The Springfield herald., 1904-08-05

property in the rights to which each IL
entitled under the law. The militia
opposed the wishes and purposes OF the
federation because that organization
was attempting to prevent by violence
the operation of mines and mills. ii
Is again charged that | have been en-
gagged in a war upon unions generally.
and strenuous and repeated efforts are
being made to play upon the passions
of uniSn men. ] do not believe the ef-
forts will be successful. do not believe
the conservative union men of the state
will feel called upon to adopt the policy
of the leaders of the federation. nor
can l believe they will sanction It.
believe they will be able to discrimin-
ate between their own unions and prin-
ciples and the socialistic. anarchistic
objects and methods of the federation.
In the ten years OF its existence the
Western Federation of Miners has In
volved the state in cash outlay for
the militia of more than $2,000,0O0.
II propose In the future, as In the
past to see to 1t that the laws are
faithfully executed and in the accom-
plishment of that purpose | shall not
inquire whether the Individual entitled
to protection is, or is not, member OF
any labor organization. No one can
appreciate more than /, not only the
right and wisdom of laboring men to
join together for the purpose of bet
tering their wages and working condi-
uons. and no one can believe more
heartily than | in a fair wage and
reasonable hours. 1t will be matter
of great regret to me II the laboring
men of the state fail to see that I am
fighting their battle. for sincerely be-
lieve that organized labor has no more
dangerous enemy than the Western
Federation of Miners. which is seeking
under the cloak Of organized labor. to
protect itself alike in the promulga-
tion of its dishonest socialistic theo-
ries. which recognize no right to pri-
vate property. and from the result OF
It's anarchistic tenets and tendencies.
Legitimate labor organizations OF ne
cessity suffer from the criminal ag-
gressions of the federation. Its claim
to the character of labor organiza-
ton Is its only title to respectability.
| believe that no greater good can be
conferred upon the cause OF union Ia
bor. striving to better the condition
OF its members, than that the members
of such legitimate labor unions con-
denim the methods of the federation.
Those who are charged with the
duty of seeing that the lives and prop
erty of citizens are respected have diff
ficult and perplexing problems to
solve In times of insurrection and
great public stress.
81 have had to deal with an organiza-
ton which has no counterpart In this
country Its official proclamations. full
of defiance and challenge. issued from
time to time, have amounted. as has
been said, to a declaration or war
against the state, =.
II have met the challenge with a
policy none too vigorous for the out
lawry I was called on to oppose. But
through it all have had but one OBJ
ject, and that to show the. people OF
Colorado that the laws will be upheld
that criminal organization cannot
dictate the policy of this administra-
tion. and that everywhere within the
borders of Colorado. property shall be
secure and labor shall be free.
JAMES H. PEABODY,
Governor"