The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-08-19
The Colorado Trouble.

Ever since the labor commenced in Colorado the out
side world has been practically in the dark the real
OF the trouble 1t has been generally accepted by the public
that the capitalists Of the state brought the affair by the
dshonorabe Of money with which they alleged
have defeated eight hour labor law the state legislature
The Chicago Record Herald desiring to get at the seat of
trouble recently sent Walter Welna the we'll known writer
make personal investigation Of the affair just
completed his abors and handed in his verdict which empha
tic and decisive. Mr. Welman says:
This investigation approached with per
fectly open mind; without any bias between the
factions without the slightest concern for the inter
ests Of any political party or candidate If there was
any bent OF mind or instructive trend of sympathy
general inclination to take the side Of the under dog
against oppression and wrong to champion the
of organized labor wherever organized labor is whole
some and conservative and has right behind it.
After dissoving the first by proving that the eight
hour day law matter had affect the strikes because the
strike ordered before the legislature met he continues
This war in Colorado was parcipitated by series
Of blunders the part of the Western Federation Of
Miners-blnnders wicked and atrocols that they
may fairly be called crimes. 1t was bad enough that
these were crimes against society, against the pros
perty Of the state against capitol and industry. But
they than that. For they crimes
against organized labor against the Of unonsm
everywhere and more particular here in this gold
camp-against the very and in whose
name the struggle nonlinaly begun and whose
fate, whose homes and happiness, the hands Of
the laundering leaders Of that organization The
union men and women Of this district and Of Telluride
were the Chief victims and greatest sufferers They
had pay fearful price for the reckless, the vicious,
the well-nigh insane conduct of their leaders,
Capitalists, rich men; mine owners, the smeter
trusts. the railroads, take of themselves If
they suffer loss they afford it. We need waste
sympathy on them. We need shed no tears their
s passed dividends deferred profits. But Of
mind and heart survey the the misfortune,
and the suferings caused union men, their wives and
and children without grief, without anger, without
wish that the labor leaders who worked this wrong
might be brought TO justice and be made suffer for
a$s their SINS.
Hence arraign Charles H. Meyer aud William
Haywood as the men who to be held morally
ponsbie for this against organized labor, this
ofense against c1VilatiGti And offer to convict
I them before jury composed of the leaders Of the
decent honorable labor organizations of the country.
SssR The Western Federation of Miners composed of
the most part Of honest and industrious It is
their duty to repudiate these evil genuses reckless
81 unfit dangerous, if not Before the Western
Federation hold its head among the useful and
respected labor organization Of the United States it
must purge itself Of leadership that leads to political
lust for power anarchy, and crime against
u it's osyn followers and against society