The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-04-15
HOT LETTER
ON THE WESTERN MINING
SITUATION
PRESIDENT C. M0YER
Writes from His Tunnel
Prison to Friends.

A. w. Garrison, representing the
Western Federation OF Miners, was in
Canton Monday meeting with the min
crs of the Fifth district, presenting the
claims OF the western strikers to tneir
eastern brethren. While in the city Mr.
Garrison received copy OF a letter
which was written by Charles Meyer,
president of the Western Federation,
who is in jail, having been arrested by
ttr military authorities out there and
thrown into prison. 1t Is said that he
is confined in a tunnel of an aban-
doned mine. His letter is interesting
reauing and is as follows:
Telluride, Col, March 20, 1904.
To the officers and Members of the
Western Federation of Miners,
Greeting:
The corporation and commercial
combinations of the State Of Colorado,
in conjunction with the military and
civil authority of San Miguel county,
nave at last been successful in de-
priving me of the rights and liberties
| that belong to an American citizen.
| In San Miguel county the vaunted lib
eltjes of which we boast when we
speak with reverential eloquence of
the Declaration of independence"
and the Constitution, are as dead as
Egyptian mummies that have been en-
tombed in rock-ribbed sepulchres for
ages. Every law that interferes with
Lne supreme will of a Mine Owners
Association and a Citizens Alliance is
trampled under foot, and the armed
power of the state. hireu by the COVER
nor to the mine operators. has become
a lawless mob to execute the orders
issued by corporate and commercial
Mafias.
My duties as president of the West
ern Federation Of Miners called me to
the San Juan district. | realized that
l was placing my liberty in, jeopardy,
but imprisonment, bull-pens or de-
portation have no terrors Tor me when
] feel that the interest and welfare of
the Western Federation of Miners are
at stake. Where duty calls man,
there should he 60, and should he
hesitate he is unworthy in that great
army that is fighting battle against
the bondage Of wage-slavery. am an
involuntary guest of the state of Col
orado, held upon charge that Is mere
ly pretext, a subterfuge to hide the
villiany Of the conspiracy that was
Matched by Mine Owners Associa-
ton and a Citizens Alliance TO hold
me as a hostage, thinking that the
brave men of Colorado would weaken
in their dauntless struggle for an eight
hour day.
| My Imprisonment will only make the
links in the chain Of our organization
stronger. Brave, courageous men In the
Western Federation of Miners grow
more determined under prosecutions
Military barbarism, and mob law in
Colorado will awaken the slumbering
citizenship of the nation, and as cor
porate anarchy and commercial avar-
Ice arise in their despotism to enslave
the toiling millions, the stronger will
become the fraternal ties of BROTH
erhood that will overthrow lue dam
ling guns to subjugate organizeu la
Dor. desire to say to the member
ship OF the Western Federation OF
Miners throughout the whole jurisdic-
ton, to be loyal and brave. We are
standing in the vanguard Of organized
labor. We are fighting a battle for
the blessings of Industrial liberty. We
ior hnl MI he
con light will shed it's rays of hope
In the homes of the disinherited mil
lions. Deportations, bull-pens, i'm
prisonment and exile will fail to put
brave men upon their knees.
1t Is probable that shall be held
as prisoner in Telluride for some
time to come 1t is my opinion that
as soon as / am liberated on bonds I
shall be rearrested and the viIiainous
farce will be kept up as long as mar
tial law reigns in San Miguel county.
1T Is not bonds that the enemy want.
lThey know that have violated no law
and committed no crime, but the rdine
Owners' Association ana the Citizens
Alliance believe that my imprison-
ment and retention will have the
effect OF cooling the ardor Of thous-
ands of men in the Federation who
have shown their loyalty and frater-
Unity for the unconquered and uncon-
Iquerable men of Colorado.
desire to say to the membership OF
the Western Federation OF Miners that
now Is the time when we must moi
waver, but stand as firm as the Spar
tans Of old, and from my bastile in
Telluride i greet you with words ol
cheer, believing that the Federalion
will bring about the downfall Of the
twin despots--the Mine Owners AS
sociation and the Citizens Alliance
and that justice will yet prevail IN
corporation-curse Colorado,
CHARLES MOYER,
| nf