The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-06-04


General Sherman Bell, heretofore the
right-hand man of Governor Peabody
of Colorado in his military methods Of
handling the recent labor troubles in
the mining districts of that state, has
announced his intention to resign and
have nothing further to do with what
he considers an improper use Of the
state militia. Along with the an
nouncement of his. determination to
sever his Connection with the state mill
tary organization Adjutant Bell makes
a statement which will be read with
interest by all members of arganized
labor. Bell is thoroughly, conversant
with the whole situation in Colorado,
and no man in the state was closer to
Governor Peabody in the conduct of
the campaign against unionism than
the adjutant general, and it can be
truthfully said that he knows whereof
he speaks. Here is what he has to say
about Governor Peabody, the corpora
tions interested and the manner in
which the war against freedom was
conducted:
"The state militia was degraded to
the use of corporations which connived
at the breaking of the law. The very
men whom we used the troops to pro-
tect imported all-round bad men-the
very men I ran out Of their camps-to
break the law in Denver and carry the
election in their interests.
Il shall resign the office Of adjutant
general, and by the first Of July there
will be another man in my place,"he
continued. Il do not approve of using
the militia of the state to help any DO
it1cal movement. I am accused of u.s.
ing, Or attempting to use the military
in the late campaign. This is false
but the corporations used the militia
for their purposes, and instead of the
militia being to protect the people and
uphold the law, that force was actually
used to encourage trouble
Il found last Sunday that there were
many familiar faces upon the streets
OF the lower part of town, and that they
were of the worst type of men in the
west. then discovered that the cor
porations had sent out all over the
west and brought them here.
~ thought then more than ever that
the military ought probably to be in
the vicinity of Denver in case of trou
*ble,s but imagine my. surprise when i
sWaSsgiYe ,l1lda d tshv
govern not VS. caHsont a 'sinele
man -and~to' abandon my plan of as
sempl1ng the troops for practice"
coming from man of Adjutant Cen
eral Bels standing in the state of Col
orado, the accusations and admissions
contained in the above statement
should be to the lasting shame and dis
grace OF the whole state Those who
!or1nerly laid responsibility for all the
labor troubles and lawlessness Incl
oent 10 them at the door of the West
ern Federation of Miners are now be-
pln1ng to realize that the state au-
thorltles, backed up by an orga nization
made up of representatives of rnininp
and railroad corporations, are the real
culprits. Anything to down the IN.
lons,' has ben their motto. Since +be
session of the executive board of the
American Federation of Labor in Den.
yer last month. which resulted in =
temporary consolidation Of the laho,
forces or the state to push the strike
10 d successful conclusion, the unions
nave been putting up a strong and ten.
ing fight, and it now looks as if thf
tide had turned in their favor. The
stories told by representatives of thu
striking miners who came to Minesota
to solicit aid for those out of worl
were at that time hard to believe b,,1
no" the truth Of their statements is
vouched for by the tool Of Goyerno,
Feaoody, before election banker in
Canon City, has followed the desira al
the citizens alliance whenever therf
mas been a call for troops. and what.
eVerdrastic measures he has adontei
seem not only to be sanctioned, bu,
! suggested by the business element
| lhls leads the labor men to cry that =
conspiracy exists between the state of.
llclaIs and the mine proprietors to ex,
tlrpate the union, and they find an ar.
| gument in the fact that the expenses y,
the militia are being met by the com,
! panles. The owners get certificata,
Tor the money they advance, and thas.
viii b retired by. a bond issue. 81 Tho,
| "hlle the owners really finance thI
n1lltary regime at Telluride. Cr;nnIe
creek and Trinidad. they will not 1osf
| money in the end.