Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-27

and ,ourn alst throughout tho country as
\ warm friend organized labor, has. after careful
investigation published severe arragnment on the west
ern Federation Of Miners.
Mr. welman has investigated several great strikes,
hesitated place the blame where he be-
eved should Justly lie He twice supported the con
tentions Mitchell In the anthracite coal fields OF
Pennsylvania and had the satisfaction OF seeing public
opinion. Presiden, Roosevelt and the strike commission
Of the situation Mr.. welman has recently
published striking letters In the Colorado situa
ton York Herald. Chicago Record and other
papers. which have caused sensation in the East In
his he summed and his conclusion In
clear logical He the policy pursued BY the
authorities justIhabe and he highly commends
officials This will be useful in correct
ing public sentiment in the East which has been misled
by press bureau and its allies the head Of
Patterson. The following excerpts from
Mr. Weilman's letter will show the position he takes
"my conclusion has been reached after two weeks Of
pansakns nyessaton after hearing both sides; after
sitting Of data furnished by the leading Of the
rival forces and BY the state authores after scores Of
talks with citizens who In position
know much Of the truth; after minute inquiry into the
details cf various episodes which throw light the
question responsibility, and after conscientious
effort to make Impartial judicial analysis Of all conflict
Ing statements.
This Investigation approached with q perfectly
open mind without any bias between the factions:
without the slightest OF any
political party candidate. II there any bent of
mind instructive trend Of sympathy the part Of the
investigator could be found ony in general nclina
ton the side OF under dog against oppression
and wrong champion the Of organized labor
organized labor and conservative
and has right behnd II.
The Judgment reached emphatic and decisive. II
Is no haltIug doubtful divided opinion. lame
impotent tmd Scotch verdict adroit
balancing party those OF
the other truth. Judgment would be sheer coward
ice for have known labor in which the guilt
and responsibility Of side stood out clearly and
nistababy.
This war in Colorado was precipated by a series OF
biunders the part Western Federation of Miners
blunderH wicked and atrocous that they fairly
be called crimes.
AS usual the responsible for this bunder
than crime this crime agains, their people
penalty They draw their salaries security They
live in comparative luxury Theirs Is the pleasant task
dsbursng relief funds-si0000 a wsek-which pour
ameliorate the misery they have wrought. 1t
their lot 10 live through the reign Of Their
wives died crises of nature. made
terrible and often fatal by Of fear lest
husband should be engulfed In the OF crime
anarchy. repression. which swept the community.
III the leaders who precpitaed this conflict had had
actual wrongs right: they had a Just
hind them; they had had fair chance gain come
real advantage for the and they represented
IT, this basis they had made brave and honest fight.
and LOSE II. friend OF labor. certainly the writer.
would could condemn them.
But these men had no rgh; or justice behind them
They had chance to win tangible advantage for
their followers There not possibility that they
cesid achieve practical good for the OF
tied labor Leave OF consideration for the all
rights OF the employers, of the communities involved
society large reducing everything the
standpoint Of what good not good for union
labor. and stin It criminal hlunder.
In ni Of mad ambition fcnatieal real lust
ot power love war these desperate leaders
made pawns and victims of the and whose
interest duty guard They wckedy entered
conflict which they have known could end In moth
Ing misery. Their motives may may not
been honorable
But II fate that their action With
justification from any point Of and ieas, Of all
ths. OF organized labor itself.
There may differences Of opinion to whether or
q has the right drown himself But there are
differences Of opinion the right of suicide
drag down his children who cling him because they be-
lsVe he Is and strong
Referring calling Cripple Creek
and the excellent working conditions that camp Mr..
Wellman says:
1T bad enough OF the federation leaders to plunge
their followers useless IL unfair to rob
them Of the right their strike Notxith-
standing all Of Mr. Haywoods clever quihbling the 10
mani the fact remains that the national convention
referendum from the local unions And for
what purposes First. because the leaders eager
concentrate this in their hands; sec
ond. because they II the question left to the
themselves they would three to against
a strike
AT the Findsy I original draft and sig
Of document voluntarily prepared by the miners
the time the sympathetic strike nrst talked
of sympathy for the Colorado City but