The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-23

! Colorado. A month ago the first spe-
cial that appeared in the Dallas News
said that colorado has q fight on it's
hands against so-called socialistic
ring in the Western Federation OF
Miners and that business men have
united for the purpose of stamping
out not trade unionismA blu. socialism
among the unions Today the head
| lines are, Humiliation of Unionism."
| The whole trouble in Colorado is
the, result of organized wealth at
| tempting to suppress the will of the
people, BY the tremendous majority
of 46,714 the people of Colorado in
November, 1902, declared for a con-
stitutional amendment making an
eight-hour day. Republicans and
democrats were pledged to this legis-
lation. But on the meeting OF the
legislature the expressed will of the
people was defeated by strong lobby
from the mine owners What was the
result? What might be expected to
result. when lawful means to obtain
their rights were trampled upon by
| the hypocritical class that makes
speciality Of standing for law and or
der?" Why, the miners struck for an
eight-hour day, just what majority
of the people voted they should have,
and, Immediately, in response to the
demands of the mine owners, military
law - despOtism - was inaugurated.
Striking miners were deported, impris-
oned and torn from their families un-
der any pretext or no pretext, to make
life intolerable for men who were
simply standing on their civil rights.
All the civil officers in the district,
elected by the people, from district
judge down to justice of the peace,
sheriffs and all, have been compelled
to resign, under threat of hanging, by
an alliance of the mine owners and
so-called citizens alliance" to whom
Governor Peabody has farmed out the
militia, for whose services the mine,
owners have advanced the money to
pay. Thus the militia are under 10
other authority than the will of the
mine owners, some of them being Off
GERS. in charge
Only after five months do these
horrors begin to ooze out to the pub
lie, simply because it is respectable
wealth that stands behind these out
RACES instead of downtrodden labor.
C. E. OBENCHAIN.
Greenville, Tex
Undoubtedly Mr. Obenchain is COR
rect. The citizens alliance is not
making its fight because of old-fash-
Toned trades unionism, but because OF
socialism In the unions. Old-fash-.
toned trades unionism strictly barred
politics" and depended upon strikes
to settle labor difficulties; and the in
diyidual members of the union gem
orally voted the ticket the boss told
them to-which was whichever old
party ticket the situation rendered
best adapted to promote the inter-
ests of the boss"
But with socialism in the unions,
the men were beginning to talk about
class consciousness" and standing to-
gether for their own interests, and
voting for their own kind of people to
fill the Offices. That makes socialism
dangerous Ito the boss"
The Independent does not advocate
socialism. 1t does not agree with
great deal in the socialist philosophy.
But If the cooperative commonwealth
were ushered in now along the lines
laid down by the most radical of the
socialists, and If it should prove as
defective as many people believe it |
would belt could not possibly be as
bad as the present anarchy which |
reigns in Colorado True, a numDer Of
wealthy mine owners out there might |
be obliged to go to which they
now think would be bad for them
but there couldn't possibly be any |
worse confusion than now, and GER
tainly not so total disregard of per-
sonal rights as now exists.
Predatory wealth at times exhibits
rare cunning; at other times the
densest ignorance. Nothing could
give greater impetus to socialism
than the present prosecutions. Chris
Lianity was spread through the she'd
ling OF martyrs blood; socialism
seems destined to be spread in a SIM
lar manner. The outrages perpe-
rated against the followers OF Joseph
smith In Missouri laid the foundation
'or the present Mormon church; the
)utrages now being committed against
he socialists OF Colorado will scatter
,Ofin liQnn all nUar tho IT,ttaI Sy4...- |