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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday August 30, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – W. F. of M. President Moyer Speaks
From the Butte Labor World of August 28, 1903
-Speech by Charles Moyer, August 15th at Pinnacle Park Picnic:
[…..]
Tag: Cripple Creek CO
Hellraisers Journal: Western Federation of Miners Issues Official Strike Call for the Miners of the Cripple Creek District
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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday August 13, 1903
Cripple Creek District of Colorado – Miners to Begin Strike Monday August 10th
Official Strike Call from the Western Federation of Miners
This is a copy of the official strike notice issued by the Western Federation of Miners which called the miners out on strike beginning Monday morning August 10th.
The Call
All members of the Western Federation of Miners and all employees in and about the mines of the Cripple Creek district are hereby requested not to report for wok Monday morning, August 10, 1903, except on properties shipping ore to the Economic mill, the Dorcas mill at Florence and the Cyanide mills of the district.
BY ORDER OF DISTRICT UNION NO. 1.
The W.F. of M. issued the following statement regarding the necessity of calling the miners out on strike:
Manger MacNeil’s refusal to treat with us left us nothing to do but to order a strike and in so doing we adopted the only plan which promises certain success. In our proposals to him no mention was made of his failure to re-employ men who went out in the former strike, as he had agreed. we confined ourselves strictly to the question as to whether he was willing to pay the union wages demanded by his striking employees, and when he absolutely refused to do so or to recognize us in any way, our mission was ended.
From the Tucson Citizen of August 11, 1903:
Hellraisers Journal: From The Miners’ Magazine: The Smeltermen’s Strike in Colorado City, Led by WFM, Part V
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Hellraisers Journal – Friday April 24, 1903
Colorado City, Colorado –Mill and Smeltermen’s Union on Strike, Part V
From The Miners Magazine of April 1903:
THE STRIKE IN COLORADO CITY.
[Part V of V: Miners of Cripple Creek Support Smeltermen]
The Cripple Creek Press, the official organ of organized labor of the Cripple Creek district (since suspended) had the following to say in its editorial columns of March 15:
The announcement of a settlement of the differences between the Mill and Smeltermen’s Union No. 125, of Colorado City, and the managers of the Portland and Telluride mills is pleasing to the people of this district, but the failure of the United States Reduction and Refining Company to enter into the agreement made by the other mills means something which is not pleasing. It means that unless the mines shipping to the Standard mill accede to the demands made upon them by the executive board of the Western Federation of Miners, that they quit shipping their ores to the said United States Reduction and Refining Company on Monday, that the miners employed by them will be called out by the Federation. It means that when these men are called out in support of their brothers on strike against the Standard mill, they will go out and tie up those mines so tight that Manager MacNeil will have a difficult time in getting material to keep his pet scabs at Colorado City employed. The Western Federation has done everything in its power to bring about an amicable settlement, and when Manager MacNiel refuses to accept the terms made by the managers of the other mills he places himself behind the pale of public consideration and the only thing now left for the mine managers who are shipping to his mill will be to whip him into line or submit to a strike of miners employed by them. There is no middle ground with the miners on this question. They will be compelled to insist upon the demands made by them being complied with or walk out.
The governor failed to keep his promise that he would immediately withdraw the troops, and the delay of the governor in issuing his order recalling the state militia caused the following to be issued from the headquarters of the Western Federation of Miners on March 17:
The representatives of the Western Federation of Miners, since the strike was declared at Colorado City, have at all times held themselves in readiness to confer with the mill managers for the purpose of bringing about an amicable adjustment of differences. For months previous to the strike, the officers of the Federation labored early and late to bring about an honorable settlement, which would prevent any open rupture between the mill managers and their employes. The officers of the Federation have given a respectful hearing to representatives in all departments of business, and at all times have shown a disposition to submit their grievances to a board of arbitration. Had the mill managers manifested as earnest a desire to pour oil upon the troubled waters as the Western Federation of Miners, the people of the state of Colorado would never have been compelled to forward protests against the executive of the state for his loyalty to corporate interests.
Had the mill managers exhibited even the slightest disposition to act in a spirit of justice to their employes the strike would have been averted and the treasury of the state would not have become a graft for military officials who are “bug house” when clothed with the uniform of blue. The militia of the state has been used for the purpose of inciting riot, but with all the infamous schemes concocted by Bell and Brown, the strikers have remained unruffled, and have shown to the people of Colorado that they are law-abiding, and that even uniformed ruffians could not goad them to acts of violence. The sheriff of El Paso county has demonstrated that he has been a willing auxiliary in the hands of the mill managers to exaggerate the conditions of the situation at Colorado City so that corporations which refuse to arbitrate could secure the militia to perform picket duty at the expense of the state.
The governor, toward the close of the interview Sunday morning, admitted without any solicitation, that the representatives of the Western Federation of Miners had gone more than three-fourths of the way and had been more than fair in bringing about a settlement and that he would at once issue an order to withdraw the troops. The governor admitted, after his personal investigation of affairs at Colorado City, that he was unable to connect the strikers with any violation of the law. In the interview that was held Sunday at the governor’s office to arbitrate with Manager MacNeil, the governor receded from his former agreement to withdraw the troops. He asked the representatives of the Western Federation of Miners for a further concession, namely, that he would immediately withdraw the troops providing that the Federation would withdraw all suits against the officers of the state militia. The representatives of the Federation were again magnanimous and accepted the proposition of the governor.
Hellraisers Journal: From The Miners’ Magazine: The Smeltermen’s Strike in Colorado City, Led by WFM, Part II
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Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday April 21, 1903
Colorado City, Colorado –Mill and Smeltermen’s Union on Strike, Part II
From The Miners Magazine of April 1903:
THE STRIKE IN COLORADO CITY.
[Part II of V: W. F. of M. Attempts to Negotiate]
Previous to the strike being declared, the following letter was presented to the mill managers by the Mill and Smeltermen’s union of Colorado City:
We respectfully present for your consideration a schedule relating to employment and wages in and about the mills. This schedule has been carefully considered by members of the Colorado City Mill and Smeltermen’s union No. 125, W. F. M., and they deem it a fair and reasonable minimum scale for the services in the various lines of work, and inasmuch as throughout the immediate surrounding places a like or higher scale is in effect, it is evident that both the employer and the employes regard a scale not lower than the one presented as just and equitable. Should there be any part of the schedule, however, which appears to you as not being fair and just, we will be glad to take the matter up with you, and assure you of our willingness to look at things from the company’s standpoint as well as our own, and do that which will promote harmony and justice.
We are greatly aggrieved over the discharge of individuals who have been, so far as we are informed, faithful employes of the company, and the only reason for their dismissal being the fact of their membership in this union.
We do not object to the company discharging men whose services as workmen are unsatisfactory. We are not now, nor do we intend to uphold incompetent men nor insist that they be either employed or retained in the employment of the company, but we must protect the men in their rights to belong to the union, even to the extent of discontinuing to work for any company which so discriminates against them.
Realizing that you will require some time to consider the accompanying scale, the committee will call upon you on the 25th inst. and expect a definite answer.
This letter was signed by the official committee of the union, but the letter received but little courteous consideration from the managers. When all overtures of the union failed to bring about an amicable adjustment of differences, the strike was declared as a last resort for justice. The mill managers exhausted every resource to fill the places of the strikers, but their efforts were unavailing. The governor then came to the rescue by recognizing the order of the sheriff, who wears the collar of the corporations. The Denver Post contains the following in its issue of March 6:
This is the telegram sent to the Colorado City mill managers by the Denver Post:
“Are you willing to submit to arbitration the trouble between your company and the mill workers employed by you, the arbitration board to be appointed by joint arrangement of parties involved? Please answer at our expense.
THE DENVER POST.
This is the reply:
“There is no trouble between our company and mill workers employed by us. Our employes are now and have been perfectly satisfied with wages and treatment. Wages paid by us more and hours of labor less than ore reducing plants with whom we compete. Our employes don’t ask to arbitrate. Our plants are full-handed and all our employes and plants require is protection from the violence of outsiders not employed by us. We would be pleased to have your representative visit our plants and fully investigate.
C. A. MACNEIL.
Vice President and General Manager
United States Reduction and Refining Company.
Hellraisers Journal: Western Federation of Miners Calls Out Cripple Creek in Support of Striking Smeltermen at Colorado City
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Hellraisers Journal – Friday March 20, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Western Federation of Miners Begin Strike
From The Salt Lake Telegram of March 18, 1903:
Hellraisers Journal: Mill Managers Refuse Arbitration with Strikers at Colorado City; Cripple Creek Miners May Walk Out
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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday March 15, 1903
Colorado City, Colorado – Managers Refuse Arbitration with Smeltermen
From The Butte Miner of March 13, 1903:
GOV. ASKS FOR ARBITRATION
———-PEABODY CONFERRED WITH MILL MANAGERS AND STRIKERS
AT COLORADO ON SETTLEMENT OF DIFFERENCES
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MANAGERS DECLARE THERE IS NOTHING TO ARBITRATE AND
8,000 CRIPPLE CREEK MINERS MAY GO CUT.
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Denver, Colo., March 12.-Governor Peabody returned at noon today from his visit to Colorado City, where he went to make a personal investigation of the strike situation to enable him better to take action looking to a settlement of the trouble.
This evening the governor issued a statement in which he related the incidents of his trip and announced the belief that the militia should be for the present maintained at Colorado City on account of alleged threats which have been made against the nonunion men in their boycotted mills, though he says he could not find, upon the most rigid inquiry, that the threats came from members of the Smeltermen’s union. He testified that he had asked the representatives of both sides of the controversy with their counsel to meet him in conference at the state house Saturday afternoon at two o clock.
The strike leaders have renewed their declaration of willingness to submit all questions in controversy to a proper tribunal. If they are not met half way, they will call out 8,000 Cripple Creek miners on next Monday.
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The officers of the Western Federation of Miners decided today to invoke the law to punish officers of the national guard who, it is alleged, have perpetuated outrages upon the Colorado City strikers and an injunction will be applied for to prevent any repetition of such acts.
[Said W. D. Haywood, of the federation:]
Action will be begun against officers of the militia and others for confiscation of property, invading private houses, arresting men without warrant and holding them without a charge and other illegal acts. In some cases the proceedings may be in the nature of civil suits, while in others criminal action may be instituted.
[Photograph and emphasis added.]
Hellraisers Journal: Tories, Then & Now, Denounce “Incendiary” Speeches of Patrick Henry and Vincent St John
If the plutocrats begin the program,
we will end it.
-Eugene V. Debs
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Hellraisers Journal, Sunday February 3, 1907
Goldfield, Nevada – Red Flags, Red Banners, Red Ribbons Rule!
The kept press finds itself in a state of supreme outrage in view of the fact that the rabble of the nation are not conducting themselves in a calm and reasonable manner as the authorities of the states of Colorado and Idaho, acting in the interests of the Mine Owners Association, attempt a frame-up on Big Bill Haywood and Charles Moyer, officers of the Western Federation of Miners.
From the Appeal to Reason of February 2, 1907:
KING GEORGE AND CAPITAL
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The Words of Vincent St. John Have the
Same Effect on American Tories as
Those of Patrick Henry Had
Upon the British Tories.
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TO illustrate the attitude invariably assumed by the conservators of the dominant order at various times in the world’s history, I herewith reprint two articles taken from papers published more than a hundred years apart. One refers to the demonstration of the Goldfield miners last Sunday, in behalf of Moyer, Haywood and Pettibone, and is clipped from the Denver Republican; the other describes the scenes in the Virginia House of Burgesses, when Patrick Henry delivered his famous philippie against King George, and is selected from a history in which was copied the article as it was taken from an old English paper. The Denver Republican typically represents the cause of capitalism today; the old english paper typically represented the cause of toryism a century ago.
Read and observe the parallel:
Hellraisers Journal: Mine Owners of Cripple Creek Prepare to Replace Scabs with Imported Labor
You ought to be out raising hell.
This is the fighting age.
Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Hellraisers Journal – Sunday June 10, 1906
From The Labor World: George Shoaf on the Cripple Creek Situation
From the Duluth Labor World of June 9, 1906:
MINE COMPANY STORES
AND IMPORTED LABOR
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Mine Owners Association of Cripple Creek
Now Preparing to Discharge Scabs
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Fellows Who Helped to Deport Union Men
to Be Dismissed By Mine Bosses.
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BY GEORGE H. SHOAF.
Staff Correspondent Appeal to Reason.
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Denver, Colo., June 7.-I just returned from my trip to the Cripple Creek district this morning. Conditions commercially in that community are really worse than were pictured in this week’s Appeal. The howls from the business men are loud and long. On every street corner groups of men gather and discuss the situation and outlook. In the restaurant conversationalists openly threw off the mask and spoke their mind. They cannot sell their possessions and they have no place to which they can go. They are barred from all other western mining camps-and they dislike to return east and take chances with the unemployed. Where I stayed at night-and I changed rooming houses every night-the men about the stove talked hard times, cursed their luck and admitted their folly in helping the Mine Owners’ association drive the Western Federation from the district.