The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-07-31
PLACES BLAME
ON The MINERS
Governor Peabody Declares
Western Federation Is
Responsible for Troubles
ISSUES LONG ADDRESS
Executive Asserts That His
tory of Union Is a Tale
of Assaults and 0utrages

DENVER, July 80. - Governor
James H. Peabody to-day issued an
address explaining and indicating his
acts in dealing with the labor troubles
in Colorado. He refutes the conten-
ton that the strike inaugurated by the
Western Federation of Miners at the
ore reduction works in Colorado city
was called because Of the failure or
the Legislature to enact an eight-hour
law, pointing out that 1t was called on
the 14th of February, some FIVE or
six weeks before the adjournment of
the Legislature, which then had under
consideration an eight-hour law. Lat
er a sympathetic strike was declared
by the federation in Cripple Creek to
cut off the ore supply of the mills.
Governor Peabody then goes into
the history of the Western Federation
of Miners, which. he declares, is re-
plete with assaults dynamite outrages
and murders. In affording protection
to men who desired to labor the Gov
ernor explains, lit became necessary,
in my judgment to confine certain
men in military guardhouses. as one
of the safest and most expeditions
methods of restoring order. 1t was
loudly proclaimed that this was with
out authority of law. The question
was submitted 10 the Supreme Court
and the action of the militia in that
respect fully sustained. 1t is a useful
and necessary power and the class
that should dread its exercise is not
numerous. The general policy pur-
sued in Cripple Creek was followed in
other parts of the State, and particu-
larly in Telluride, where the excuses
and crimes of the federation had been
still more inhuman than in any other
district and the reign of terror still
more complete. Order now prevails
there"
Quiet had been restored in Cripple
Creek and the troops withdrawn when
the dynamite outrage was committed
at the Independence depot June 6, fol-
lowed by the riot at Victor. The Gov
ernor places the responsibility for
/ both these occurrences on the feder-
! alton.
When the excitement had some
what subsidized and the county was still
under quasi-military rule" the Gov
ernor continues, 1T was found that
there were several hundred members
of the Western Federation in the dis
/ trict yet who would not work and had
resolved that others should not If by
such methods as those employed at
the independence station they could
be driven away, resolved that they
should be dispersed and 1 dispersed
! them"
Governor Peabody denies the
charge that he is waging war on la
j Dor unions generally and closes as fol-
lows:
L have had to deal with an organ
ization which has no counterpart in
this country. Its official proclama-
tons full of defiance and challenge.
issued from time to time, have
amounted, as bias been said, to dec
laration of war
I have met the challenge with a
policy none too vigorous for the out
lawry 1 was called to oppose. But
through it all 1 have had but one OBJ
ject, and that to show the people of
Colorado that the laws will be up
held-that a criminal organization
cannot dictate the policy OF this ad-
ministration and that everywhere
within the borders of Colorado prop
erty shall be secure and labor shall
be free"