The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-10-23

Much is made of the alleged denial of the obvious
right of the miners to trade with whom and where
they please. and to board where they will. The
swer is simply that the men not and never have
been denied these rights. and those who do exactly
they please in this regard given the consd
Grafton by the mine owners other employees.
stter working conditions in the mines demanded.
This amid .nite and all-incusived demand. Condi-
tions in this state recognized far better than
in most of the states of the Union. But the mine
themselves less than the miners, join in the
hope that still better conditions may come as time
progresses. Coal mining is isuniversallyr yrecognized
hazardous and dangerous busness-hazardous for the
mine owner and dangerous for the miner.
But the owner of coal property is neither
a brute fool. He will not knowingly Subject his
property to destruction his to unnecessary dan
ger. Selfish interests alone dictate contrary policy
Aside from this, the legislature of the state recently
passed what has been characterized as the most ad-
vanced and stringent law of any state in the Union
regulating the conduct of coal mines. 1t being Wig
orously enforced DO the state authorities, with the
cooperation of the mine ard it will be we'll
to await the effect of the enforcement of this law
before giving too much heed to careless criticism of
existing operating methods affecting the welfare of
the miners and the employers alike.
The further demand is made by the leaders of this
strike that the employment of armed guards by the
mine owners be discontinued The owners of vau.
able properties cannot reasonably be expected to
comply with this demand To remove such pro-
lection in the presence of exclted body of srik
ing men, would obviously invite wholesale disaster
and destruction of property. Not only so, but to
subject the men who are at work in the mines to
the danger Of physical violence at the hands of the
strikers would be positively inhuman. These
ask, expect and entitled to protection.
The mine have been forced to employ
these guards; il is not of their choosing. The ne
cessity for it is being demonstrated daily. Their
right to do SO is not denied and they will continue
to protect their mines and their workmen If the
striking miners viii! keep away from the property of
Others they need fear molcstation. If they insist
upon tresspassing upon private ground they must
pect to be halted their way. Cappany guards will
remain upon company ground, except when COM
PEELED to go elsewhere on lawful business Men who
have left the companies employment have so right
there.
When the leaders of this strike came unsolicited
to Colorado, quiet prevailed Business conditions
We're bright Today armed violence prevails in many
counties. Financial depression is imminent. Since
tho inauguration of the strike men have been
killed; property has been destroyed; the lives of
men who are desirous of working in the mines
being daily threatened: mine buildings being
fired upon the strikers have resorted to the of
dynamite; passenger trains carrying mails have
been stopped and searched by the strikers; the oc
cupants Of stages have been dragged therefrum kid
mapped and taken to strike he eadquarters And it
will be observed that there is no instance where q
guard or other employe of any coal company has
been charged by the peace officers with assault
other crime n,isdemeanor.
The owners of coal mines in this state have no
right to insist that that their continue work if
they desire to quit But they have right to demand
that property be destroyed by those who do quit
work, and that intimidation and coercion of those
who desire to continue at work forthwith cease 1t
is high time that the right of every American citizen
and others, to go unmoested where they please and
to labor when, where and for whom they please be
guaranteed in fact well as in theory.