The Grit-advocate., 1904-07-01
MINERS APPEAL
BY UNITED MINE WORKERS
rado Issue An Appeal to the
Public

Public.
Denver, June ga Trinidad dis
patch says: The following appeal for
aid has been issued by the officers Of
the United Mine Workers and gener-
ally distributed throughout the city
and county. 1t will also be sent to all
cities throughout the East and West:
AN appeal to the public at large,
and organized labor and sympathizers
in particular, and few of the rea-
sons why we make this appeal:
ITO begin with, after listening to
the supplications of downtrodden la
Dor for number of years in Colorado.
and after using all lawful means at
our command to meet and adjust our
evances with the coal operators,
nj having all our efforts in this direc-
tion met with scorn and disdain. or
the guns and abuse of the hired pol
troons of said companies deputy
sheriffs), and after being fully con-
vinced that nothing short of a cessa
tion of work would open the deaf ear
of corporate greed, on November 9th
last there was a strike declared in
District Is, United Mine Workers Of
America, and sanctioned and support
cd by our national organization. We
have had the full support Of our ma
tional organization. Notwithstanding
the fact that every effort known to
man has been put forth since last No
vember by our national and district
officers to reach an adjustment Of the
trouble, and Notwithstanding the fact
that we have been subjected to the
worst form of indignity that a selfish
corporation and prostituted state
government could devise, executed by
the most heartless tyrants in the form
OF military commanders and county
officials, we are still ready to settle
on fair basis. but not willing to sub
init to condition, compared with
which the lot of black slave of the
South was paradise.
Men have been driven from their
homes at the point of guns. Men have
had their homes razed to the ground
over their very heads.
"Virtuous women have been insult
ed in the presence of their husbands,
fathers and brothers, who, if they
made any resistance, were subjected
to the worst forms of indignities. Men
were ambushed and shot like crimi-
nails on the public highways by the
military desperadoes and thugs OF the
companies deputy sheriffs), and had
nVfecourse for them.
Men were seized and thrown into
military bullpens and deported from
their homes and families for no other
reason than that they were union men.
and their wives and daughters awak-
ened from their sleep at the dead hour
OF night only to be insulted ana abused
by the military thugs. Some have
been forced at the bayonet to salute
a flag that all true Americans revere
in it's province. but all hate to see it
disgraced in the manner IT has been
in the coal fields Of southern Colora-
do These and other indignities of
sufficient magnitude to make the blood
of an American run cold, too numer-
GUS to mention, have we submitted to-
"And now, after nearly eight
months of strike in which our peo'
pie have demonstrated (by their con
tinued unity of thought and solidity
of rank) that they want something
better than their present condition
our earnest appeal to the coal opera
tors for a fair and impartial settle
ment of the trouble has again been
met with contempt and disdain, and
| the only proposition that they will
4 listen 10 Is All lilcOllullloLdl Siil'l
/ der and submission to a form of slav'
| cry that makes the American quail.
"And there is fair probability that
1 conditions unforeseen at the inception
/ of the trouble have arisen which will
/ force our national organization tc
| withdraw, or curtail, the financial sup
l port that is now coming into Dis
1 trict Is.
I'VE therefore issue this appeal to
organized labor and sympathizers tc
& con to our relief as quickly and as
Z generously as possible, as we believe
Y this not only a fight to the death be
tween organized labor and organized
[ capital in Colorado, but when this is
accomplished (should it be accom-
plished), organized capital will then
/ enter the fight OF determination OF
organized labor in other fields.
/ Therefore, we take the position
that our fight is your fight, and ask
you, as liberty-loving people, to con
tribute your mite to the end that or
ganized labor may not be strangled
4 in this Centennial State (Colorado)
! and by SO doing win the everlasting
1 gratitude of the striking coal miners
of District Is. United Mine Workers
1 of America. comprising Colorado Utah
and New Mexico.
Send all remittances to John Simp
L son. secretary-treaSurer, District 10
! postofflcs box III, Trinidad, Colorado
Garnoent workers Strike