The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-11
MOYER TAKES STAND
IN HAYWOOD HEARING
Continued from Page /.

side her
After being escorted to the witness
chair by a bailiff and sworn, Meyer was
questioned by Attorney barrow as TO
some of the details of his early life. he
said he had been miner ever since 1883.
He Joined the Western Federation or
Miners in 1897 and was first elected presi-
dent in June 1902. haying been reelected
annually since that
Meyer said he had worked in smelter
for three years and a half of his life
lie first came into prominence in the ma
tional organization of the federation in
1889. when at the Salt Lake convention
he was elected a member of the executive
board under President Ed. BOyce. For
nine months prior to his election as pres
1dent Meyer acted as an organizer for
the union. He first met William ID. Hay
wood at the 1900 convention in Denver.
Haywood was chosen secretary-treasurer
in 1901.
The witness said he was an odd Fellow
OF eighteen years standing, and also a
member of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen, having been in the latter
ganization eight years.
Mr. barrow had the witness identify a
copy of the constitution of the W. F. NJ.
and offered il in evidence. There was
no objection from the state. It was an
bounced that the reading would be de
1erred.
Mr. Meyer said that as president no
bond was required of him, but that Hay
wood as Secretary-treaSurer was under a
bond Of $4,000.
The witness declared that his duties as
president of the organization required his
absence from headquarters a greater part
of the time. The territory covered by the
W. F. NJ. extends from Michigan to the
Pacific coast and from Alaska TO Mex
Eco. There were % 900 members of the
Federation of Miners when Meyer was
elected in 1902. When he was arrested,
more than year ago, there We're 10000
members, and according to this years re-
port there are more than 10000
Protects Its Members.
Now Mr. Meyer, during your term as
president what has been the custom of
the organization as to defending members
of the union who have been charged with
crime growing out of their connection
with the union, or where the federation
has been involved asked Mr.. barrow
1T has been the rule of the OrganfZa-
A ton always to protect its members and
&fhe interest of the organization where
charges have been made against them"
Meyer spoke with absolute self-pOsses-
sion. He seemed 10 weigh every word of
his answers.
Has the organization had to defend its
members quite often?'
And have there been many convic-
tions?'
Very few. considering the number who
have had charges placed against them. ="
Where were you in 1899 during the
Occur d'Alene troubles?"
In the Black Hills of South Dakota 50
Meyer said he did not become a MEM
Der of the executive board until the June
following the troubles. He had nothing
10 do with the management of the strike
and no interest in IL other than as a
member of the organization a long dis
tance from the scene of the troubles Aft
er becoming a member of the executive
board he had to vote on some matters
concerning the latter part of the strike.
Were you in sympathy with the men
in the Occur d'Alenes?"
Il was. yes sir.
Did you ever know Governor Steunen-
berg?"
NO sir
Ever see him."
Did you ever entertain any personal
hostility toward him.
No. sir
You had the same feeling that other
members of the organization had?'
L can't say that I felt the same as the
men who We're actually in the trouble.
was at some distance and could not feel
as strongly as they did"
Mr.. DarrOw next took the witness to the
Cripple Creek district of Colorado and
the beginning of the labor strife there.
The strike started at Colorado City in
February, 1893. The men in the Colorado
City mills. Meyer SAID, desired to organ
ize and affiliate with the Western Fedora
tiOn of Miners. Their right to do so WAS
contested by their employers and many of
the men were discharged. The state mill
Tia was called out almost as soon as the
strike was inaugurated and despite the
1act, the witness declared that there was
no disorder. Many citizens protested
against the presence of the soldiers
The strike extended to Cripple Creek IN
August, 1903, the men there going out in
support of the Colorado City mill men.
Practically all the ore mined in Cripple
Creek was shipped to Colorado City for
treatment IN the mills there The mine
owners had first been requested not TO
send their ore TO Colorado City. The Port
land mine, the largest i'm the district
sided with the union and millCd its own
ore
The strike spread to Telluride in Sep
TENDER, 1903, the mill men there going out
~for an eight-hour day. An eight-hOur law
Y was passed in 1892 but was declared I'M
constitutional. A constitutional amend
ment. providing an eight-hour law was
voted upon and adopted at the general
election in 1893 but the legislature which
followed refused to enact such law be
cause of the opposition of the mine own
ors.
Talked Against Violence.
Soon after the strike was called at Grip
pie Creek Meyer said, he and Haywood
went there TO address the miners at Il
picnic in Pinnacle park.
'I advised the men as to my opinion
how the strike should be conducted. /
went into details as to the cause of the
strike and urged the men to be careful
about any acts of violence or any acts
which might be charged against them.
end urged against the organization said
Meyer.
The troops went into the Cripple Creek
district September /. 1903
"What was the condition as to peace
and quiet at the ume?" asked Mr. Oar
row. The state objected to this as a con
clusiOn of the witness. The question was
finally allowed and Meyer declared the
men were going peacea5ly about their
business. There was no disorder.
How long did the strike in Cripple
Creek cOntinue2'
TT is still i'll progress there
Meyer said he first met Steve Adams at
the Pinnacle park picnic. Adams was
serving lemonade. ice cream and soft
drinks at a refTeshment stand which the
union had set up. The witness was intro
duced by someone standing near; he could
not remember just who it was
when did you first meet Harry Or
chard?"
In January. 1904. at the headquarters
of the Western Federation of Miners"
How do you recall this2'
There was a convention called by the
way is open for an equally wide cross
examination. Senator Borah will be
the states questioner.
State Federation Of LabOr-a general
meeting of wage earneIs. Orchard was a
delegate from Cripple Creek. represent
L. h A fN.al II I