Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-24
MINNESOTA Is ANGRY
SAYS 1T WILL NOT HARBoR ANY
ANARCHISTS.

DULUTH, July A.-There is strong
feeling In this city against the attempt of
the Western Federation Of Miners to Or
ganze the mine workers near here and to
introduce the methods they have used in
Colorado. This is shown by the following
editorial published in the Duluth Sunday
NewsTribune OF July 81:
Minnesota has no room for the Western
Federation of Miners.
This Is not Colorado, and the history of
Colorado through the Introduction of West
ern Federation methods must not be re-
peated here.
Minnesota has a great many labor unions
They are welcome. They are composed Of
intelligent, loyal citizens. But the Western
Federation of Miners is not labor union;
1t Is an organization for revolution; 1t is
utterly lawess in it's methods; it is anarch-
istic in its principles and marches under
the red flag
Minnesota does not want it, will not have
IT fastened upon its soil, and If the Oliver
Iron Mining Company Should in any way
recognize it it would merit the severest
censure and unstinted condemnation of
every good citizen.
For three years 1t has been trying to
get foothold among the iron miners of
this state. 1t has had little success There
was no demand for it. There were no labor
troubles In the mines requiring organization
for settlement
year ago all classes of labor were given
an increase of wages voluntarily Again,
on January l, 1907, they were given a 10
per cent increase. This was in midwinter
three months before the mining season be-
the operators of the mines to take care of
their men and to have them share in their
prosperity.
There are no company stores, but the
In
children employed; every man can make
1ull time, If he wants to work, and they
are comfortably housed
More than this, the finest school buildings
and the best schools the most completely
equipped educationally to be found in the
state are provided for their children and
80 per cent of the expense Of this and of ali
the splendid municipal and social orga MIA
ton on the ranges is paid without question
Ing by the mine owners.
There is no other mining section in the
world where conditions are better for the
miners, and they were contented until the
gents of the Western Federation came
among thern-professiOnal agitators with
OUT realty to any country. whose business
1t Is to stir up strife and who flaunt rho
red flag of anarchy
Outside Interference.
Meeting with little success among the
miners these men stirred up trouble among
the dock workers of this city. They fol-
lowed this with notice to the Oliver Iron
Mining Company that unless an increased
scale of wages granted The men who
mad AFFILIATED with their organization In the
mines would strike July 20. This was dated
july To- Two days later, without notice the
strike was ordered. This Of itself shows
the utter unreliability and lawless character
of these men.
A large majority of the miners are he
lieved to be satisfied and willing to work
but those who have Joined this Western Fed
Grafton. under the leadership of these in
clters to crime, are now marching through
the mines intimidating the other workmen,
who are nearly all foreigners. ignorant of
the ways of this country and of their rights,
They are threatening the destruction of
property. This cannot be tolerate and alb
solutey no recognition save that of the stern
and swift enforcement of the law should
be given these men.
They should find very suddenly that
Minnesota is a law-abiding state There
should be soldly united front OF every
good citizen against them, and they should
be made to feel the weight of public indig
nation. and the hopelessness OF any effort
To fasten the blight of the Western Fedora
ton upon this fair state
The authorities should not wait for this
strike to develop actual violence It is al
ready threatened. and the history of the
Colorado and Idaho mines would warrent
! immediate action. Every saloon on the
cient force he provided now to insure the
public peace and safety. No man who is
lava biding and intends to observe the
rights of others can take the uniform, of tha
police or the uniform of the state guard as
threat He will rather welcome II as a
protection. and those others who view either
as a menace need this emphatic evidence
that Minnesota regards them as undesir-
able citizens, and will not for one minute
be awed by their threats. suffer their
Indictment of others to crime.
But first of all. Gov. Johnson should i'm
mediately order the saloons closed and
liquor should be taken out as disturbing
factor and always the most dangerous one.
Miners F2ock1ng Out.
SUPERIOR, Wis. July pas result OF
the strike at the iron mines, laborers are
leaving the range in large numbers. many
OF them buying tickets for their old homes
in Italy. Hungary, Finland and other parts
of Europe. Three hundred passed through
here yesterday on their way east.