Evening journal., 1904-06-15
MINERS GIVE OUT
THEIR STATEMENT
Western Federation on the Col
orado Troubles.


Recent outrases In Cripple Creek Dis
triet the Work Of It's Hirelinss to
Bring Discredit Upon Union Men, It
Is Claimed.
Denver. June 15.-Acting under in
structions given by the twelfth annual
convention of the Western Federation
Of Miners, recently held i'm this city,
the executive board of that organiza-
ton has issued a statement regarding
the strikes in Colorado and the recent
disturbances in the Cripple Creek dis
trict
The Western Federation Of Miners, 50
the statement begins. "has always
courted and invited The utmost publicl-
~ in al It's acts and the acts of its
members in matters affecting all It's
dealings "a
1t is declared that. Notwithstanding
persistent reports TO the contrary" ev-
cry local union voted upon the propo-
sition before any strike was called.
The recent convention sent a commit
tee to Cripple Greek to investigate the
situation. This committee, It Is de-
clared found the representatives OF
mines ready and willing TO listen to a
proposition Of settlement
Before any further conference could
be held" il Is asserted "the Citizens
alliance interfered I'm such n manner
as to Illustrate further efforts in the
direction Of settlement, tho interference
of the alliance being no doubt prompt
ed by the bitter hatred Of the NOR
chants against the four cooperative
stores established and maintained in
the district by the federation"
The statement continues.
1--WE are fully convinced from lnfor-
nation by Trustworthy persons that the
original explosion and subsequent out
RACES perpetrated are not only the
work of the Citizens alliance. but are
thoroughly Of the opinion that the
whole matter was planned in advance.
Perhaps no single occurrence has so
much bearing on this conclusion as
the forcible resignation Of various regu-
larly elected officials in the district"
After referring 10 the Imprisonment
and deportation of union miners and
the refusal of The Citizens alliance TO
permit any merchants TO supply provi-
sions 10 the families Of such men the
statement continues;
Citizens Alliance Did Il All.
"The very fact that union men are
deported by the military is Of itself
sufficient to show that no evidence has
been obtained against these men, for
if evidence OF crime was at hand does
any reasonable man or woman suppose
that the military commandant or the
mob sheriff would be simple enough TO
dcport TO other parts the guilty per
sons? No, indeed. What evidence
there is acquits the miners, but APP
parently fastens the crime upon the
heads Of hired assassns and thugs I'm
the pay Of the Citizens alliance
"The apparent success of this line of
action az Telluride has evidently
prompted the recent acts Of violence In
the Cripple Greek district. The law
less mob at all times had access to the
state guns and ammunition. When
the mob had committed outrages with
out number the power Of the great
state Of Colorado steps in picks up
affairs where the mob left of, doports
union men. abuses others and brazenly
heralds to the world the palpable lie
that the miners' unions are criminal
organizations and must be wiped out.
AT no time during all this struggle has
the military power or the civa power
been used to protect our members I'm
their rights OF citizenship.
"As was plainly shown some months
ago. in a trial where the Western Fed
Grafton Of Miners was accused of
wrecking a train. the federation was
innocent SO it is clear that none of
the present outrages were committed
by our members. As it was plainly
Shown then that the crimes and ont.
RACES We're committed 10y hired de
tectives and thugs for the purpose OF
bringing discredit upon union men. Sc
il will be shown that the present out
RACES, even the ruthless slaughter OF
the unfortunate victims Of the explo
sion that killed sixteen men az the In
dependence depot on the morning OF
June 9. was the work Of these sam,
hirelings. who simply enacted the FRS
part Of the plot that was to furnish tn.
excuse for all subsequent outrages"
Thirtv-t,.,c Mfners r.,ort.l