United labor bulletin., 1914-10-17
WILSON DEFINES
A STRIKEBREAKER
InStruCts Army Officers at
Trinidad on Subject
Declares Men Seeking Work in Good
Faith May Be Admitted to Strike
District and Be Judged on Merits

The term residents OF the state OF
Colorado" was definitely defined in a
letter from the secretary of war, re-
ceiyed in Trinidad Tuesday by Colonel
Lockett. commander OF the federal
troops stationed in this section OF the
state.
Ever since an order was received sew
eral months ago in which the above
term was used there has been doubt
as to who might be clsssed as residents
of the state.
The order issued by the secretary of
war prohibited the employment at the
mines of men not residents of the state
of Colorado.
The definition by President Wilson
would include anyone who might come
to the state in good faith seeking work
and who is willing to reside at tho
place OF employment
The letter further states that it was
only the intention of the President to
prevent the importation Of professional
strikebreakers.
Captain Sends Out Order.
An order has been sent out by Cap
tain Rockwell to all station commanders
in the district and reads follows:
@The following extract from letter
of the secretary of war, dated October
Q. 1914. is published for the informa.
tion and guidance of all concerned:
with regard to the phrase. residents
of the state of Colorado this should be
interpreted so as to prevent that which
the President indicated should be pre-
vented. namely. the importation into the
state Of miners intended to be used as
what are termed 'strikebreakers.'
He clearly did not intend to inter
fere with those who came in good faith
to seek work in Colorado and to reside,
as they would have to do. at the places
Of their employment
Cases Judged on Merits.
1T is impossible to lay down any
more definite or specific definition OF
the phrase. Each case must necessarily
be Judged on its own facts. The whole
question each time revolyes around a
| few settled factors: how long the man
has been in the state. his purpose in
coming. what indueement led him to
| come. his intention with respect to stay
| ing and his conduct while he has been
| in the state.
"when it is realized that the purpose
| of the orders was to prevent the impor-
tation of strikebreakers; that the Pres.
nv po-t " NAtftht bhe
| who. of his own volition. was seeking
work from obtaining the same. and
that residents in this connection arr
referred to as an elemsnt of good faitl
in connection with the above elements
It win not be difficult to reach prop
cr determination in each case
McLennan Makes Statement
| John McLennan. president of District
Is. United Mine Workers. made the fol
| lowing statement i'm reference to tn,
| Presidents new order:
Although the secretary of War i.
without doubt acting in good faith, tn,
| Interpretation he puts on residents OF
the state of Colorado will permit tn,
hiring OF men outside the state anc
sending them here Individually with in
structions to declare their intentions o
becoming bona fide residents, and tn,
military authorities viii be obliged I,
let them work. We intend to send
protest to Washington on this ruling
| This is the second time the origina
order has been changed. First only cit
izens of the state were allowed to work
| Then il was amended to allow any on,
who was here prior to Aug Is to work
Now anyone at all may work so lon.
as he can convince the soldiers that h,
4 l..