Gilpin observer., 1913-05-29
SEEK RELIEF FROM
SHELTER TRUST
MINERS TO PETITION CONGRESS
TO INVESTIGATE THE ALL-Hoo
COMBINE AT ONCE.

A strenuous effort will be made by
the miners and mine owners of the
mining counties to have congress in
vestigate the American Smelling &
Refining Company, in the hope that
some relief can be offered from the
damnable policy of this giant mon
opoly. Congressman Martin endeav-
ored to have the tentacies of the
smelter octopus cut when he was at
Washington, but at that time the
president and the senate were Re-
publican, Guggenheim, the smelter
head, was also in the senate, and
with the situation as stated, the mfnr
ing interests of the country stood as
much show of getting favorable con-
sideration from Washington as Christ
did of getting square deal from
Judas Iscariot.
But now, the long suffering miner
sees, ray of hope. The president
is Democratic, as are also both hcus-
es of congress. Colorado has a dele
CATION at the National capital that
will work for the interests OF the
state. Their aid will be enlisted, and
surely something can be done to
stop the iniqmtous smelter combine
from robbing the hard working miner
OF the fruits of his toll.
1t is well and proper that Gilpin
county take the initiative in this
movement The county that made
Colorado should preserve it. Other
camps, suffering equally with this,
will join in the good work. Petitions
will be circulated and sent to Wash
ington. These will be similar in draft
to the following:
''Gilpin County, Colo.
ITO the Honorable House OF Repre-
sentatives Of the United States. :
Whereas, the mining industry of
This. the pioneer mining county Of
Colorado, has for the past decade.
and is now being stifled and paralyz-
ed by what is known as the Ameri-
can Smelter and Refining Co.. and
Whereas, Said company by its
methods and monopoly has rendered
this one great industry so unprofit-
able that unless your honorable body
takes steps to dissolve this giant oc-
topus this entire mountain country
will ere long return to its primeval
days, therefore be it
a< ,.a ,,,iv,arx, a pd
mine owners of this county most re-
spectfully petition you to investigate
this monopoly and afford us such re-
lief that we may be enabled to re-
tain a portion of the profits of our
mines for our labor"
That the operators OF Clear Creek
county will join us in our endeavors
TO have the giant smelter monopoly
brought to it's knees, will be seen
from the following letter, written to
County Chairman NJ. J. Leahy by B.
J. O'Connell. OF Georgetown:
Georgetown. Colo, May 20, 13
IN. ]. Leahy, Esq.
Central City. Colo.
My Dear Friend Leahy:-
Your very interesting and vel
come communicable OF the 31st inst
reached here In due time. Now, my
good friend, let me say that l have
served my apprenticeship ON that sub
ject. / understand 1t very well and
50 does everybody who has been en-
gagged In the occupation Of mining. II
a certain sense, perhaps. l may un
derstand II little better than some
miners because ! spent six years try
ing to get favorable action upon the
smeiter trust proposition from tht
legislature Of this state. final,
succeeded in getting what ! tough
Tor, namely, a constitutional amend
ment submitted to the very dear peo
pie that would. II adopted. enable
the next Legislature to tell the smeh
er trust to button Its pockets on thu
plunder that was in them and rob nj
more. just think Of the people turn
ing this down! Imagine the peopl,
Of this state, by implication Mt least
placing the seal Of their approva
upon smelter trustism and Guggen
heimism after all that has been sail
during the last decade about thos
things!
Reflect further, II you will. upol
THE equally exasperatipg fact that Il
the last session OF the Legislature
the house OF representatives vote,
down proposal to submit this ques
ton once again to the people! Their
Is no use giving way to exclama
tion. II we did. we would be inter