The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-06-18
MINERS NOT To
BLAME FOR THE
KILLING Of MEN
j. r. MCDONALD EXPLAINS PRES.
ENT SITUATION IN COLORADO.
Cites Instances of Desperate Attempts
On the Part Of Mine Owners To
Bring Into Disrepute the Members of
Organized Labor-Gives Reasons
Why Miners Could Not Have Been
Guilty of the Crime.

Efforts to bring organized labor into
disrepute were strongly condemned at
the recent meeting of the Trades AS
sembly, when ]. F. Mcdonald, who
came into the Northwest for the pur-
pose of interesting union men in the
cause Of the Colorado miners, gave an
address, reviewing the conditions in
that field. He denied vehemently that
representatives of organized labor were
responsible for an explosion at Inde-
pendence, which caused the death of
fifteen non union men and gave it as
his belief that it would eventually be
traced to the mine owners.
1T is their third attempt
TO bring odium on organiz-
ed labor in that region" said he.
The first was the effort to destroy
d mill at Colorado City and place the
blame upon the union men. It has been
clearly demonstrated that the attempt
other OF these organizations and their
plans were defeated through the ef-
forts of the union men.
Again when all had been quiet for
two or three months and the people Of
Colorado were clamoring for the re-
moVal of the state troops and Peabody
was about to order them to return to
was perpetrated. The evidence on the
trial Of the union men accused of the
crime clearly showed that the men
killed had been caught in their own
trap. The wrecking Of the Florence
& Cripple Creek train was another in
stance Of their efforts to bring sus-
picion on unionists. The train was not
wrecked, because it was discovered
that two detectives, employed by the
mine owners had drawn the spikes de-
signed to cause the accident and union
men again averted catastrophe sought
to be blamed upon organized labor.
Strikers Not Guilty.
Let me cite few reasons why the
strikers could not have beeen guilty
OF the recent explosion. The mine in
which it occurred was entirely worked
and guarded by non-union men. The
explosion occurred on an unused 500
foot level and was probably caused by
the explosion of at least a hundred
pounds Of gun powder. It would have
been necessary for the union man at
tempting to perpetrate such a scheme
to carry 100 pounds of powder long
distance, past many guards and nom
union workmen; enter the cage and
give signal to be deposited at q level
where work is done and the car
never stops, thing ample in itself to
cause suspicion. After the charge had
been carried that distance, placed and
ignited, the man would have had to
travel over the same course to reach
safety. Does it seem reasonable to
think that union man, whose pres
ence near the work would be regarded
with more than suspicion and who
would probably be placed under ar
rest al sight, could do such thing?"
Mr.. Mcdonald fiercely arraigned Sec
rotary Hamblin of the mine owners as
Il man positively without principle and
stated that a conspiracy to drive or
ganized labor out of the district ex-
listed long before the strike was de-
clared.
He spoke of the mass meetings held
by the Citizens alliance at which they
demanded that all union men be driy-
en- from the county. II had a letter
from my wife today" he continued.
(which says that an order has been
issued stating that the wives Of union
men will be placed under arrest If they
offer any protest against the actions of
women and children out after the men
are driven away. They have already
sacked our cooperative store and
thrown the contents into the Streets -
Pays Tribute to Judge Stevens.
Mr.. Mcdonald paid high tribute to
Judge Stevens, who granted the writ
Of habeas corpus. calling for the re-
bull pen.' Judge Stevens said if any
insurrection exists in the state Of Colo
rado,' continued the speaker, 1T is the
governor and the militia who are in
open revolt against law and order;
not the miners. His decision was re-
versed by the supreme court, which is
also in sympathy with the owners"
The speaker referred to the accusa-
ton of desecrating the flag, charged
against President Meyer and showed
the offffense consisted of printing
charges against the owners and COVER
nor on a picture of the flag and de-
MED that a person could desecrate the
emblem by such means.
II don't know how this trouble will
end. 1 trust and pray that it will be
settled without further bloodshed or
trouble, but if it becomes necessary
to openly rebel against the acts of a
tyrant and his conspirators, I hope that
my people, your people, will fight as
nobly as did cir ancestors, who strove