Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-08-06

ciared by the federation In Cripple
Creek 10 cut OF the ore supply OF the
mills. The president Of the fedora
ton stated before the commission
that no grievance existed against the
mine owners.
at has been contended. and appar-
entity generally believed, that TINS
strike was called because OF the IAN
ure Of the Legislature 10 enact an
eIght-hour law As q matter OF fact,
the strike at Colorado city was called
on the l4th Of February. some hve or
six weeks before the adjournment OF
the Legislature which then had under
consideration an elght-hour law, and at
a time when every indication pointed
To the enactment thereof. The stand
ard mill at which the strike occurred.
had an elght-hour plant for five years,
working the eight-hour day in every de-
partment save one. and that one en-
ploying but a small proportion Of Its
mon. In his testimony before the
governors commission. above referred
10. Mr Meyer. president Of the feder-
alton. in response TO the direct ques.
tion as to whether or not he had any
complaint 20 make as 20 the hours Of
labor. replied. 'NoLe whatever
Eight-Hour Day For Ten Years.
so far as the Cripple Greek district
Is concerned. the mine workers have
worked a maximum of eight hours per
day for over ten years. and out Of
this time one-haif hour Is allowed for
luncheon. receiving the union scale Of
wages which is a minimum of s. and
an average Of nearly 81 per day.
In response 90 the call for strike
In the Cripple Creek district some 1000
men discontinued work and every
mine except one was effeetually
closed. The sheriff and nearly every
peace officer of the county were mem
bers Of the Western Federation Of
Miners and owed their positions TO the
votes and influence of that organi2a-
tion. Almost Immediately after the
calling of the strike the mine owners
decided to open their mines as rapidly
as possible. One property was opened
under heavy private guard. Early in
September. however an effort was
made 20 bring about the general open
Ing OF the mines of the district. As
soon as this was done pieketing and
intimidation and murderous assault
were resoried 10.
81 well know the history and char
ncter Of this organization. II Is, in
fact a matter Of common knowledge
In Colorado that FOR ten years this
federation has stopped at nothing To
accomplish its purrese-threats intlm
idati0n. assaults, dynamite outrages
murders. have everywhere character
lied lis policy. II has been the occa-
sion of more trouble and expense to
the state than all other causes com
blned. including Indian raids II has
never had a strike that has not been
bloody. The catalogue Of It's crimes
anrights humanity In times Of strike
its action has amounted to open insur
rection against the state. The leaders
uf this organization have insfilied into
the minds ef its membership the ne
cessity Of arming themselves for the
purpose OF resisting constituted au-
thorities
In his speech delivered in Salt Lake
City in 1897 Mr.. Boyce. since president
ot the Western Federation OF Miners
and the man eho organized the Colo
rado branch Of this organization
said:
deem i important To direct your
attention to article OF the constitu-
tional amendments Of the United
States. The right Of the people to
keep and bear arms shall not be in
fringed This you should comply
with Immediately. Every union should
have a rife club. | strongly advise
the latest improved rifle. which can be
obtained from the factory at a nominal
price. | entreat you To take action on
this important question. so that in two
years We can hear the inspiring music
Of the martial tread OF 25.0B0 armed
men in the ranks of labor
This uttefance Is in line with ad
vice repeated and reiterated by other
leaders Of the organization.
Federation has Bloody Record.
Nor have these words been sterile
Of fruit In every strike inaugurated
by this union in the state of Colorado
has been the precedent set in Idaho. in
1892. when 1.e00 men armed themselves
with rifles. pillaged boldly from the
state armory. and openly proceeded to
take life and destroy property by dyna-
hitting the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mill
In 1894 federation members armed
to the teeth. entrenehed and picketed,
and with precise military organization
deilantly held prisoners for exchange
on Bull hill. in Cripple Creek.
In 1886 federation members killed
in open conflict on the streets OF Lead
vile citizens of Lake county. and did
those murders with rifles bought and
paid for by the local executive commit
tee OF the federation.
In San Miguel county. Vincent St
John. president of the local union of
the Western Federation. bought and
paid for $50 rifles. with which he
armed his federation followers. and
these guns were used in broad daylight
on non-union miners at the Smuggler-
Union mine il. one of the most inhu-
man and barbarous crimes ever COM
mitted in the name of any cause.
In Lake City, In 1898. against these
lawless men stole rifles from the state
armory. and were prepared to use
them to uphold their demands: and.