The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-07-02
Fund Started to Fight the De-
fiance of the Constitution in
the Highest Courts of the
Land. Finish of Peabody
ism in Sight.

WASHINGTON, June 30.-So atri-
c1ous have become the outrages which
are being perpetrated on the union
miners OF Colorado, and such open
defiance has been hidden to the con-
stitution Of the United States, that
the question Of American liberty is
now at stake, and the all-poWerful
American Federation of Labor repre-
scntlng four million of the most high
~ intellectual and best paid working
people in the United States, has de-
tlded to take hand in the matter
to take its stand behind the ILL
treated miners and to raise funds for
the great legal battle which is to
e''sue. 1t will not be fought in Colo
rhdo, where the courts and everything
else are influenced and run to suit
the ne-oWners and monopolists, but
in Washington. where. under the shad-
ov Of the blind Goddess of Justice
there can be no collusion or shady
dolngs. Formal demand will be made
by the best legal talent that money
can procure for the upholding Of the
constitution, which grants every man
personal liberty, and the demand will
he so put that there can. be no wrig-
gling out Of the question, but a ver-
dict must be rendered which will
now and forever settle it. The gov
crnment will be called upon to put
81 stop to the outrages which have been
r:A' tced and which would have dis
g!aced Siberia and steps will be taken
to secure the punishment Of those
who are responsible for the terrible
condition Of affairs that exist in the
Western state.
The following appeal has been sent
t. organized labor everywhere:
You are all fairly or fully familiar
With the outrageous condition of af-
f,'irs which exist in Colorado, and
therefore il brief resume here may be
1;lned through another and more
convenient source. Suffice is to say
t.'nt in Colorado today all semblance
OF civil law and constitutional rights
are trampled under foot and flagrantly
Violated. The rule Of gun and bayonet
T. supreme, and doing the bidding Of
the most unscrupulous organization of
men who are. 4.pronlu otl1eH
thought or purpose than avarice, greed
and power-the mine-owners organ
ied ds the Citizens Alliance. They
have Governor Peabody absolutely un-
uHf tnelf tnunlD. he is QOlnS tnelT
bidding and carrying out the bargain
entered into prior to his election to
prevent the enactment of the eight
hour law by the Colorado legislature,
aud which enactment is directly COM
nl,ltlcd by the constitution of that
state.
There can be no question us to the
fact that to this gross violation of the
constitutional command the failure to
el:art an eight hour law was the
tuuse Of the strike for the enforce
ment Of an cight-hour Workday, and
The effort on the part of the mine
owners to frustrate that effort by
pNery means at their command and
the sending Of the military forces by
Governor Peabody to overaWe the min
ers aud to break their strike. What
ever laWlessness has been committed
py either or by both sides is due to
Ihc first laWless act Of the governor
pi Colorado and his continued usurpa-
ZION of power and exercise of tyranny
md brute force.
Surely it is entirely superfluous and
unnecessary for us to say that we have
10 excuse to offer for crime committed,
40 matter by whom, and that our