The chronicle=news., 1914-09-25

Iascertaipedt and given full consAieF
alton. 1t is this body which has corr
tinued industriously at work during
the past year. thus saving the public
from the loss and discomfort which
would have resulted from scarcity
and excessive price OF coal. ~ ~
Again, the plan proposed invoives,
in effect. contract or agreement
between the operators and the strik-
ers or their leaders that both will
keep the peace and obey the law for
a period of three years. 1t appears
to us that the plan is subject to fair
criticism. in that it implies the help
lessness of the government TO main
tain law and order and secure 10
every citizen his constitutional
rights without the consent and APP
proval of those evilly disposed.
We believe that a large majority
Of the people of Colorado agree with
IFS that the sole issue at the present
time is the preservation of law and
order in the strike districts and the
maintenance OF the constitutional
right OF every man to work when,
where and for whom, and upon slch
terms as he sees fit. 'tT7
|. 1t would be fatal to the 1reservn-
tion Of government. either national
or state. for either to discuss with Of
tenders of any character the terms
upon which the laws should be obey
cd and acts OF lawless violence be
discontinued. i',F,.
l all
| Whether the responsibility for
what has taken place in Colorado is
chargeable TO the operators or to the
striking miners and their leaders,
the plan proposed involves bargain
between government and law on the
one side and violators OF the law on
the other. N
Not as matter OF contract or
truce" with the United Mine Work.
ers OF America or the strikers, but
with desire to meet your views as
far as possible. We will adopt and CO.
operate In putting into effect three
OF the six suggestions in the "tenta-
tive plan." and the fourth with
necessary, and. as we believe, reas-
onable notifications.
1. enforcement OF mining and
labor laws OF the state"
We have not wilfuily violated any
Of the laws of the state. and will rem
der every possible assistance TO the
civil authorities in their enforce
ment. fl
2. Intimidation Of union men
strictly prohibited
We agree to this without reserya-
tion. but the tentative plan" pro-
vides no way Of enforcing the rule.
3. Current scale Of wages. ,rulea
and regulations for each mine to- be
printed and posted"
This practice is already in force In
many OF the mines In the state, and
we will at once put the suggestion
into effect at all of our mines.
4. THAT all striking miners who
have not been found guilty or viola
tion Of law shall be given employ
ment by the employer they formerly
worked for. and where the place Of
sthe employe has been filled. he shall
be given employment as O miner at
the same or other mines of the COM
pany."
We are and have been willing to
employ as many of the strikers as
possible. without discrimination be-
cause OF the fact that they laid down
their tools. and believe we can give
work TO very large majority Of
those remaining in the state. But II
ia quite impossible for ms to agree to
employ all striking miners who have
not been fonnd guilty of violence.
Whether those who have participant
ed In violence are prosecuted and
found guilty or not. we cannot agree
to give them employment In the
mines operated by us.
In six of the counties Of the state,
332 Of the strikers. Including offic-
ers Of the United Mine Workers Of
America. are under indictment for
murder. and 137 for other feionies.
None Of them have been tried. there.
fore none have been found guilty.
and much time may elapse before
they are tried. The personal safety
nj our present employees and their
families. TO say nothing of the pro-
lection OF our property. demand that
we exercise the greatest possible care
in employing men from the ranks of
the strikers who have been banded
together to drive our employees from
our mines and to destroy our proper
ty.
The coal mines of Colorado last
month )August, 1910 employed APP
proximately $500 men. or nearly so
per cent OF the number employed
during the corresponding month of
last year-the month Immediately
preceding the calling OF the strike
The present force OF men probably
produce sufficient coal to meet the
requirements Of the Colorado public
during the coming winter. and IL H.
certain that no shortage can occur II
the orders under which the federal
troon6 nrp acting can liz an mOtl ifte,l