Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-19

lllC1LluS tue IHuuSlIIdI olludllOu ny
arousing political prejudices.
Some county officers, reputed to
have the support OF coal companies,
have shown undue activity in controlI-
ing elections, having In one instance
changed precinct boundaries presume
bly, to eliminate unfaVorable votes OF
miners, and have thus aroused not
only political but social dissatisfIc-
ton
The system of guards was in
stituted years ago and has been car.
ried on continuously. Camps are pa
trolled by armed men. Most of these
men are furnished by detective agen-
cies, and according to the testimony OF
A. C.. Felts, the agencies do not look
into the character OF the men whom
they employ. 1t Is these armed men
who are really responsible for most
OF the trouble that has occurred in
the mines. They have exercised an
arbitrary power and have held the
miners in subjugation o the compa-
MES 1t Is not possible for worker
to compl9in of conditions without get
ting into trouble.
The reason given by the companies
for hiring these mine guards is that
they are necessary to protect the prop
erty OF the mines and the lives OF their
workmen. No one questions the right
OF any organization to employ watch
men and give them authority to pro-
tect their property. But in, the coal
regions of colorado these mine guards
are armed by the companies, and also
are deputized by the county. SO
that they form "a kind OF private army
and are able to control by intimida.
ton, and by manipulation of the Of
fees OF the community, the whole po-
litical situation. The same federal
grand jury referred to above reported
as follows: E..
Many camp marshals, whose ap-
pointment and salaries are controlled
by local companies, have exercised
system of espionage and have resort
ed to arbitrary powers OF police con-
troll, acting In the capacity OF judge
and jury and passing the sentence
Down the canyon for you" lmeaning
thereby that the miner so addressed
was discharged ana ordered to leave
the camp upon miners who had in
CURED the enmity of the superintend-
ent or pit boss for having complained
of a real grievance or for other cause.
These, taken with brutal assaults
by camp marshals upon miners,
have produced general dissatisfae-
ton among the latter" - e -
The Unions.
II is impossible to enforce the law
and the courts are practically closed
TO those who in any way incur the
enmity of the coal companies; thus
economic justice is denied the men
through the manipulation OK political
affairs Thirty years Of such oppres-
sion, Industrial, social and political,
have taught the miners that their
only hope is In the unions. An indi-
yidual counts for nothing; II he pro-
tests he loses his job: IL he makes
too much trouble he is dealt with by
hired gun men, who are kept at the
mines to do the viii Of the compa-
MES and help enforce the law against
the workers.
The same grand jury in its report
said:
@The coal companies have discour.
aged and opposed the organization of
labor unions and fraternal societies in
the camps. IN fear OF the effect of
such organizations in taking from
them the control and discipline OF
their men.
The coal companies are determined
lhst their men shall not be unionized.
This has been their attitude for years.
The fight Il not a fight against the
closed shop, but simply fight for q
Of the right of the men
TO unionize. The law of Colorado
grants the right of men to belong to
, union, but evidence produced before
The congressional committee, together
with the attitude of the officials at
The mines, prove that they are not
willing to recognize union, even
IN so far as to discuss grievances.
Tentured TO suggest to one Of the Off
cials Of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Com.
Dany that the company enter into an
agreement with the men, based upon
stiC CulOtSt0Ao o6tCC0 W III SuC CAAot-L
ng protocol in the clothing industry
n New York City, under which agree
nent the mines would not be recog-
lized either as open" or CLOSED but
Is preferential shops" The official
leard the proposition through and
hen declared that the Colorado Fuel
Iron Company would not recognize
he union in any way. The company
lad no objection to man belonging ;.
% a union. He might belong to as
many unions as he wished, but his
In the union would not,
md could not, affect the attitude OF
he company toward him. 1t was q
natter Of as great indifference to the r
company whether the man was union
nan or not, as It was whether he was
! Catholic or Protestant +
II seems plain that membership in
i union that is not strong enough to
Effect working conditions is of no
1alue. . Ii
Many Of the members Of the union
n Colorado are ignorant non English
ipeaking foreigners. They are utter