New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-11
THE NINE DINNERS SIDE.
Record OF the Western Federation
of Miners.

Cripple Greek. csL. June 10-CIarence c.
Hamlin, secretary Of the Cripple Creek District
Mine Owners Association. gave out a statemen,
to-day in reply to a telegram from a New York
newspaper asking him. head OF the vigi-
lantes." to present his side Of the labor troubles
here. Mr.. Hamlin's statement follows:
There is no vigilante committee IN this com
muntty The only movement that might be con-
sidered OF that character occurred after the In
dependence outrage OF Monday, when deter
mined citizens took steps to bring about the
resignation Of several officers who were either
Incompetent or IN sympathy and coIlusiOn with
those responsible for the murders and dynamit-
Ing which have taken place here since the strike
These Offices have been filed by capable men.
and the situation is in the hands of a
Sheriff fully capable to handle it, The action Is
in full harmony with the adtutant general of
the State.
The position of the Cripple Creek operators
has been placed in an absolutely false light by
the Eastern press Labor leaders attribute these
troubles to the defeat OF the Eight Hour law IN
Colorado. The fact Is that we have been work
ing an eight hour day for ten years. paying a
minimum wage of So and average wage OF
about 81 day. The actual working time Of a
miner is but about seven hours No grievance
was lodged against the operators when the
strike was called and had the question been
left TO the miners themselves 30 per cent would
have voted against il. This strike is due TO the
fact that the striking power has been taken
from the union members and lodged in the
hands Of a few leaders, criminals themselves
and dependent on crime to attain their ends
While this strike is called a sympathetic one
70 aid certain mill men, most of them also WORK
ing eight hour day, it's real purpose was TO
compel every miner in this district to Join the
Western Federation OF Miners or leave the
country This organization has a record OF
Iawlessness murder. arson and dynamiting in
CCeUr 'Aleue. Butte, Leadville, Idaho Springs.
Telluride Cripple Greek and elsewhere, extend
ing over a period of fifteen years, which
should appall humanity. These OutrageS cullni-
mated here on Monday, when fifteen men were
blown into eternity and nearly many more
manned SO that death would be mercy The
,,1t- Va11 Al m "a
in the NIollie NfaguiTes Of Pennsylvania. and
their members were Iaw-abiding citizens COM
pared with the organization which We nave %
deal with. The peace and quiet OF the state de-
mand that this organization be externinated
root and branch The responsibility for the
above Outrages is so well fixed that no person
can belong 10 the federation and pretend 10 be a
law-abidng citizen.
Since Mondays calamity would close every
mine in this district for ten years rather than
let a single member OF this organization work or
live here But this IS not necessary, Tor all our
mines are working full handed with better
class of men. all Hon-unton. than ever before
The fact that no IaWlessneSs has been con-
mitted since the OUtTage5 of Monday, and that
every good citizen Is standing at the right hand
OF the Sheriff in his endeavOT to maintain the
law and 10 suppress this lawless organization
speaks volumes for the patience and law-lOvins
qualities Of the people of this community There
is now no legal question involved in this cOntro-
versy other than that Of the right Of a COM
ruunity 10 purge itself of n criminal Organtza-
ton whose very existence is standing menace
70 the lives and property OF those whose only
offence is that they claim the right to work.
our light has not been against uniOniSm "a
such. hat against criminal organization and y
will not be discontinued until no member OF this
organizes tion is left in Teller County