that there were several hundred mem
bcrs 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 nj the
Independence station they could be
driven or frightened away.
ut became apparent that even with
o I.., Los urN la,
that county Il would he impossible to
prevent the use Of dynamite In the
stcnithy manner always employed by
the federation. The mountains and
Iulchcs Of that rugged country afforded
n multitude OF safe places for recon.
noitcr and hiding. The troops which
had already been there greater part
OF the year. could not be maintained
indefinitely without incurrin. i'm
mcnsc additional expense. The only
safe and available remedy seemed to
be to dispense the radical members. II
all Of them had not personally parti'
cipntcd In the outraEcs they had Mt
least stood approyingly by and given
their support. encouragement and pro
lection.
III these men were scattered tho
avenues which ten years OF orgnnixa.
tion and association had opened for
crime In that district would be closed.
II would require much time In any
other community before they could
gather about them n new band OF con.
spirntorS with the inclination and
daring to inansurptc In now field an.
other condition OF terrorism. These
men. as ! have nnid. had de.
tcrmincd 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 strifc-commitiinE dcprcdations ana
iniimidating by inhuman crimes the
working miners.
Il resolved that they should be dis
porscd and ! dispcrsed them. This was
done. however. only after careful in
vcs'igntlon OF each individual case.
II hope and believe tina, these men
no sent from the district will when re-
leased from the evil Influences of a
criminal leadership return to lawful
living and resolve that n recognition
Of the rights which the laws confer Is
the proper guide for conduct.
Il propose in the future. as In the
past. to see to IL that the laws arc
faithfully executed and In the accom-.
plishment Of that purpose I shall not
inquire whether the individual entitled
to protection Is. or is not. n member OF
any labor organization. No one can
appreciate more than I. not only the
right and wisdom OF laboring men to
Join together for the purpose Of bet
tering their wages and working condi.
tions. and no one can believe more
heartily than I In n fair wage and
reasonable hours. II will be n matter
OF great regret to me II the laboring
men OF tho state fail to see that ! am
fighting their battle. for I sincerely be-
lieve that organized labor has no more
dangerous enemy than the Western
Federation of Miners. which Is seeking
under the cloak OF organized labor. to
protect itself alike in the promulga.
tion OF It's dishonest socialistic theo-
rios. which recognize no right to pri.
vate property. and from the result OF
its anarchistic tencts and tendencies.
Legitimate labor organizations OF ne
cessity suffer from the criminal ag-
gressions OF the federation. Its claim
TO the character OF labor organlza-
ton is its only title to responsibility.
I believe that no greater good can be
conferred upon the cause of union Ia
Dor. striving to better the condition
OF its members. than that the members
of such legitimate labor unions con.
denim the methods of the federation.
"Those who are charged with the
duty of seeing that the lives and prop
erty OF citizens are respected have DIFF
ficut and perplexing problems to
solve in times OF insurrection and
great public stress.
81 have had to deal with an organiza.
tion which has no counterpart In this
country. Its Official proclamations. full
OF defiance and challenge. issued from
time to time, have amounted. as has
been said. to "A declaration OF war
against the state.
81 have met the challenge with
policy none too vigorous for the out.
lawry was called on to oppose. But