New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-29
NINE STRIKE INQUIRY.
ErhaustiUe Investigation of Colorado
Troubles Under Way.
[FRoM 80 rRIBrNr RuRrL1I.l

Washington, June 2S.-Labor Commissioner
Carroll D. Wright is prosecuting exhaustive
investigation into the Colorado labor troubles.
Without any blowing OF trumpets and no idea
Of making political capital Of the proceeding,
number Of trusted agents attached to the De-
partment Of Commerce and Labor were sent
out to Cripple Greek several weeks ago with
instructions to secure all the information OBJ
tainable on the troubles between the mine op-
orators and their employees. These agents are
still engaged in the task. and from all that can
be learned at the Bureau Of Labor will not COM
plete the work for several weeks The result
Of the inquiry will be printed in bulletin OF
the Commissioner OF Labor. and wifi tell the
whole story Of the deplorable situation as nearly
without bias II is possible for impartial in
vestigators to record the conditions existing.
The report will be compiled under two general
heads-the causes that led UP to the strike and
loss Of property and life. and the history Of the
actual clashes between the contending factions
Commissioner Wright win probably write and
issue a review of the report. after he has had
an opportunity to digest the facts contained.
The plain letter OF the law creating the Blu
reau Of Labor sixteen years ago makes ii man
datory on the part Of Colonel Wright to pursue
the investigation as outlined. Any suggestion
that the probe is being used in Colorado for
political ends, therefore, is not only unjust but
ridiculous. a section OF the act approved on
June I3, 1888. defining the duties OF the Labor
Commissioner, says:
The Commissioner Of Labor is Iso specially
charged 20 investigate the causes of and facts
relating TO all controversies and disputes be-
tween employers and employees they may oc-
cur and which may tend to interfere with the
welfare Of the people Of the different States, and
report thereon TO Congress
When the Bureau Of Labor was merged in
the Department Of Commerce and Labor its
scope remained the same. Acting under the
law as quoted, Commissioner Wright made an
Investigation Of conditions in. the anthracite
coal regions and published his findings in con-
junction with the reports Of the conditions His
summary OF the situation so fair and hon
est that both the coal miners and coal mine
owners gave it unstinted praise, and il is only
fair to presume that the present investigation
into the troubles In Colorado VIII be character
ICED by the same thoroughness and impaTtiallty.
The agents of the department now at work
IN colorado are the most trustworthy in the
h,,resu . said a high Official of the Department
Of Commerce and Labor to-day. They nave
been engaged similar lines for years, ana
therefore know what they want and how TO Cd
tain it. They are working 10 a certain eA ti
under cover for were they to announce thelr
mission it is possible that they would meet the
anita gonisnn of either one party or the oIheT now
ri loggerheads. They Will probably write their
complete report Of the investigation before re-
turning to Washington, so that they may al tne
last moment pick up any missing threads Ii
IS therefore quite likely that they win not com
plete their labors in the mining districts Tor
many days-perhaps several Weeks-to come.
The report may be OF consequence from
political point of view. II is more than likely
that II viii be seized upon by one party or the
other At this time IL is impossible TO tell what
81 viii contain in the shape Of political boinps.
But rest assured the truth will be told without
reserve no matter whom it strikes.
Neither Secretary Cortelyou nor Colonel
Wright viii allow the suppression or exaggera-
ton Of any fact obtained in this investigation.
a as
fnent II will be made public and given the wld-
est distribution"