Hellraisers Journal: Denver United Labor Bulletin: Strike Resolutions of United Mine Workers Given Indorsement in Colorado State Federation of Labor Convention

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Quote Mother Jones, Stick Together, MI Mnrs Bltn p1, Aug 14, 1913—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday August 26, 1913
Trinidad, Colorado – State Federation of Labor to Support Mine Workers’ Strike

From the Denver United Labor Bulletin of August 23, 1913:

HdLn re Lippiatt n CO F of L Conv, Dnv ULB p1, Aug 23, 1913CO F of L Conv Sec Tre Hickey n Pres McLennan Rpt, Dnv ULB p1, Aug 23, 1913

Tuesday August 19, 1913
Trinidad, Colorado – Lippiatt’s chaired draped at Colorado F. of L. Convention

State delegates were in bad temper as the state labor convention was called to order yesterday morning for there, in the hall, was a chair draped in black. This chair belonged to Brother Gerald Lippiatt who would have been a delegate at that convention had he not been murdered by the Baldwin-Felts gunthugs, employed by the coal operators only two days earlier.

The delegates voted their support to District 15 of the United Mine Workers of America in any action they deemed necessary with respect to conditions in the southern coalfields. Efforts are underway to avoid a strike against  Rockefeller’s Colorado Fuel and Iron Company, but the likelihood of avoiding that strike fades with each passing day.

Wednesday August 20, 1913
Colorado Springs, Colorado – Brother Lippiatt Accompanied Home by C.F.L. Delegates

The coffin of Brother Lippiatt left Trinidad accompanied by the delegates from northern Colorado who were returning home from the Colorado Federation of Labor Convention. Gerald Lippiatt was brought home to Colorado Springs for burial. As the flag-draped coffin was taken from the baggage car and loaded onto the hearse, the delegates stood silently by, hats in hand, remembering who was responsible for his murder.

Thursday August 21, 1913
Trinidad, Colorado – Tensions remain high since murder of Brother Lippiatt

The coal miners of the southern field are calling for the gunthugs to wiped out in Las Animas and Huerfano counties. Miners have flocked to the union headquarters in Trinidad demanding action. John McLennan, President of District 15 of the United Mine Workers, is appealing for calm.

It was the sad duty of McLennan to call John Lawson, International Board Member, at his home in Denver to inform him of Lippiatt’s death. Lawson related the conversation he had had with Lippiatt three days before his death:

“I am leaving for Trinidad tonight, John, and I want to tell you goodbye. I think I am going to be killed”

“Killed? What do you mean?”

“The gunmen have been pressing me pretty hard down there, John, but I am going back. I’ve got a hunch they are going to get me this time.”

“Then you mustn’t go. Stay here and we’ll send someone else down; someone who isn’t so well known to them.”

“No, John, I’m going back. It is my job, and I want to go. But this is my last trip. Goodbye.”

Friday August 22, 1913
Trinidad, Colorado – The Visit of Deputy Labor Commissioner Brake

Brake arrived in Trinidad amazed to find a small peaceful town in spite of all that he had heard  in Denver about the troubles here. He arrived at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday night, and checked into the Toltec Hotel on Commercial Street. Soon after, he was standing in the street over the bullet-ridden body of Gerald Lippiatt, organizer for the U.M.W.

Sunday morning, Brake met with the local Chamber of Commerce. Brake promised to use his influence with the Colorado Federation of Labor to avoid an endorsement of a strike by the local miners. As the Convention proceeded in the presence of Brother Lippiatt’s empty chair, draped in black, Brake found that his influence on the union men was little to none.

The Convention voted to support any action that District 15 of the United Mine Workers of America should decide to take in the southern coalfield, up to and including a shut down of all the mines in the area.

Saturday August 23, 1913
Denver, Colorado – Deputy Commissioner of Labor Brake Reports to the Governor

We have received an account of Brake’s report to Governor Ammons on the situation in the southern coalfields.

The Governor asked Brake what he found, and Brake replied:

Plenty, the feeling is most intense in Trinidad, and the town is filled with armed men, guards and detectives. This Lippiatt killing has created bad feeling among the miners and it is my firm belief that if something is not done quickly there will be a disastrous outbreak down there.

The Governor asked Brake for his recommendation, and Brake gave it:

I’d ask the sheriffs of Las Animas and Huerfano counties to come up here and then I’d demand that they disarm every man in the two counties, guard or miner. If they wouldn’t agree, and frankly, Governor, I don’t think they would, I’d put the two counties under martial law immediately

Our sources tell us that the report of Deputy Labor Commissioner Brake was dismissed by the Governor out of hand.

Monday August 25, 1913
The Southern Colorado Coalfield – United Mine Workers of America Organizing

With the strike in the northern field at a stalemate, organizing efforts by the United Mine Workers of America in the southern field have only increased. The organizers work in pairs, we are told, with one member of the pair working openly, and the other working quietly down in the mine.

The Union is hoping for a peaceful solution to the disagreements between the operators and the Union, but is preparing for a strike in the southern field, should a strike become necessary.

—————

From the Appeal to Reason of August 23, 1913:

Extra Labor War in CO re Lippiatt, AtR p1, Aug 23, 1913

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SOURCES & IMAGES

Quote Mother Jones, Stick Together, MI Mnrs Bltn p1, Aug 14, 1913
-Copy in possession of Janet Raye.

United Labor Bulletin
(Denver, Colorado)
-Aug 23, 1913
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91052295/1913-08-23/ed-1/seq-1/
-articles continues
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn91052295/1913-08-23/ed-1/seq-5/

Out of the Depths
The Story of John R. Lawson, a Labor Leader
-by Barron B. Beshoar
Colorado Labor Historical Committee
of the Denver Trades and Labor Assembly
, 1942
https://books.google.com/books?id=gQ4eAAAAIAAJ

Buried Unsung
Louis Tikas and the Ludlow Massacre

-by Zeese Papanikolas
U of Utah Press, 1991
https://books.google.com/books?id=5wtMggM3di8C

Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-Aug 23, 1913, p1
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/appeal-to-reason/130823-appealtoreason-w925.pdf

See also:

Hellraisers Journal: Gerald Lippiatt, Union Miner, Shot Down
by Deputized Company Gunthugs on Streets of Trinidad, Colorado

The Chronicle-News
(Trinidad, Colorado)
-Aug 18, 1913
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90051521/1913-08-18/ed-1/seq-1/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90051521/1913-08-18/ed-1/seq-2/
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90051521/1913-08-18/ed-1/seq-4/

Tag: Gerald Lippiatt
https://weneverforget.org/tag/gerald-lippiatt/

Tag: Colorado Coalfield Strike of 1913-1914
https://weneverforget.org/tag/colorado-coalfield-strike-of-1913-1914/

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The Union Forever – «Colorado Strike Song»
από το μουσικό σχήμα «Ρωμιοσύνη»