The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-06-16
WHY THE MINERS
WERE DEP0RTEO
CAUSE FOR RECENT ACTION EX-
PLANNED BY GEN. BELL.
WAS ONLY HOPE FOR PEACE
declares Socialism to Be at the Root
of the Trouble-Large Mines in
the District Are Again
Working.

Cripple Creek, Col, June 14.-Gon.
Bell has given out a statement concern
ing his action in dcporting strikers and
the causes leading up to the same. He
attributes the recent troubles CROWNS
out OF the miners strike, and the strike
itself to the socialist element in the
Western Federation of Miners who, he
says, captured the organization two
years ago He declares that the fedora
ton has made unionism secondary
consideration and that the organization,
root and branch, Is being made vehicle
for the promotion of socialism. The
leaders, he asserts, have not hesitated TO
cause weak and willing members TO
commit any crime to strike terror TO
property owners or workingmen who re-
fuse to abide their dictates" The muir
der of nonunion men by blowing up the
Independence station. he charges, was
"perpetrated with the aid and advice of
federation leaders and by men In their
employ" The only hope for peace and
security of life and property was ito eX-
terminate the federation from the
camp"
AS the head of the state militia. re
spOnsible only to the governor, the gen.
eral continues. it became his duty to eff
feet this result The arrest of every man
in the district belonging to the fedora
ton was ordered. Unless they were
able to show q clean bill OF health they
were placed in the bullpen and held or
dcported Tho deportation of federation
men, Gen. Bell declares, Is military
necessity" They are not being deport-
cd because they are union men or to de-
stroy unionism. but because il Is believed
they are a menace to the peace and vel
fare of the district
Mines Resuming.
Practically all the large mines in this
district which closed down last Monday
after the explosion at Independence are
working again. The Portland mine has
not yet been reopened and the company
has not announced its plans This is the
only large mine in the district In which
union miners have been employed dur
ing the ten months since the beginning
of the strike 1t has been conducted on
the open shop" plan and nearly half the
force Of 400 men laid off when Gen.
Sherman NJ Bell ordered the mines shut
down were nonunion miners. Gen.
Bell declares that no members of tho
Western Federation of Miners will be
permitted to remain In the camp and
that the Portland company consequent
" will be forced to fall in line with the
policy of the other mine owners who or
ganized to fight the miners federation,
Deportcd men who will probably go
out to-day may be sent to the borders
Of Wyoming. New Mexico, Nebraska or
Kansas. The Rio Grande has officially
protested against sending them to
Utah. There are between rs and 100
men marked for deportation.
Exiles Returning.
Granada. Col, June IA large por-
ton of the deported miners have ar
rived here They are on their way back
to the mountains. The town hall has
been rendered the men and number
have awaited themselves Of the oppor-
tunity. AS most of the men were
searched by the militia and their money
and other belongings taken away they
are nearly all without funds.