Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1905-03-01
Robt. Randalrs Scathing Expose Of j,

MI lICSluCnh anu lSlloW uSICkdhSss
have come to speak to you as a
Colorado miner-one of the rank
and 6le-who has grown up among
the coal and metaliferous mines of
the west; one who knows the history
of our struggles, our trials, our suf-
fering and bitter defeat, and the
grievous wrong John Mitchell has
done us, and | am here to tell you
of it.
At the time of the calling of the
great strike, November 9, 1903, the
miners-with the exception of the
Northern Colorado district-were
almost unorganized in southern Col
orado, New Mexico and Utah. The
coal companies believed and boasted
that their men would never strike
upon a call by the United Mine
Workers. But within two days after
the strike call. 10, 900 men, or o5
per cent of all the coal miners of
Colorado, had responded to the call,
and every coal mine in the state was
closed, The unorganized miners
came out because they had been told,
because they had been led to believe,
that if they struck the union miners
of northern Colorado would strike
and stand by them, and altogether
they would go down to defeat or for
ward to victory. The unorganized
miners of Colorado struck because
they had faith in John Mitchell; be-
cause they had faith in the United
Mine Workers.
The coal companies had been
taken entirely by surprise and were
paralyzed. A coal famine was i'm
minent The great steel works at
Pueblo were closed, the Denver tram
way ran short of coal, and within
two weeks coal went up to SIa per
ton in Denver. The miners of Col
orado were overjoyed; they knew
that all they had to do was to sit
down, be quiet, and within six weeks
the state would be paralyzed by
coal famine and the public would,
as in the anthracite strike, force the
coal companies to make terms with
the union.
At this critical period. when every
thing pointed to an early settlement,
when complete victory was practic-
ally assured, the order was suddenly
sent by Mr.. Mitchell to the men in
charge of the strike to go into con-
ference with the coal companies of
northern Colorado, and upon any
terms that were offered, get the min
ers in the district to return to work.
This order was like a thunderbolt to
us. This order was against the pro-
tests of our district officers, against
the advice of our national board
member. Mr.. Kennedy, against the
advice, believe, of every one of the
national organizers, with possibly
two exceptions, and against the pro-
tests of the rank and file of the min
ers of the 18th district.
Mr.. Mitchell, | ask you who in
duced you to order the miners in
northern Colorado to return to
work.
| challenge you to prove that it
was the miners, the district officers,
or even your own national organiz-
ers that induced you to order the
northern Colorado strike committee
to 90 into a conference with the Off
cials of the Northern Coal company.
l assert that it was the Northern
Coal company, backed by the Den
yer citizens alliance and the South
ern Coal companies that asked you
to force the miners of northern Col
orado to return to work. chal-
lenge you, Mr.. Mitchell, to deny it,
In letter to myself, District Pres
ident Howells says: "Struby and
Blood had more influence with John
Mitchell than the pressing needs OF,
and all the arguments that could be
brought to bear by District I5."
M. I...kun .llo,, ,.a 30 apL WON