Hellraisers Journal – Saturday September 12, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Citizens Protest Against Military Despotism
Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:
Citizens of Victor Protest
Emma F. Langdon
There was sent out in the district a few circulars announcing a meeting on the corner of Fourth and Victor avenue, Sept 5, at 4 o’clock for the purpose of making a formal protest against the outrageous proceedings and declaring against the threatened establishment of martial law, and for the purpose of placing the community of law-abiding Americans in the proper light before the world. The meeting was called for the purpose of passing a resolution that would express the sentiment of the people of the district. In answer to the few circulars sent out, hundreds of representative citizens gathered and held a rousing enthusiastic meeting.
J. E. Ferguson of Victor, was elected chairman of the meeting and delivered the following address:
It is a very extraordinary occurrence which has, on such short notice called out this vast assemblage of law-abiding citizens. We are today confronted with a condition which calls forth from the breast of every peace loving, law-abiding citizen expressions of condemnation such as he has never before felt.
Without any provocation whatever we have in our midst an army of soldiers but for what purpose has not yet been declared. Last night while the community was asleep this body of armed men were unloaded in our midst. Up to this hour, I am informed, they have not officially made known to the sheriff or any other peace officer that they are here. Why are we thus afflicted? Why this array of soldiery and munitions of war? It is said that the governor of this state has sent them here and that he has been notified of the existence of that necessity. What peace officer has called for the aid of the state militia? I hear the name of Mayor French mentioned. Whether he is guilty or not I am not prepared to say, but if he is his actions do not show that he has acted in good faith. Mayor French is the mayor of this city. His authority as an executive officer extends only to the limits of his municipality. If there existed in his jurisdiction a necessity for troops why has he not had them sent to Victor? Not a single soldier is stationed within the city limits or so far as I am informed in any other city of the county. Your sheriff has called for no militia. He has need of none. The constitution of the state of Colorado gives power to the governor to call out the militia to execute the laws, suppress insurrection or repel invasion. Can it be said that any of these constitutional conditions existed as a basis for his recent action?…
It is now over three weeks since the present strike was declared and such a condition has at no time existed. I want to say to you as a citizen of your city, and as an officer of the law, for I am an officer of the court, that in over four years that I have resided in Teller county, I have not seen three consecutive weeks that were fraught with as little violence, as little disturbance, as little breaking of the law as the past three weeks have been. It has been charged that the mayor has been guilty of assisting in perpetrating this wrong upon this city and county. If the necessity existed, when did he wake up to his duty? Mr. French was mayor of the city last April and at that time there was not a property holder or renter of property who was not nightly and daily in fear of incendiary fire. House after house was fired all over the city, many of which were burned to the ground. Murder was committed by the setting of the fire. Yet this law-abiding mayor did not think of calling in the militia.
The purpose of this meeting, ladies and gentlemen, is to adopt a set of appropriate resolutions which I am informed has been prepared. It is proper that you should do so. Some action should be taken at once to show the powers that reign over us that we have been misrepresented. That we have no need of martial law, and I hope that proper resolutions will be adopted.
[Frank P. Mannix Speaks]
Frank P. Mannix was then introduced and…said: “[Mayor French], since you have done it [requested military occupation] you ought to have the honor to resign.”’
The remark was heartily cheered. Mr. Mannix scored the parties in this district that had the troops brought here in strong terms and received hearty applause at the conclusion of each sentence. At the conclusion of the meeting it was announced that the petition would be left at the Record [Victor Record, union newspaper] office and at Judge Kavanagh’s store where people flocked by the hundreds to sign their names to the petition. By 7 o’clock that evening at least 1,000 people had signed the petitions in Victor and others were being circulated over the district. When the petition or resolution was finally sent to the governor it had the signatures of at least 5,000 of the representative citizens of the district attached. The governor utterly ignored the appeal.
[Citizens of Cripple Creek Protest]
The citizens of the city of Cripple Creek held a big mass meeting at the corner of Second street and Carr avenue Sunday afternoon, Sept. 6. There were at least 1,000 people present. Amid great enthusiasm, Frank J. Hangs was elected chairman and made a stirring speech in acceptance of the honor under the circumstances….
The chairman introduced Major J. M. Brinson, who made a very interesting speech on the conditions, condemning the governor for sending the troops under peaceable circumstances and admonishing the men to stand firm for their demands.
Former Attorney General Engley also spoke….
A resolution expressing the same sentiment as the one acted upon in Victor was presented and passed amid great enthusiasm.
The District Trades and Labor Assembly, representing the entire aggregate of organized labor of the district, met in Victor Sept. 6, and passed even stronger resolutions than the foregoing.
[Protests were also issued by the Victor City Council, various fraternal orders and individual citizens, too numerous to count.]
[Short Line Refuses to Transport State Militia]
There was a statement published in the Denver Republican quoting Bell as saying the reason the troops did not travel over the Short Line railroad was because of fear of the line being tampered with by strikers. It was afterward stated by reliable authority that the Short Line refused to bring the plague of the state militia upon the people of the district. This act of the officials of this road reflects great credit upon them.
[Labor Day]
Sept. 7 was Labor day and if anything had been needed to convince the mine owners and outside public generally, that organized labor was in the fight to win, that evidence was supplied on the foregoing date. There was nearly 5,000 members of organized labor in the parade in the city of Cripple Creek. Over an hour was required for the throng to pass any point on Bennett avenue. As the men marched banner after banner of the different unions was cheered by the thousands that lined the sidewalks. There was over 3,000 Western Federation men in line. I will not give the number from each union of the district as I must press on, but I will make special mention of Victor Newsboys No. 32, who carried off the honors for appearance. Forty strong the little fellows made a touching picture in their pure white duck suits and were heartily cheered.
The day passed off without even one disturbance to mar the day’s pleasure. Altman Miners’ union gave a thoroughly enjoyable picnic at Pinnacle park which was largely attended.
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