The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-06-18
DEP0RTING MINERS.

The deportation of miners from Cripple Creek
ana victor, Colo, to the barren plains of Kansas
ana dumping them not like cattle, sheep or horses
out as POISONOUS reptiles to die for want of food
shelter and ralment, is travesty on Justice Men.
we are told are naturally equal but artifcially
they are very unequal. Why? Because their pos
sessions everywhere are exceedingly UNEQUAL and
mans power and influence, even his rights. are
measured always by his purse, more than bv what
he Is. Power gravitates to the side of wealth. La
Dor can if united, control the vote, but it is an
established fact that capital controls the ruling
power. In executing this power it often becomes
merclless, and treats man like wild beast.
The origin of the labor troubles is familiar to
most readers of The Intermountain Catholic.
lew years ago, at the instigation of the unions,
law was passed by the Colorado legislature making
eight hours legal days work The law was de-
clared unconstitutional by the supreme court The
same law when passed by the legislators of Arizo-
IA, Montana, New Mexico and Utah, was declared
constitutional by similar tribunal In Utah an
appeal was taken from the supreme court of the
state to that OF the United States, which declared
the law to be constitutional. In Colorado where
the decision was contrary of that of the other
states and even that of tie United States supreme
court at the last election an amendment was pro-
posed to the constitution making an eight-bour
Law constitutional This amendment was carried
by an overwhelming majority. At this same cleo
ton both parties pledged themselves to enact such
law If elected. The last legislature did not mass
the law They broke their peldge Why? There
IS only one answer to that query All know the
reason. Herein is the origin and real cause of the
troubles between wealthy mine owners and labor
unions.
But apart from broken pledges and the be-
trayal of trust the winding up of the Iong-fought
battle between capital and labor has legal as
pect. Why were the miners deported and thrown
adrltt IN the praries of Kansas Because thew were
union miners or men who had shown sympathy for
the miners cause. The shoemaker who was ar
rested and deported not union miner. No
doubt he sympathized with his brother craftsmen
With capital the motto is "The cobbler must not
go beyond his last" All those who have been de-
ported have constitutional rights, namely. life
liberty and pursuit of happiness, which no law.
save military rule, can override. If there ;s anv
one thing which is dear to the American heart #
IS liberty. Where ones liberty is taken away. his
life endangered by starvation and his right 70 tho
"
thing rotten. When read of the exiles from Po.
lano ana FINLAND through Russian despotsm. the
heart burns with indignation, and we would gIadlv
go, II possible, to secure for them the rights of
man, life and liberty. But to every conservative
hoerty-loving and loyal American the last effects
OF military rule in Victor and Cripple Greek is no
less despotic than what has been taking place in
Russia IN the past. By every principle Of American
law these miners were entitled to fair trial and
II convicted of any crime they should be punished
But when martial law is declared we are told
Vnese 1ornailtles are not required Be it So Even
under martial law there must be some cause for
deportng certain number of prisoners. dumnipo
them like wild beasts on the sandy desert. Were
the military authorities afraid that friends ond
5ympathizers would attempt to rescue these nr;s-
oners No such cause is alleged When asled
'S neigh0orlng states and special correspondents