Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-07-02
MINERS. APPEAL
BY UNITED MINE WORKERS
Striking Coal Miners Of Southern Colo
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. II 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 q few Of the rea-
sons why we make this appeal:
TO begin with. after listening to
I the supplications Of dovntrodden la
Dor for number OF years in Colorado.
and after using all lawful means al
our command to meet and adjust our
grievances with the coal operators.
and having all our efforts In this direc-
tlon met with scorn and disdain, or
the guns and abuse of the hired pol
troons of said companies tdeputy
sherifs1. and after being fully coz
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 n
District Is. United Mine Workers OF
America. and sanctioned and support
ed 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 10 reach an adjustment OF the
trouble. and notwithstanding the faet
that we have been subjected to ths
worst form of indignity that a selfish
corporation and a prostituted state
government could devise. executed BIZ
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 a condition. compared with
which the lot of black slave Of the
South was a 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 husband.
fathers and brothers. who. II they
made any resistance. were SUBJECTED
TO the worst forms Of indignities. Me-
were ambushed and shot like crimi-
mails on the public highways by tne
military desperadoes and thugs OF The
companies deputy sheriffs). and had
no recourse for them.
Men were seized and thrown into
military bullpens and deported frou
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 20 be insulted ana abuse
by the military thugs Some have
been forced at the hayonet to SALUTE
a flag that all true Americans revere
IN its province. but all hate to see u
disgraced in the manner II has been
in the coal fields of southern Colora.
do. These and other indignities of
sufficient magnitude TO make the bloea
OF an American run cold. too numer-
Gus TO mention. have we submitted 20
And now. after nearly eeht
months of a strike in which our peo-
pie have demonstrated tby their con.
tinued unity OF thought and solldity
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 viii
listen to ia an unconditional surren-
der and submission to form Of slay-
cry that makes the American quail.
And there is fair probability hat
conditions unforeseen at the inception
Of the trouble have arisen which viii
force our national organization to
withdraw, or curtail. the financial sup
nor. that Is now coming into Dis
trict Is.
Ne therefore issue this appeal to
organized labor and sympathizers TO
come to our relief as quickly and as
generously as possible, as we believe
this not only a fight to the death be
tween organized labor and organized
capital in Colorado. but when this fs
accomplished (should 1t be accom-
plished). organized capital will then
enter the fight of determination of
organized labor In other nelds.
Therefore, we take the position
that our fight is your fight. and ask
you, as liberty-loying people. to con-
tribute your mite to the end that or
ganized labor may not be strangled
in this Centennial State tColoradol.
and by SO doing win the everlasting
gratitude of the striking coal miners
OF District Is, United Mine Workers
of America, comprising Colorado. Utah
and New Mexico.
Send all remittances TO John Simp-
son, secretary-treasurer. District is.
postoffice box III. Trinidad. Colorado.