The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-10
Estimate of Losses Resulting
From Strikes in Colorado.
Figures Cover a Period Of But
Sixteen Months.
TROUBLE REVIEWED.
1t Appears That Miners First
Tried the Ballot Box.
Operators Were Able to Defeat
the Will Of the People.

Denver, Colo. June 1o.-The Re
publican today estimates the cost OF
the strikes in Colorado during the
past sixteen months under the admin
istration of Governor James H Pea
body to aggregate $2S.o36.OOO. An
itemized statement is given as follows:
Colorado City strike-State's ex-
pense, $26, 1000; loss to men in wages,
$750.OOO.
Cripple Creek strilxe-State's ex-
pense. 100000; loss In wages to
union men, $4,OOo,O00; loss in wages
to other labor, $4,000, 900.
Denver and Pueblo smelter strike
Loss to smeIter men and miners,
s3BO.OOO; loss to dependent labor,
100000.
Telluride strike-State's expense.
S175.00O; loss to union miners, ST.
10000; loss to dependent labor.
$s5O.O00.
Coal miners strike-State's ex-
pense. $4,000; loss in wages to
miners, $4,000, 900; loss to steel works
employees. S1.000.00O; loss to men in
allied trades. s1.5O0.o0 loss to en-
ployers through idle capital, interest,
profits, etc. s5s000,O0O.
The Western Federation Of Miners
is charged with responsibility for the
strike that has affected every business
and trade in the state and caused
much bloodshed.
The strikes originated early in 1903
in an attempt on the part of the fed
Grafton to force the introduction of ar
eight-hour day in the mills and
smelters of Colorado City, Denver AMI
Pueblo. Within a few weeks after he
/ had taken Office, January 1, 1903,
/ Governor Peabody sent troops to Col
oradO City, and with the exception Of
/ brief periods the National Guard has
| been on duty at one point or another
ever since. At present troops are sta
/ toned in Teller and San Miguel coun-
/ ties, in which martial law obtains
and Las Animas county, where mar
! tial law was suspended last Monday
/ The Cripple Creek miners strike be
\ gan ten months ago. The men were
/ earning on the average S3.25 for eight
/ hours work They had no complaints
OF their own, but went on strike in
tive officers for the purpose of shut
| ting off the ore supply of the mills
and smelters at which an eight hour
day was not granted.
| In this connection It should be noted
/ that by an overwhelming vote the peo-
| pie of the state had adopted a cousti-
tutiOnal amendment authorizing an
eight hour day for men working in
mines, mills and smelters but by some
means the passage Of the law necessary
to make the amendment effective was
! defeated at the ensuing regular session
/ of the legislature This IS the reason
| given by the executive officers of the
| federation for calling strikes.
i In Cripple Creek about 1000 union
miners were called out. Had the ques-
tion been submitted to the men them
selves on secret ballot it is asserted
/ that 80 per cent of them would have vo-
ted against going out. Many of them
| have renounced the union and returned
I to work, the mine owners with the ex-
| ception Of the Portland company re-
| fusing employment to members Of the
union. Western Federation officials
admit that the Cripple Creek unions
| loss through the strike has been four
million dollars and the total loss in
! that district eight million dollars. The
4 loss by the suspension of work in the
| Telluride district which was also a sym
pathetic strike, is estimated at two mill
| lion dollars.
President Campbell, of the Colorado
Mine Operators association, said that
| while the cost to the state for the milf
tia being in the field would possibly
reach $1,OOO,OO0, the loss to the miners
who stopped work and others forced 10
/ quit would be five times that amount
| The strike of the Southern Colorado
coal miners who are members of the
United Mine Workers of America, was
| ordered for different reasons and has
no relations to the strike at the gold
mines.
No Union Man Need Apply.
Cripple Creek, June 10.-Tyyo commit
tees composed of members of the Citf-
zens' Alliance, have started out with
identical forms Of agreement to secure
signatures. With two exceptions all
business houses visited signed through
authoritative representatives. The
agreement reads: I'VE. the undersigned
merchants of the Cripple Creek district
and employers Of help. hereby agree
not to employ help of any kind that is
30. anv way connected with the trades
assembly or the American Federation
Of Labor or the Western Federation OF
Miners or kindred organizations"
Every clerk employed in stores on
Bennett avenue, the principal business
thOroughfare, belongs to some union
but all will be required to surrender
their cards according to the agreement
made by their employers.