The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-02
GOVERNOR pgAsoDy EXPLAINS.
Declares Policy Was Not Too Wig.
orous.

orous.
Denver, Colo, Aug. 1e--Governor
James II. Peabody today issued an ad-
dress explaining and vindicatlng his
acts In dealing with the labor troubles
In Colorado. He refutes the contention
that the strike inaugurated by the
Western Federation Of Miners at the
ore reduction works in Colorado city
was called because Of the failure OF the
legislature to enact an eIght-hour law,
pointing out that It was called on the
14th OF February some five or six
weeks before the adjournment of the
legislature. which then had under con-
sideration an eight-hour law. Later
sympathetic strike was declared by the
federation In Cripple Greek to cut on
the ore supply Of the mills.
Governor Peabody then goes into the
history OF the Western Federation Of
Miners, which he declares has been
repiete with assaults, dynamite out
RACES and murders. In afYording pro-
lection to men who desired TO labor,
the governor explains: 1T became
necessary, in my judgment, to conine
certain men In military guard house
as one of the safest and most expedi-
tious methods OF restoring order. IT.
was loudly proclaimed that this was
without authority Of law. The ques-
tion was submitted to the supreme
court and the action Of the militia IN
that respect fully sustained. 1t is a
useful and necessary power and the
class that should decry its exercise is
not numerous.
The general policy pursued In Grip
rf!e Greek was followed In other parts
Iof the state, and particularly in Tellu-
Iride, where the excuses and crimes Of
the federation had been still more In
human than in any other district and
the reign Of terror still more complete
Order now prevails there"
Quiet had been restored In Cripple
Greek and the troops withdrawn when
the dynamite outrage was committed
at the Independence depot June 6. fol-
lowed by the riot at Victor. The gov
ernor has placed the responsibility for
both these occurrences on the fedora
tion.
when the excitement had somewhat
subsidized and the country was still uR-
der quasi military rule the governor
continues. 1T was found that there
were several hundred members OF the
Western Federation in the district yet
who would not work and had resolved
that others should not IL by such
methods as those employed at the In
dependence station they could be driv-
en- away. II resolved that they should
be dispersed and dispersed them"
Governor Peabody denies the charge
that he Is waging war on labor unions
generally and closes as follows: I'll
have had to deal with an organization
which has no counterpart in this coun- |
try. It's official proclamations, full Of
defiance and challenge, issued from
time to time, have amounted. as has
been said, to declaration of war.
Il have met the challenge with |
policy none too vigorous for the out
lawry was called to oppose. But
through 1t all have had but one OBJ
ject, and that to show the people Of |
Colorado that the laws win be upheld;
that a criminal organization cannot
dictate the policy of this administra-
tion and that everywhere within the
borders of Colorado property shall be
secure and labor shall be free