Evening star., 1927-12-01

Fatal clashes in the Colorado coal
mine strike are viewed rather gen.
orally as perhaps the last stand of
the 1. w. W., which in past years
has been condemned as the most
radica, instrument Of labor agitation.
The Colorado authorities are criticized
in some quarters for failure to in
stitute in advance more effective
measures of control over the regions
involved in the struggle.
1.-THE situation in the Colorado coal
industry is chronic" says the Canton
Daily News. "A previous strike of
mine workers, then affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. was
put down by military force. The
miners organization was virtually
destroyed. There was quiet for a
few years, then in 1919 another
strike occurred, and in 1871 an
other. The conservative unions
having been weakened or de-
destroyed in previous contests. the
strike of 1927 falls into the hands of
these guerrillas of labor war, the In
dustrial Workers of the World" The
News describes the situation as "a
national scandal and warns that If
the statesmen of industry and labor
do not put the coal industry on a
basis of peace with justice they must
not complain if coal gets into politics
in America as it Is in politics in
England"
"It is an old story" declares the
Los Angeles Express, with the COM
ment: "If not in the coal. then in
the silver or the gold mines of that
~f frnn an
occurrence, and soldiers have been
called to restore and preserve order.
A generation ago Gov. Waite threat
ened that if the horses of his soldiers
had to ride in blood up to the brides
he would put a stop to the lighting
between mine guards and striking
miners at Cripple Creek. Gov. Adams
has a. similar task before him In the
present l. w. w. coal mine strike"
The Rock Island Argus looks upon
the L. w. w. as running true to
form" and holds that from the start
this society has made trouble wher.
ever it gained footing. Gov. Adams,
continues that paper, places the
| blame for the killings on the strikers
| themselves, and asserts the guards
men were forced to shoot as a matter
of self-protection. The record of the
/. w. w. is such that the governors 8
statement may be accepted as most
| probably true"
The Buffalo Evening News suggests
| that "the recollection OF Ludlow. In
Colorado; Herrin. in Illinois. and the
West Virginia mine war of recent
years suggests that vigilance and firm
measures are essential to prevent an
other shameful episode in the coal
mining industry"
"The international Workers, holding
| anticapitalistic IDEAS" observes the
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "believe them
selves justified in raiding the property
of mine owners. Neither the govern
ment of Colorado nor that of any part
| Of the United States comedies their
view. Unlike many of the labor bodies
| affiliated with the American Fedora
ton, the International Workers have
made themselves a bad reputation for
proneness to direct action There
| stands against them presumption
that they intend violence when vio'
lence occurs. They have their rights.
| but that to riot at will does not rank
among them"
investigations, indictments and
| trials doubtless will follow" in the
opinion Of the Chicago Daily News,
but the situation reflects no credit
on the county and State authorities
Of Colorado. They ought to have
taken steps to prevent dangerous col,
iisions and civil war. Ample notice
was given them. of the likelihood OF
serious trouble. The State militia
with or without proclamation of
martial law. would have preserved or.
der and averted the killing and
wounding of men and women"
The New London Day, with the
judgment that ''some of the bloodiest
episodes iu American struggles oil
labor against capital have transpired