The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1916-11-24
People Have Cause To Re-
jOiCG In Cartoons Defeat.

Indianapolis, Ind, Nov. "a =
John P. White, President of the
United Mine Workers, issued a
statement today asserting that the
result of the election in Colorado
constitutes "a remarkable vim ica
ton and triumph" for the coal
miners who conducted the strike OF
two years ago.
Mr.. Whites statement follows:
Nothing that transpired on No
vember Z short of the reelection
of President Wilson, is of greater
public Importance and significance
than he overwhelming defeat in
Colorado of Governor George Carl
son, a Republican, and of Attorney
General Fred Farrar, a Democrat,
but alike charged by the miners
with unduly favoring the interests
of Mr. Rockefeller coal company
Practically every public official
in the sta'e and in the counties of
| Huerfano and Las Animas who had
beer supported by the coal corpora
tions and accused by us of bavi1g
favored corporate interests has been
defeated In the two coal counties
the people made a clean sweep OF
the local officials who fSr many
years had been, as we charged
kept in office by the coai company
machine.
The people of Colorado owe a
debt of gratitude to the coal miners
which they can never repay. The
Colorado strike began as a struggle
of miners for fair working condi-
tions III the mines and for personal
and political freedom outside of the
mines. Today il is seen 10 have
been the beginning of great
peaceful revolution in the public
affairs of the entire state The
suffering and sacrifices of the coal
miners in the strike of 1913 1914,
and the exposures which followed
opened the peoples eyes and arous
ed the public conscience
The United Mine Workers had
no intention of abandoning the
struggle when the strike was called
off nearly two years ago. Instead
the organization began a campaign
to enlighten the public opinion by
getting the facts before the people.
A newspaper was maintained at
Trinidad and agents of the union
remained in the district. Others
went before the United States Com
mission on Industrial Relations and
told the true story of corporation
misrule and oppression. An action
was begun 70 oust Sheriff Jeff Farr
known for many years as King of
Huerfano County, and the Sa
preme Court Of Colorado iii its de
cision removing Farr from Office
confirmed all that we had charged
regarding corrupt alliance be
tween Mr.. Rockefeller's coal com.
pany and the political machine in
the coal fields. This Supreme
Court decision handed down only a
few months before election. was
the last thing needed to convince
the citizens of Colorado that they
had unwlttingly tolerated a system
by which popular government had
been ruthlessly and ins diously de
stroyed for the benefit of few
powerful interests
This political emancipation of
Colorado follows the Industrial
emancipation of the coal miners.
Although the strike was called off
practically every object has been
gained. The Colorado Fuel & Iron
Company has realized for more than
a year that it could not permanent
ly deny It's employees the right of
free speech and free assembly, or
the right to organize Today -four
ishing local unions of the United
Mine Workers exist in coal camps
where few short years ago no un
ion man could enter. 1t is all re-
markable vindication and triumph
for he miners"