Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-08-04
PEABODY'S
OFFICIAL
REVIEW
ITO the People of Colorado: /:

There is a prevalent idea in this
country that the proprieties which
pertain to the higher executive oil
fees should deter their incumbents
from engaging in any of the contrO-
versial discussion OF their policy or
action. limiting the executive func-
uon in that regard to the message.
that from time to time are made 10
the legislature
Il would not at this time depart
from the observance of the rule OF 81
lence | have hitherto followed did
not believe that recent events render
such departure a duty to my state
The unhappy conditions which have
existed and 10 degree still exist in
three out OF 80 counties OF the state
have been made the preteXt for tht
most wantOn and false representa-
tions of the conditions in the state "A
large
Certain newspapers of the state o.
wide circulation and influence. whict
have never been distinguished, either
for support OF conservative policies OF
for condemning the eNcesses of tht
one organization which has cause,
our trouble, have given these misrep
reservations the widest publicity.
Many OF the people OF our sister
states with faint notions OF the trutL
have been led to believe that Colorad,
is in a state of anarchy. ruled b.
abandoned public officials who have
rendered life and liberty unsafe.
This picture has been drawn b.
certain citizens of our own state whc
for selfish purposes. which are appar
ent. seek to tarnish the fair name of
great and prosperous commonwealth
Democratic Delegation Misrepresenteo
State at St. Louis.
"lf the public press is to be cred
tied. the delegation from this stat,
to the recent St Louis convention.
pictured before the representatives o.
every state in tie Onion the woe an,
desolation and degradation, the law
lessness and hopelessness of then
own state
Colorado deserves a better fate al
the hands of her sons.
And again it has become the set
tied policy of those who nope TO gain
political advantage through the mis-
fortunes of the people of a few local
tiles TO inaugurate by daily pronounce
ments a campaign of hatred and to
lead that large law-abidlng and liber
ty-loving body of our citizens who be.
long to labor unions to believe that
have been, and still am, engaged in
waging a war against all union labor
Nothing could be farther from IN!
policy or my desire.
THE considerations above stated
and many others. lead me to believe
that it is fitting and proper for me to
present to the people of this state ant
to the public generally a review as
brie1 as is consistent with a proper
understanding of the causes thai lea
up 10 the labor troubles with which
have had to deal. and OF the reasons
for the policy which has been pur-
sued.
Very soon after | assumed Office
and on February IA. 1903, strike
was declared at the ore reduction
mills At Colorado City in El Paso coun
tyr.. the Colorado City Mill anu
Western Federation of Miners. On
the night OF Feb. IA, a large number
~ strikers proceeded to one of the
mills and by show OF force and man.
threats drove the workmen who haa
refused to strike from their labor
The strikers established pickets. En-
ployes oi the mills were assaulted
and conditions gradually grew worse
until on March following, the sherih
oi the county petitioned me 10 senG
the militia, saying that he was unable
to preserve the peace and protect lie
and property A petition to the same
effect was also presented at about tne
same time. signed by a very largv
number of the most conservative, Wen
known and highly respected residents
oil I'll PasO county, urging that / SEM
the militia without delay.
This representations OF conditions
and knowledge gained from otner
sources impeled me to order out a
detachment of the national guard ior
service al and about the mills. The
strike continued, but the militia pre-
served order. The mills continued TO
operate. The statements made BY
the opposing sides were greatly al
variance, and in order to ascertain the
truth and allay public excitement, on
the nineteenth day of March, 1908, /
requested ive gentlemen ot acknowl.
edged standing in the state-Prof. W.
i. Slocum, former Judge Charles ID.
Hayt. Rev Thomas Uzzell, Father j.
p. Corrigan and Hon. Frank W. Fre-
wen. "a member OF the Legislature OF
the state and also ut that time a
members of the Western Federation
OF Miners-to act as commission to
investigate and report to me the
causes of the trouble, and to seek, 4
possible. a friendly settlement. This
body was known as the governor 5
commission. DR.. Slocum was unable
to serve, but the remaining members
acted. and both sides voluntarily sp'
peared before them and produced a
mass of evidence.
AS a result of this commissions la
bors, on March 81, 1903, the officials
af the mill anpeared before the com