The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1907-05-15
Kidnapped In Colorado and
Hurried to Idaho
SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS
That eliminated in the failing Of the
Mine Officials--Trial Promises to
Prove a Very Historic
One.

Federation OF Miners, on the grave
charge OF completely In murder, Il
pregnant with great possibilities Tor
the labor movement
That three men SO high lii official sta
ton and SO widely and favoresoly
known IN labor circles should be ac-
cused Of the crime Of murder Is In
itself sufficiently extraordinary. but
when to this are added the sensational
/ kidnapping OF these men by armed
force and their secret abduction by tho
governors Of two sovereign states II
can be readily understood why the
whole world OF organized labor Is
aroused as never before In all It's his
tory and why the trial promises to
mark distinctly an important epoch In
the labor movement
1t Is to present this case briefly to
the labor unions of the country and to
show them that there is In this con-
spiracy an insidious and dangerous at
tack upon organized labor that this mr..
ticle is written.
1t Is well understood that there has
long been state Of active warfare
between the organized mine owners
and the organized mine workers OF
Colorado and other western states.
This warfare has been marked by a
long series Of outrages apd crimes,
most Of which the mine owners have
sought to fasten upon the niue work
ers, but not one Of which has ever
been successfully proved In the courts
or otherwise against the Unions or
their leaders
On the other hand. number OF
crimes against labor have been proved
against the organized mine and smeIt.
er owners, the western allies OF the
Standard Oh company. chief or which
was their bold and bodily purchase OF
the legislature OF Colorado, which has
been commanded by popular major
ity OF almost 1900 votes 10 enact a
law providing an eight hour workday
for men employed In and about mines
and shelters. This law had been en-.
acted by previous legislature. but de-
clared unconstitutional by the supreme
court at the behest OF the mine own.
ers. II was then submitted TO the PEG
pie of the state IN the form OF con.
EtItutionai amendment, and the cleo
ton returns show that II was carried
By an Overwhelming majority. but in
spite Of this the following legislature
instead OF giving heed 10 the voice OF
the people, basely betrayed It's trust
and 1t Is a matter Of common notorlety
that the cause Of their apostasy was
their cash purchase at so much per
vote by the mine and smelter combine.
This corruption OF the legislature and
defiance Of the peoples expressed will
was the starting point Of most Of the
troubles, including the strikes. which
have occurred in Colorado during the
past few years, one Of the incidents 81
which was the kidnapping Of the ON
Gals OF the Western Federation 81
Miners not because they were gnilty
Of crime. but to fasten infamy upon
their names, discredlt their union aud
thus destroy organized labor,
These men have been charged witt
completely in the assassination Of ex
Governor Steunenberg of Idaho IN De
cember, 1908. As a matter Of fact
they could have had no possible motive
In the commission OF such o crime, and
they were almost thousand miles
from the scene Of It's execution.
Notwithstanding this fact an aflda
Wit charging them with being on the
ground when the crime was committed
was made by the prosecuting attorney
as a basis for secret requisition FOL
the extradition Of the defendants fro:r
their homes in Denver to the place
where the crime was committed anl
where the greatest prejudice had beci
aroused against tho Western fedora
ton and fts~oiEcers by the public OH
cials, including the governor Of tht
state. who were well known to be Il
sympathetic alliance with tho Mlns
Owners association.
The requisition thus issued WAS hon
cred in secret By Governor McDonais
Of Colorado. himself a mine owner ane
intensely hostile TO organized labor
and. awaiting favorable opportunity
the secret service men Of the two gov
eFnors pouneed upon the three labol
officials in the dead hours Of night
and wIthos. giving them a chance {
ask question, utter a protest, consul
q LAWYER or even send word to tlief
families they were secretly locked II
separate cells Of the county Jail, and a
o'clock in the morning a Union Pa
cifc special train which had been pro
yided By the railroad company rush
ed them az high rnte Of speed Il
Boise. Ida. where they were placed ii
the separate cells OF the state peni
Tertiary under a heavy guard.
This IL the story % n very brief form
but every word Of 1t is absolutely trui
and can be easily verified Indeed
there has been no attempt 70 deny Il
even by the kidnapping governors them
Selves or any OF their numerous meE
senaries
life constitution Of the United State
was Nagrantly violated when thesl
men we're seized and deported BY arm
ed force and deaied all the privileges
guaranteed to citizens under the lay
Of fhe land
The simple reason FOR ills If tina
they could NOT be lawfully connecte'
With the crime with which they ha'
been charged, Tor bad they beel