Denver labor bulletin., 1915-11-13
LABOR'S PARLIAMENT OPENS ITS
ANNUAL MEET AT SAN FRANCISCO

with employees over whose lives he exer-
cised control through the power of his
great wealth.
Early in the year 1915 the Colorado
miners We're forced through hunger and
necessity to return to work in the mines
upon conditions granted them by the
mine operators. The strike had already
accomplished some OF its purposes for
the mine operators were careful not to
violate the state laws openly. The Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron company refused to
recognize the organization of the United
Mine Workers, but it did agree to the
formation OF associations of its miners
for the purpose OF presenting griev
ances and other matters to the mine
operators. This concession. however.
was purely nominal and of little value
because unions of this nature could not
be independent and could not really
serve the welfare OF the miners. Iso-
lated and denied affiliation with the ma
tional organization, they must neeess-
arily be under the control and domi
nation of the local officials of the com
pany. Until the miners of Colorado
have organizations that have equal pow
er with the organizations of their en-
ployers. they will not be able to main
tain the rights of the miners and Sc
cure justice for these workers. Strikes
will not cease in Colorado until the
miners have recognition for their bona
fide trade union organizations and are
able to establish and maintain industrial
justice.
But this strike of the Colorado min
ers has not been in vain. 1t has al
ready put fear into the hearts OF the
mine operators. With or without the
consent of the coal operators of Colo
rado. the miners will organize.
THE unrelenting spirit OF the opera
tors and their determination to hold the
miners subservient and helpless is mani
tested in the campaign OF persecution
that has been inaugurated against the
miners xho We're leaders -in-tLe late
strike in Colorado. Many of the miners
who were prominent in the strike have
been arrested on the charge OF respon-
sibility for violence and loss of life
during the strike. vet not a mine opera
tor has been indicted. although the mine
operators assumed the initiative in all
violence. although they invoked and
controlled the organized force that is
supposedly at the service of state au-
thorities for the purpose of naming
peace. justice. and the laws of the state.
although they fortified their mines and
brought into the state armed troops to
use against the strikers and they made
war upon them.
"The courts and the agencies of jus
tice of Colorado have not once reeog-
nized or taken official action against vio-
ience on the part of the mine operators.
ers- have been indicted because OF charges
of violence and responsibility for loss OF
life. That this course against the min
ers is OF the nature OF persecution
rather than desire to maintain justice
is proven by the preparation of n spe-
cial tribunal to try these miners.
''The legislature of Colorado at its last
session appointed an additional Judge for
the third judicial district, although, il
was common knowledge that there was
no; sufficient work in that district to
require all of the time of the judge then
appointed for the district. The man Sc
lected for this additional judgeship was
a former employe of the Colorado Fuel
and Iron Company. and had been inter
ested in preparing cases against striking
miners Several cases have been tried.
Continued on page 81