The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-08-24
After -Four Years of Effort the
Miners Union is Being Recog
nized in Camps Where Most
Desperately Fought Battles
Took Place.
Bulkeley Wells, the Most Bitter
Opponent Of the Union, Who
Kidnapped Meyer, Haywood
and Pettibone to Idaho, Sur
renders to Union.
Mine Owners Association Is Dis
solved, and Card System Estab-
lished by Employers Is Being
Abolished. Union Men Arc
Now Employed.


News comes from Denver through the
Denver Post, which is by no means
favorable to the great western labor
organization, that all of the Colorado
mines are abolishing the Mine Own
ers' association card system, and that
most of the mines are thrown open to
members of the federation.
If the Western Federation intends to
pursue the same fight in Minnesota
the Steel Corporation might as well
settle down for long drawn struggle.
In an interview with the Labor World,
Mr.. Mahoney, the acting president Of
the federation said: There is one
thing about our organization which
the employers recognize when they
deal with us. We fight in the open,
and We only admit defeat when we
have been completely exterminated."
Out in Colorado the federation has
been driven from pillar Ito post and
back again. Its members have been
assassinated, assaulted, cast into pris-
on, deported from their homes, thrown
In bull pens, and subjected to all man
ners Of injustices. Their local organi-
zations had been completely annihllat-.
ed, and the mine owners began to set
tie back In their chairs with the firm
belief thtat the fight was over.
After Haywood's AcquittaI.
Their peace Of mind was not long
established, for when the news spread
over the wires that Haywood was not
guilty in Idaho. from every miners
camp in Colorado sprang members Of
the federation who had long concealed
their identity. and their banners were
unfurled to the mine owners in glori-
Gus triumph.
Then there were hurried consulta-
tions among the followers of Bulkeley
unions. A general order for the dis
charge Of all unionists was issued.
Since the beginning Of the strike In
1908 no man had been allowed to work
In the mines without a card bearing a
certificate Of record from the Mine
Owners association. These cards were
called in, and the men were instructed
to apply for new cards under new
series, and any person who could not
secure such card would be denied
employment.
The Western Federation, not to be
outdone, and realizing its strength in
the Colorado mining camps promptly
issued an order warning it's members
to walk out unless the card system
was abolished entirely. 1t was near
ing the date for another general strike
in Colorado, and the first to show evil
dence Of weakness was the Mine Own
ers' association.
Cripple Creek Yields.
In it's issue Of August 18th, the Den
yer Post published a special from
Cripple Creek the hot bed of the Citi-
zen's Alliance to the effect, that a
meeting of vast Importance was called
that day by the lesses and some Of
the mine owners whereby the open
shop rule will be inaugurated, and no
questions will be asked as to whether
the cards are issued by the Western
Federation of Miners or the Mine
Owners association. Those at the
head OF the movement declare that
they now have the promise of at least
20 lessees and mine owners who pro-
pose to run their business as they de-
sire, and that they will not tolerate
any agitation or dictation from anv
union or association.
If this movement is carried into
effect it practically means the end of
the Mine Owners association and tho
adjustment Of the card system in the
Cripple Creek district. These men
declare that there are a number Of
miners living In different camps Of the
state who would like to come to
Cripple Greek: that they are members
OF the Western Federation Of Miners
but that they will take out no kind
Of card OF the Mine Owners associ-
alton which will entitle them to work.
According to one Of the leaders of
the movement, 1t will not affect the
religious or political belief, Of any man
who applies for work as long as he Is
capable Of doing eight hours work at
the Cripple Creek scale .#of wages.
which are acknowledged to be the
highest WAGES paid. They think that
with the adoption Of the open shop
law tbs card system will he in vogue
only In q very few mines 5s. $7t I'll
On the following & day the same