United labor bulletin. (Denver, Colo.) 19??-1915, 1910-05-19
MINERS IMPORTED
FROM THE EAST
Operator in Northern Field, by Lies and
Deceit, Bring Men From Eastern Fields
to Break the Strike-Much Hardship
Caused.

Strikebreakers are being imported by
the mine operators of northern Colorado
from the East in gangs of from so to
100. and they are being put to work
under guard at the mines in the northern
fields. some being detained by threats of
bodily harm.
Last week a bunch of 20 men were
brought in from West Virginia, and after
going to the mines they refused to go to
work and came to Denver for assistance
from the United Mine Workers o. Amer.
lea and the state officials.
The writer had long talk with one
OF the imported men. He gave his name
as Mike Flynn. and said he was a mule
driver. He told his story this way:
1T was on payday and We were all
drinking around the camp. which is lo-
Gated in the New River district. in West
Virginia. that a stranger came among us
and asked II we wished TO take a trip to
Colorado. We asked what ii was, and
he told us 1t was mine work. He said
there was no strike or trouble of any
kind. and that we would be paid 50 per
day. Now. 50 per day for . myle-driyer
IL pretty good wages About - OF us de-
cided to come to Colorado and we were
put in two cars and started. Some of us
were single men. but great many left
large families behind in West Virginia.
we came by way Of Cincinnati, Ohio;
Peoria. III; ST Louis. and finally landed
al the coal fields. The only foreigners
In the crowd were eight Huns. They
Neui into the mines. while the rest OF
as. when we seen the guns strapped on
rn. HnEs
and started for Denver.
Now. my friend. / am a poor mule
driver-a damn poor one at that-but
when when ! scab tand he shook his
mead, but when | scab on human be-
ing | hope death shall first come to me.
Il want TO be frank with You about
this matter. my friend. These fellows
are scattered all over Denver and they
need help. What can be done for them?"
The poor fellow was given a g-ub-stake
and was taken care of President John
McIennan OF the Colorado State Fedora
ton of Labor was notified OF the stu
tion. and that office. together with the
United Mine Workers OF America, in the
Barclay block. Eighteenth and Larimer
are doing their best TO take care of these
men during the absence Of Labor Com
missioner Brake. who has been on the
Western Slope, looking after the affairs
of miners in that locality.
But in the last few days we have had
repetition of the same offense by the
operators of these northern miners,
whose offices are in Denver.
Another lot of men have been brought
from Kentucky and Tennessee TO the
northern fields. The men came to Den
yer last week with stories of misrepre-
sentation made them by the Colorado
Coal & Coke company.
They said that labor agent, Rooney
by name, came TO them where they were
employed in Kentucky and Tennessee
and offered them twice as much money
as they were getting to come to Colo
rado. ]. W. Gordon. formerly of Camp
bell county. Tenn, said that he saw
Rooney at Corbin. Ky. Rooney was there
hiring men. Rooney told him that there
had been strike in the Colorado Coal &
Coke company's mines. but it had been
called off and that most of the men had
gone back to work. Those who had not
returned to work were labor agltators.
I'VE were told" said Gordon. that we
were not to take the places of strikers,
mines and saw lot of men with guns.
we knew that they we're guards and that
we had been deceived. There were two
carloads of us, We we're ushered between
lines of armed men to the mines. That
was Sunday morning.
Monday morning we went into the
mines. and few of the boys worked
couple of hours. In the meantime. we
had discussed the situation and all de-
cided to quit. When I walked out OF the
mine, one OF the guards pointed gun
at me and asked me where l was going.
l told him that was going after my suit
case.
Eight of us left the Gorham mine
Monday and walked to Superior. The
latter is a union mine The union min
ers bought us tickets to Denver. After
I got into town saw Rooney and he
offered me SO day to go back to Cor
ham and work. But as hard up as am,
I don't want the lob"