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Victor
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The
Cripple Creek
Strike:
a History of
Industrial Wars
in Colorado,
1903-4-5
By Emma Florence Langdon
pages 449 to 457
THE STRIKE STILL ON.
In concluding this work I would have been pleased to record the strike at an end, and victory crowning the efforts of the Western Federation of Miners. The strike in the Cripple Creek district still continues. The miners, however, although on strike since August 10, 1903, are not discouraged. As an indication of their determination to continue the strike until victory has been achieved I reproduce the following:
"STRIKE IS STILL ON. "Headquarters of the Western Federation of Miners. "Denver, Colorado, April 11, 1905. "To all Members of Organized Labor and Those who Desire to Maintain Their Honor:
"The Mine Owners' Association of the Cripple Creek District, with its lawless ally, the Citizens' Alliance, has been sending out fabricated reports to the effect that the srike has been declared off by the Western Federation of Miners. This brazen lie has been hatched and circulated by the same mob that bull-penned and deported miners, that even murdered in cold blood men who refused to yield their allegiance to the principles of the organization of which they were members.
"The Mine Owners' Association and the Citizens' Alliance have discovered that while thugs, gunfighters, rape fiends, outlaws and convicts from the penitentiaries may be of valuable assistance to mine operators, in upholding a reign of terror, yet these debauched and depraved degenerates are practically useless in the production of dividends.
''The members of the Mine Owners' Association and Citizens' Alliance have had an experience for which they have paid an awful price. The dividends of which they have boasted have been on paper and not in the vaults of the banks. In their desperation they are attempting to deceive through the circulation of a lie, hoping that the old miners will return to the Cripple Creek district and once more become inmates of the mines.
"The Western Federation of Miners has not declared the strike off, and never will as long as the mine operators are unfair to organized labor—as long as they continue shipping their ores to the scab mills of Colorado City, and as long as the card or blacklisting system is used to discriminate against members of the Western Federation of Miners.
"Hundreds of men have been driven from their homes in the Cripple Creek district, and are still exiles from their wives and children. Many of these men bear the scars that were inflicted by the brutal orders of a Mine Owners' Association and a Citizens' Alliance. These men and their wives and children who have borne the insults and outrages of a hired soldiery, would scorn a compromise or a surrender to that'' law and order'' combination that reveled in a carnival of brutality, to subjugate and enslave the best blood and brawn in the Cripple Creek district. "Men of honor, of spirit, and of independence, will shun the mines of the Cripple Creek district as they would a pestilence. Men who have any conception of the principles of Unionism will not be used as tools of a Mine Owners' Association to assassinate justice.
"Stay away from the Cripple Creek district, and the time will come when the miner in Colorado's greatest gold camps can enjoy some of the liberty that is guaranteed to him by the law and the constitution of the state.
"Any one who goes to the Cripple Creek district and accepts employment in the mines, will be recognized as a scab by the metal miners throughout the United States and British Columbia.
"Whenever the strike is declared off, or a settlement is effected, an official notice will be issued from the headquarters of the Western Federation of Miners.
"CHAS. H. MOYER, President W. F. M.
"W. D. HAYWOOD, Sec'y-Treas. W. F. M."
The emblem of the Western Federation of Miners is three stars which represent education, organization and independence. At the twelfth annual convention held in Denver, I was made an honorary member and presented with the emblem of the order. I value this token of appreciation more than the crown of an empress, nor would the proffer of such tempt me to part with it. I see in the emblem of the three stars all that is sublime. I have seen demonstrated under it the fortitude of the faithful followers of the single star—the Star of Bethlehem—the insignia of Christianity—the birthright of Christ—whose faithful followers, martyred followers, created and maintainel the sweet sentiment of "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Man."
When I look upon the three stars of the Western Federation of Miners, with their innumerable rays spreading Education, Organization and Independence, I feel the inspiration that from far above, He, whose mission the single star announced, looks down upon the sublime constellation of three with approval for its representation and sturdy maintenance of His divine given law, "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Man." I feel that far above another constellation of stars and stripes, representing human liberty, this land of pioneers, a constellation that has been debauched by tyranny such as the Nero attempted in extinguishing the sentiment of the single star, will again be placed in its true position—representing a brave, happy, pure and justified people by the tribulations of the sturdy followers of the three stars, as was the supremacy of the single star established and the faith of Christianity made permanent by the tribulations of the martyrs of Nero's despotism. By the emblem of the W. F. M., the three stars, I predict an ultimate victory.
The folder inserted in first part of this, Part II, shows cut of delegates attending the thirteenth annual convention of the Western Federation of Miners, held at Salt Lake City, Utah, during the months of May and June, 1905, the convention being in continuous session for about three weeks.
These are the men whom the Mine Owners' Association, the Citizens' Alliance and other enemies of progressive unionism, charge with being anarchists. Study these faces, dear reader, and see if they will not compare favorably with any body of men ever assembled, for sturdy manhood and intelligence. Certain it is that for unselfish devotion to the cause and steadfast purpose of uplifting toiling humanity they have never been surpassed.
On the faces of the delegates of the thirteenth convention, if I am any judge, I see reflected a determination to win this battle, and from the same faces I catch the inspiration of truth, honesty and justice. We need more such men—more such determination to battle for human liberty.
Someone has said:
''God give us men; a time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands;
Men whom lust of lucre does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office can not buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not lie;
Men who can stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking ;
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty, and in private thinking;
For, while the rabble with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps.
Wrong rules the land, and waiting justice sleeps."
CONCLUSION.
The time has come to close. Much more could be said. I have made no effort at word painting. I have confined myself to facts and made no attempt to polish them by the use of superfluous words. Perhaps at times I seemed bitter in my denunciations but if they seem so it was because I felt keenly the insults heaped upon an American populace. Fair words convey pleasure but fair words could not paint the scenes I have attempted to picture in my humble way. I have felt my blood boil many times while writing these pages and feel that I can understand why men shoulder a gun and fight when goaded beyond endurance. I believe with all my heart in the freedom of the press, religious toleration, free speech, untrammeled rights of domicile, prompt punishment of crime, innocent men should not be made to suffer for the guilty, reverence for law, that military rule in time of peace is the reign of the mob, that right of habeas corpus should be inviolate except in time of war, trial by jury is the only protection against tyranny, no war on women and children. I believe all men are equal and all should receive the same protection under the law and all punished alike for crime; one law for mine owners and miners. I do not want to see our constitutional government converted into a military oligarchy. The workers do not ask favors; we want justice.
In as much as this work has been devoted to the actual history pertaining to industrial strife, it is fitting to say a few words upon the good things as well as the bad. While the people of the state have been so unfortunate as to become involved in a bitterly fought war the past two years, I have no desire to leave the impression that Colorado is a lawless state. A half dozen corporations with as many hired tools have caused acts of lawlessness to be committed that gave the state notoriety of which we are not proud. Because we had a political accident as governor, that proved an inefficient executive, and he appointed a military crazed adjutant general, is no proof that Colorado is not one of the greatest states in the Union.
Suppose we did have a Peabody and a Bell. There are no more like them and we have repudiated them, and they do not make our ore less abundant nor our soil less productive. And there isn't another spot on this great round globe equal to it, either. In natural resources, in climatic advantages, in situation, in intelligent citizenship, in city building, in inventive genius, in educational facilities, in progressive politics and kaleidoscopic industrial conflicts, we lead the world.
Did you say there? were some things to cause infinite regret ? I do not deny that; yes, no scheme is flawless, no picture is perfect, no blade of grass but might have grown a little longer or shorter, never a mountain without a valley on either side.
Thank God, Colorado is greater than Peabody, and the corrupt corporations that were back of him. No one corrupt, tyrannical state administration should blind us to the glorious sunshine and the stately mountains, the incomparable climate and inexhaustible wealth, the almost immeasurable natural advantages and the indomitable spirit of progress, all enjoyed by the people of the Centennial state.
The curse of "bad politics and labor troubles" is not indigenous to Colorado. Each state in the Union has its share. The labor problem is a world problem. We are not in the only war zone on the map. We are not making any epochs in human history. We are not traveling any new paths. Why, the paths we are traveling in Colorado are worn smooth by the trampling feet of generations. Stop for a few minutes and reflect on how countless have been the labor wars of the past. How history is full of them. How, even now, from England and continental Europe, from Japan and Russia, from South America and Australia, from Hawaii and from far off South Africa, comes the faint echo of industrial conflict.
Some of our citizens and politicians may make mistakes, but we love dear old Colorado. We love the blue skies, the glinting sunshine, the music of her laughing streams, and the wooing tenderness of her melting distances.
''We will press for aye those mountain peaks
Girdled with snow by blushing morning kissed.''
We believe that the great heart of the people throbs with intense desire to do the right and their very excesses grow out of their intense convictions.
That the undertow of regret exists in every life is doubtless part of a mysterious plan beyond our ken. Yet shall it never drag us from the grand harmony of the breakers and the thrilling sting of the flying spray.
"Is Colorado in America?" Yes, indeed, my dear reader. It is also on the map of the world.
List of Deported
H. A. Allen, Fred Aspgrain, George Andrews, Ernest Allen, George Anderson.
Frank Brewer, James Brown, J. J. Brothers, A. L. Bolsoc, Tom Brick, W. F. Benton, J. R. Bean, James Beck, John Bubolo, M. P. Basinger, John Burns, Harry Boaz, Benjamin Irwin Beatty, G. C. Briggs, W. G. Bradley.
W. J. Carter, Gus Carlson, H. Curwen, Walter Curwen, Geo. E. Cooper, John Castello, William J. Carter, Joseph T. Campbell, Joseph W. Cooper, Peter Campbell, Robert Coughlin, Patrick Callahan, M. Cloud, M. Comstock, Angus Campbell, Ed Corbett, Patrick Carey, Walter Costello, Eugene B. Cox, C. H. Conway.
T. J. Devenney, S. M. Dickey, Henry Davis, James Dennis, Richard Dunn.
Thomas W. Edwards, John Edwards, Arthur Evans, Charles E. Erwin,John Eigle, Joe Egger, alias Joe Krauz.
N. D. Frey, J. E. Fish, Frank Fayhan, Garfield Force, John Flees, Bert Fuller.
Alf Given, Joe Green, Joe Gilhooley, James Grant, Delfido Gonzales, John Gallagher, Eugene C. Gilfillan, William E. Gorman, Frank Gardner, Eugene C. Gilfillan (re-deported), Gus F. Girardot.
W. H. Hoover, George Howard, Ed Hart, Hans Hansen, Chris Hansen, L. F. Hebner, Joe Hamilton, E. A. Hess, John Backward, John Hanifan, Jamesi Hennessey, J. K. Henderson, Mike Harrington, Gilen C. Hard, Seligman Herz, Higby Holtzolaw, John Harper.
J. C. Jensen, Charles James, Emil Johnson, F. E. Jones, Henry Clay Johnson, Charles Johnson, Claudy E. Johnson, A. F. Jordan.
William D. Ketchum, H. P. Kean, Jerry Kelly, Joe Kreig, Thomas Kearns, Thomas Kuhlman, John S. Kelly, H. L. Kane, Thomas Kilker, Chris Keagy, Pat Kennedy, Martin Keating Buron Kohn, Henry King, Thomas Kirkpatrick, L. E. Krotz, Virgil King, Joe Krautze, alias Joe Egger.
John E. Logan, S. E. Lutz, W. T. Lynch, W. C. Ludlow, Arthur Lanterman, Joe Lemeraux, Hugh Lee, Otto Liss, W. F. Lally, J. H. Lampson, Edward J. Labitsky, Thomas Layden.
William McCall, E. L. McParland, Dennis McBride, T.' L. McChesney, Sylvester McAvoy, Mike McGuire, Phi MeCaughney, R. C. McCarty, Tim McCarty, P. J. McNulty, Albert McLean, Peter McDonald, R. H. McMann, Alex McIsaac, Dan McLeod, Patrick McCarvill, J. F. McGuire, B. J. McArdle, J. B. McIntyre.
Doy Miller, Sherman Miller, Walter Muir, Frank Murnane, Mike Maher, Anthony Milroy, William Murphy, Norman S. Martin, John Michael Mullen, Santiago Martinez, H. W. Moore, Thomas Marnoch, Tom A. Murphy, Jack I. Maulsby.
William Nelson.
D. C. O'Neill, James O'Neill, Tom O'Brien, Joe O'Brien, W. W. O'Bryan.
N. V. Paddock, A. J. Payner, T. I. Post, A. C. Paxson, Alfred Peterson, E. H. Parrott, Henry Paul, L. L. Palmer.
N. P. Reinhard, Frank Riley, Ed Ruet, Judge W. C. Reilly, John Roach, John Retallac, John Retallac, Jr., Max Reisener, Sam Renner, Thomas J. Rinker, Tom Rocks, Charles Riley, Joe Rigg, Harry Robinson, Thomas Rumney, Peter Roberts.
G. B. Simms, D. W. Schutt, C. A. Sullivan, John Spiker, Nick Schmidt, J. T. Saunders, Rudolph Sixtleman, James Stapleton, Harvey Starbuck, A. T. Simpson, W. H. Smith, C. S. Scott, W. A. Shafer, D. P. Sackett, Mike Shelley, John P. Shea, Mike (M. J.J Sullivan, Jim Sullivan, William Shoemaker.
W. F. Trainer, J. L. Topping, Fred Trevette, Mike Tolan, Peter Tiernan.
Howard Ullmer.
Reese Williams, J. E. Wilkins, James Wright, John H. Wilcox, A. A. West, David Ward, H. H. Wherry, Charles Weld, Walter Warner, Fred Wright, Daniel Warren, George Williams, Tom Wilson.
Joseph Zuban.