Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-08

Colorado, we believe we are doing the
best thing possible for the men on
strike who have suffered so long in
order that justice might be done.
I'VE have spent an enormous
amount of money in waging this strug- !
gle for justice and rasr play in the
mining fields Of Colorado, but have
felt that it was spent in as noble
cause as was ever given men to es-
pollse. We are not nnmindful Of the
heroic struggle waged by the miners
Of Colorado sinceetheostr began. 1t
is with feelings of pain and sorrow
that we recall the massacre of our
men, women and children at Ludlow.
I The sacrifice was made, the priva-
tions endured are without parallel in
the history of labor struggles in Amer
lea. Only those who have suffered
grievous wrongs could endure such
prolonged conflict. All lovers of NIB
erty and believers in fair play be-
tween man and man must admit The
heroic struggle Of the Colorado miners
against the great weatth and influence
Of Rockefeller and his associates.
4 I'VE believe that our people have
not died in vain and that the battle
they have waged against such tremen-
dous odds has aroused the conscience
1of the nation and that out of the mar
tyrdom Of our people will come the
dawn Of a better day for the suffer
: ing Of our miners and their families
Z in the coal fields of Colorado. May
3 not this terrible conflict teach the
1 citizens Of Colorado and the nation
that government by gunmen must
: cease?
We express the hope that the pres
ident Of the United States and the
/ people of this nation will see to It
I that the constitutional government is
9 enjoyed by the citizens in the coal
0 fields of Colorado. We have made
/ every overture for peace since the
: beginning of the conflict. We have
+ repeatedly sought a conference with
7 the mine owners only to be denied a
$ hearing. We have repeatedly offered
arbitration only to be ridiculed and in
j the end 35 of our men, women and
} children we're muroerea before the
NJ people of the nation came to under
{ stand that the coal strike in Colorado
9 was not local or state issue but a
a national issue of vital importance in.
e volying civil as well as industrial
A rights.
! We feel that the president has SC
regarded it; that he has recognized
: the truth of the claims we have made
and that with the termination Of this
strike by this appointment of per
manent presidential commission ol
: fair minded men, we shall find thai
II the old-time oppression and tyranny
will be no more ana that public opin
ion win compel the large operators ol
Colorado to deal justly with our peo
| pie And even though we feel called
| upon to terminate this strike to avoic
the untoward crises which surrounc
Illus. we wish to say that our supper
IL and influence viii ever be given free
lilly to the mine wofRers of Colorado
n I'VE recognize nc surrender ant
shah continue To PROPAGATE the princi
pies of our humanitarian movement
throughout the coal fields Of Colorado
We advise all our men to seek theil
/ former places in the mines and tt
those who are refused employment w
shall render assistance to the best o.
our ability, and shall provide every
legal protection to those Of our mem
bers who are being prosecuted by the
II hireIings OF organized greed"
II In conclusion the report says that
the subcommittee of the int6thational
executive board now attending the
district convention has been given
discretionary power to meet the
exigencies Of any situation concerning
the termination Of the strike that mas