Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-21
TELLS OF CRIPPLE CREEK.
A Representative of the Miners Visits
This City.

| b'S S'eys
| Joy Pollard of Cripple Creek. Col.
x-president of the Colorado State
| Cripple Creek Trades and Labor AS
sembly and a member of the Free
Coinage Association, is in this city. in
the interests of the suffering miners in
the Cripple Creek district. Mr.. Pol
lard is sent out in the interests of the
various miners organizations of
| Colorado, and in talking of the recent
troubles between the owners and min
ers, grows Enthusiastically eloquent in
the defence of what he considers their
grievous wrongs.
"All we want is to get the exact
situation of the state of things before
the people, with abuse and malice
toward none" said Mr.. Pollard in
talking to the Journal reporter, yester-
day. He went back several years to
explain the conditions which led up to
the present crisis.
Nine years ago the miners Of the
state of Colorado made a vigorous and
successful fight for the eight hour day
using the strike as their weapon. Since
| 1894 underground men have been work
| ing eight hours as the fruits of this
contest. Five years ago the state
| legislature passed an eight hour law,
covering all branches of the mining,
| concentrating and smelling industries,
thus placing the smeltermen on the
same basis as the miners. A test case
of the law was made and the Supreme
bench of the state declared the statute
| to be unconstitutional.
After the annulling of the law the
advocates of an eight hour day deter
mined to put the matter to more
popular test. A general election was
called for the purpose of amending to
| the constitution so that the matter
could stand This resulted in six
amendments to the constitution which
guaranteed the eight hours from nulli
| fication.
Again the matter was brought be-
fore the legislature, with the purpose
of replacing the law on the statute
books. In the meantime the mine
operators had succeeded in fOrtifying
themselves and the bill was conse-
quently defeated. At this meeting of
the legislature no appropriation was
made for the Worlds Fair, and the
governor later issued the call for an
extra session. When the Western
Federation of Miners heard this, the
organization sent committee to the
governor with the request that a con-
sideration of the eight hour law be
made in the call.
Il was member of that committee"
said Mr. Pollard. land the governor
said to us: Why should the legislature
act on this measure again? The people
have expressed their sentiment in the
matter by amending the constitution,
while the present Legislature has al
ready shown its unwillingness to enact
the law. Why don't the people enforce
their sentiments?'
"Now," continued Mr.. Pollard, 'the
people have sought to enforce their
sentiment by calling the strike. The
greatest camps and smelters closed and
in turn the Governor ordered out the
militia to protect men who were hired
outside to break the strike. They have
hired everything in the way of men,
and at the present time have a large
number of japanese, working for IS
cents a Cay. The mining men of the
entire state of Colorado are all prac-
| tically in the Federation and the strike
cannot be broken
The strike has lasted over fourteen
months. beginning in August 1903. They
funds for the continuation of the fight
are secured in various ways, principal
ly through the efforts of men, such as
Mr. Pollard, who are, sent out with they
necessary credentials and interest peO1
pie in the struggle. Mr.. Pollard himD
self handles no funds for the FedeJ
alton. All financial aid being sent
tie headquarters in Denver. -
THE people of the eastern stat
have no idea of the real situatio
said Mr.. Pollard "but I have gr
hopes that, the matter will soon
Strengthened and prove satisfactory
al concerned.
Mr.. Pollard is at present hold
conferences with all of the local la
leaders and will go from Augusta
Bath and later travel through Rh
Island and Connecticut. He decla
that the strikers have not been gu
of the acts of violence charged aga
them, and that they are not foreig jfefsV
but native Americans.