Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-07-10

lie Salu he had been miner ever
since 1880 He joined the Western
first elected president In June. 1902,
having been reelected annually since
that.
HIS FIRST PROMINENCE.
Meyer said he had worked in
smelter for three years and half OF
his life. He first came into promin-
ence in the national organization OF
the federation in 1880 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 president Meyer
acted as organizer for the union He
iirst met William ID. Haywood at the
1900 convention in Denver. Haywood
was chosen secretary-treasurre in
1901.
The witness said he was an Odd Fell
low OF Is years standing and also a
member of the Ancient Order Of United
Workmen. having been in the latter
organization eight years.
Mr., barrow here had the witness
Identify a copy OF the constitution of
the w. r. w. and offered 1t in evidence.
There was no objection from the state
II was announced that the reading
could be deferred.
NOT BOUND AS PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Meyer said that as president no
bond was required of him, but that
haywood as secretary treasurer was
under bond of $4,000,
The witness declared that his duties
as president of the organization required
his absence from headquarters q great
er part of the time. The territory COW
cred by the W. f. NJ. ertends from
Mlchlgan to the Pacific coast and from
Alaska to Mexico. There We're 1000
members OF the federation when Meyer
was elected in 1902. When he was ar
rested more than year ago there were
SO'OO0 members, and according to this
years report there are more than 49,
600
PROTECTING MEMBERS.
Now. Mr., Meyer, during your term
as president. what has been the GUS
tom 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 in
volYed?' asked Mr. barrow.
1t has been the rule of the organ
lzation always to protect its members
and the interest of the org anizatlon."
Meyer spoke with absolute self-posses-
sion. He seemed to weigh every word
of his answers.
Has the organization had To defend
its members quite often?"
Yes"
And have there been many convic~
tions?"
Very few, considering the number
VINO nave had charges placed against
them"
Where were you in 1899 during the
Occur d'Alene troubles?"
In the Black Hills of South Dako-
ta.''
Meyer said he did not become q mem
Der of the executive board until the
June following the troubles. He had
nothing to do with the management OF
the strike and no interest in it other
than as member of the organization
a long distance from the scene OF trou~
hles. After 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'Alenes2"
Il was: yes, sir"
did you ever know Gov. Steunen-
berg"
mo, sir
Ever see him?"
mo, sir"
NO FEELING TOWARDS STEU-
NENBERG.
did you ever entertain any personal
hostility toward him."
mo, SIR
You had the same feeling that 9TH
err members of the organization had?"
81 can't say that l felt the same as
the men who were actually in the trou-
BILE was at some distance and could
not feel as strongly as they did,
CRIPPLE CREEK TROUBLES.
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, 1903. The men In
the Colorado City mills, Meyer said.
desired to organize and affiliate with
the Western Federation of Miners.
Their right to do so was contested by
their employers, and many of the men
were discharged. The state militia
was called out almost as soon as the
strike was inaugurated, and despite
the fact, 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. 1908. the men there going
ont in support of the Colorado City
mlllmen. Practically all the ore mined
in Cripple Greek was shipped to Colo
there. The mine owners had first been
requested not TO send their ore 10 Colo
RADIO city. The Portland mine, the lar
gest in the district, sided with the
union, and milled it's own ore.
The strike spread to Telluride in Sep
TENDER. 1908 the millmen there going
out for an eIght-hour day. An eight
hour law was passed In 1899 but was
declared unconstitutional. A constitu-
tional amendment providing an eight
hour law was voted upon and adopted
at the general election In 1908, but the
legislature which followed refused to
enact such a law because of the oppo-
sltion OF the mine owners,
Soon after the strike was called at
Cripple Creek. Meyer said he and Hay
wood went there to address the miners
at a picnic IN Pinnacle park.
GAVE ADVICE AS TO STRIKE.
u advised the men as to my opinion
how the strike should be conducted. J
went into details as to the cause OF
the strike and urged the men 20 be
careful about any acts OF violence on
their or any acts which might be
charged against them and used against
the organization, said Meyer
The troops went into the Cripple
Creek district sept 4, 1903.
what was the condition as to peace
and quiet at the time?" asked Mr.. OAR
row. The state objected 10 this as a
conclusion Of the witness, The ques-
tIon was finally allowed and Meyer de-
clared the men were going poaceahy
about their business, There was dis
order
Creek continusY"