The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-11

| speaking before the House of Rep
| resentatives at Washington, on June
lS, 1914, Congressman George Kindel,
of Colorado, gave utterance to many
! important facts i'm the coal strike sit
| uation. Below are a few extracts
!, from that speech, as published in the
Congressional Record
Mr.. Speaker, it may seem n new
role for me to appear as the defender
of corporations. Much OF my life has
been devoted to what | have believed
| to be just criticism of many corporate
| abuses. But there are times when a
position assumed by even corporate
interests is correct.
The position of these Colorado OPP
orators is correct. 1t deserves and
shall receive my appreciation and sup
port. | know the men who say, We
| cannot enter into negotiations of any
character with the officers and agents
of the United Mine Workers of Am
erica, who alone are responsible for
the terrible reign of disorder and
bloodshed which has disgraced this
state
How to Restore Peace.
These men mean what they say.
There will be neither negotiation nor
| compromise. / agree with them as
they proceed, instead of it being our
duty to do so, we conceive it rather
to be the duty of the officials of the
United Mine Workers of America. who
called the strike, to call il off: they
can do so il they see fit and by so
doing they will. within an hour, in
great measure, restore industrial
peace and prosperity to this state
But this they have neither the cour-
age nor disposition to do.
True labor and wisely conducted
labor unions have no better friend
than |, for ] am a member of q union
that has accomplished much good. It
is for this reason that ! am compelled
To denounce the methods of the partic-
ular labor organization which has
brought disgrace, Industrial blight,
and almost financial ruin upon my
state.
MIR. Speaker, the Colorado coal
strike was not inaugural ted by the men
actually at work in the mines, nor
because of the existence of any cond-
tions which might afford just ground
for dissatisfaction among them.
Coal mining is universally recog-
niZed as n hazardous and dangerous
business, especially In a district where
the dry atmosphere is more conducive
to the creation of dust and roof con-
ditions to fails than in many other
localities. But general conditions in
the mines i'm Colorado were excep-
this calamity was thrust upon our
state.
Character Of the Mine Owner.
"The mine owner is neither a brute
nor a fool he will not knowingly sub
ject his property to destruction nor
his men to unnecessary danger. Sell
fish interests alone dictate a contrary
that I am personally acquainted with
many of the operators of my state,
and l know them to be honorable and
humane men, who entertain a keen
solicitude for the welfare of their
employees.
"They have done, and are doing,
much looking to the health and we'll
being of their men and the safety of
their properties. That the miners
knew and appreciated this is evidence
ed by the tenacity with which more
than 10000 continue. to work in the
face of intimidation, Violence. and
personal danger to themselves and
their families.
1T was the agitator. not the miner.
who complained and who has wrought
all this havoc. And for what Sim
ply and solely to compel the operators
to recognize the United Mine Workers
of America.
"And what does this mean? II |
means that the owner of every coal
mine In the state must enter into n |
written contract with this organiza-
ton, and thereby agree. in effect TO |
employ only members of that union. |
and to deduct from the pay roll of |
every such member all union dues |
fines. and assessments for which tho
member may be indebted, and then re-
NIT this sum to union headquarters.
What the Union Demands.
ITO be more specific, these agitators
and leaders. the representatives Of not
on vrvr~1rI 1920. - .nk..-