The Glenwood post., 1904-08-27

and has hesitaed to place the blame where he be-
lieved it should justly lie He twice supported the con
tentons of John Mitchell in the anthracite coal fields of
Pennsylvania and had the satisfaction of seeing public
opinion President Roosevelt and the strike commission
take his view of the situation Mr. Wellman has recently
published several striking letters in the Colorado situa
ton in the New York Herald Chicago Record and other
papers, which have caused sensation East. In
his last letter he summed and his conclusion in
clear, logical He the policy pursued by the
state authorities justifable, and he highly commends
those officials This letter will be useful in correct
ing public sentiment in the East which has been misled
by the socialist bureau and its allies at the head of
whom Senator Patterson The following excerpts from
Mr.. Welmans letter will show the position he takes
my conclusion has been reached after two weeks OF
panstakng investigations after hearing both sdes after
sitting of data furnished by the leading Of the
rival forces and by the state authorities; after of
extended talks neutral citizens position
to know much of the truth after minute inquiry into the
details of various episodes which throw light upon the
question of moral responsibility and after conscientious
effort to make impartial Judicial analysis of all conflict
ing statements.
This investigation approached with perfectly
mind; without any bias between the factions;
without the slightest for the interests of any
political party candidate. If there bent of
mind instructive trend of sympathy the the
investigator it could be found only in general ncina-
ton to take the side of the under dog against oppression
and to champion the of organized labor
wherever organized labor
and has right behind it.
The judgment reached is emphatic and decisive 1t
is halting, doubtful divided opinion is lame
and mpotent conclusion timd verdict
balancing of the of party against those
the other In truth judgment would
ice; for have known labor in which guilt
and responsibility of side stood clearly
mstakably.
This in Colorado precpitated by series of
bunders the of the Western Federation Miners
-bunders so wicked and arocious that they fairly
be called crimes
"As usual, the responsible for this bunder
than crime, this crime against their people pay
ing penalty They draw their salaries security They
live in comparative luxury. Theirs is the pleasant
disbursing relief wee-which pour
in to ameorate the misery they have wrought 1t was
not their lot to live through the reign of Their
wives have not died in the crises of nauEe more
terrible and often fatal by agony of lest
husband should be engulfed in the of crime
anarchy repression, which swept the community.
IF the leaders who precipated this conflict had had
actual to right if they had had just be
hind them if they had had fair chance gain some
real advantage for the and they represented
it, on this basis they had made brave and honest fight
would could condemn them.
But these men had right justice behind them
They had chance to win tangible advantage fol
their followers There possibility that they
could achieve practical good for the organ
lied labor Leave of consideration the moment
the rights of the employers of the communities involved
society large reducing everything the mar
standpoint of what good good union
labor, and still it criminal bunder.
In fit of mad ambition fanatcal zeal lust
of love for these desperate leaders
made pawns women whose
interest their duty guard They wckedly
conflict which they must have known could end in moth
ing but defeat misery Their motives may may not
have been honorable.
it is certain their action was with
justification from any point of view, and least of al
of organized labor itself.
There may be differences of opinion whether o
| has the right drown himself But there
differences of opinion to the right of suicide
down his children who cling to him because they be
| lieve he is wise and strong.
Referring to the calling out of the at Cripple Creel
Wellman says:
bad enough of the federation leaders to pung,
their followers into useless 1t unfair to rol
them of the right to vote their strike Notwth
standing all of Mr. Haywoods clever quibblng Che
the that the national
the referendum away from the local unions And
what purposes? First, because the leaders cage
concentrate this great in their hands,
ond because they knew if the question left thu
miners themselves they would three one agains
a strike.
AT the Findley mine the original draft and sig
natures a voluntarily prepared by
the time the sympathetic strike first take
Of expressing sympathy for the at Colorado City bu
declaring they good why they should qui
work that 1t signed by every in thu
mine. Yet when the order from Denver, every
quit work simply through loyalty to the organization
sentiment prevailed throughout the district On
the hohead and professional agitaors wanted the walk
out. The great majority did not want it.
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