The Springfield herald., 1904-08-26
WELLMAN'S INDICTMENT

Federation of Miners
Mr. Wellman has Investigated several great strikes,
hesitaed to place the blame where he be-
leved should justly lie. He twice supported the
tentions Mitchell in the anthracite coal fields of
Pennsylvania. had the satisfaction Of seeing public
opinion President Roosevelt and the strike commission
his of the situation. Mr.. Wellman has recently
published several striking letters the Colorado situa
tion the New York Herald Chicago Record and other
papers, which caused sensation in the East. In
letter summed and his conclusion in
clear logical He says the policy pursued by the
authorities justiabe and he highly commends
This letter will very useful in
public sentiment in the East which has been misled
by the socialist bureau and its allies at the head OF
whom Patterson The following excerpts from
Mr. Wellman's letter will show the position he takes
my conclusion has reached after weeks of
panstakng investigation after hearing both Sides after
sitting of data furnished by the leading Of the
rival forces and the state auhortes after Of
extended talks with neutral citizens who In position
of truth; after minute inquiry the
details Of episodes which throw light the
question Of responsibility and after conscientious
effort make impartial judicial analysis of all conflict
ing statements.
This investigation was approached with a perfectly
mind; without any bias as between the factions;
without the slightest for the interests of
political party candidate. II there bent of
mind instructive trend of sympathy the part of the
investigator could be found only in general ncina
tion of against oppression
and wrong to champion the of organized labor
wherever organized labor is wholesome and conservative
and has right behind it.
"The judgment reached is emphatic and decisive 1t
is halting, doubtful divided opinion. 1t is lame
and mpotent conclusion tmid Scotch verdict adroit
balancing of the of party against those of
the other In truth judgment would be sheer coward
ice for have labor In which the guilt
and responsibility Of side stood clearly and
mistakaby. si-
This war in Colorado was precipitated by series of
bunders the Of the Western Federation of Miners
blunders wicked and atrocious that they fairly
be called crimes.
"As usual. the responsible for this bunder
than crime this crime against their people pay
penalty They draw their salaries in security They
live in comparative luxury Theirs is the pleasant task
disbursing relief funds-s1ooOO week-which
in Gmeiorate the misery they have wrought 1t
lot live through the reign of terror Their
wives have not died in the crises of nature made
terrible often fatal by of fear lest
husband should be engued in the wave of crime,
anarchy. repression, which swept the community.
IF the leaders who precipiated this conflict had had
wrongs right; If they had had Just be-
hind them; if they had had fair chance to gain
real advantage for the and women they represented
this they had made brave and honest fight,
lost it, friend of labor, certainly not the writer,
would n could condemn them.
But these men had right Justice behind them.
They had chance to win tangible advantage for
their followers. There was not possibility that they
could achieve practical good for the Of
of consideration for the moment all
of the employers of the communities involved.
society and reducing everything to the
standpoint of what good not good for union
labor, and still it criminal blunder.
In of mad ambition fanatical zeal or lust
of power or war desperate
pawns and victims of the men and women whose
1t their duty to guard They wickedy entered
a conflict they have known could end in moth
ing defeat and misery Their motives not
have been honorable
"sut it fate that their action
Justification from point of view and least Of all
from that Of organized labor itself.
There be differences of opinion as to whether
the right to drown himself. But there
opinion the right Of suicide to
his children who cling to him because they be-
lieve he is wise and strong.
Referring calling of the Cripple Creek
the excellent working conditions in that Mr..
Wellman
enough of the federation leaders to plunge
followers into useless 1t unfair to rob
them of the right their strike. Notwth-
standing all Haywoods clever quibbling Che is
fact remains that the national convention
from the local unions. And for
what purposes? First. because the leaders
this great power in their hands;
ond, they knew if the question left to the
miners they would three against
a strike.
cat the Findley the original draft and sig
document voluntarily prepared by the miners
the time the sympathetic strike first talked
expressing sympathy for the at Colorado City, but
they good why they should quit
that account 1t signed by every man in the
mine Yet. the order from Denver, every
quit work. simply loyalty the organization
same sentiment prevailed throughout the district Only
and professional agtators wanted the walk
The great majority did not want 1t.
"There reason under heaven why they should
want Here something like 1000 working n
about the Mines all but about 700 members of the
union. All content. All were working under the
socaled Waite then in force about nine
The minimum wage So day for eight hours work,
and up $3.50 day for engineers. Atkins,