The chronicle=news., 1913-10-16

Following IN the full text OF the
letter OF r. T.. shumway. president Of
the Rocky Mountain Fuel Co.. to
Governor T.. n. Ammons:
To His Excsiiency. The Governor.
The State Capitol Building.
Denver. Colorado.
Dear Governor:
Our attention has been directed to
a communication. signed by certain
OF the principal officers Of the Unit.
cd Nine Workers Of America and
pu biished IN the newspapers OF Sun.
day last. requesting us. with other
coal mine operators OF Colorado. TO
cooperate with them to the end thnt
peace and good order may be made IN
prevail in the coal mininx districts
ot the state.
The communication 70 made public
by these officers OF this labor union
imputes to us co-respouSibility
with them for the condition OF an
archy and lawlcssness which they
have caused to exist Ia various scc-
tions Of Colorado since they institute
ed their strike on September :3rd
last. We resent the efforts of these
men to lead the public To believe
that We are In amy wise responsible.
and In Justice to ourselves aud to the
public generally. We feel that our po-
sition should be- made clear and
should be given the same publicity
~ has been afforded this infcrcntiai
attack on our xood.ritixcnship. Wc
address this communication Ms the
chief executive officer Of tho state.
and ~ the official upon whom rests
the ultimate responsibility Of cnforo.
Ing tn. law and preserving the peace.
To assure you that wc Will In the fut-
urc. ms wc have always done In the
past. fully AMI hosrstiy cooperate
with you and with the civil authors
tics In the interests of law aud order.
We do not believe that the officers
Of the United Mine Workers nrc. act
ink In good faith In tcndcrinx their
services In the interests Of law and
order. and hence We have no answer
to make to them.
We charge. and every right think.
Ing citizen should know. that the Of.
firers Of this labor union arr alone
responsible for the lawlcasnesa and
disorder now existing within the bor-
d.rs Of Colorado In thc strike dis
trieis. aud that they must alone re-
main responsible for It's continuance.
We believe. and we will continue to
believe. that they alone poaaeas tn.
power TO restore order. unless Your
Exceiicncy. by virtue Of the powers
ve~ted In you only. declare martial
forces ut your command. disarm these
strikers and physically enforce their
obedience to the laws Of the lana.
Prior TO the initiation Of this state
wide strike by tho United Mine
Workers. the men al work In the coal
mines of Colorado were y contcnte,l.
pcaccablc and law-abidinE people.
Since then. those who have become
It's members. most Of them have been
coerced Into 70 doing BY threats Of
violence. have been converted by the
inccndinry and anarchistic teachings
OF paid agents and officers OF this
union. 20 that they now act. aud will
continue TO act. unicss expressly or
dcrcd md directed by their recoS-
nixed leaders to the contrary. In
open and notorious defiance OF the
laws and peace officers Of the State
OF Colorado.
| In Hucrfano AMI Las Animas coun-
ties these labor leaders have purposc-
ly congregated their followers In
tent colonies In close proximity to
the mines from which they came
on strike. have armed them. and II
they have not expressly ordered
them No to do. have At least permit
ted and encouraged them by their nc.
auiesence. to daily outrage every
right OF an American citizen as to
his person. his property ana his prop
crty rights. Citizens Of this state.
engaged In their lawful business and
acting within their lawful rights. al C
not permitted by those living In
those armed camps to travel upon
highways or even to live upon their
own premises In peace and safety.
and their lives are daily threatened
and endangered by those armed
mobs. Mr.. Hayes. Of indianapolis.
the vice-President Of the United
Mine Workers, who recently came to
Colorado. and through whose influ-
ence the strike was called. can, II he
will. restore immediate peace In those
counties by removing his camps from