Hellraisers Journal – Monday December 12, 1904 Chicago, Illinois – Mother Jones Addresses Striking Garment Workers
Mother Jones gave an address to the striking garment workers of Chicago in which she praised Chicago workers for making that city a “mighty uncomfortable” place for the employers. The garment workers have been on strike since November 19th, and they vow to continue their strike to the end.
From The Chicago Daily Tribune, December 10, 1904:
STRIKERS TO FIGHT TO END. ———- Garment Workers at Mass Meeting, Addressed by “Mother” Jones, Make Decision to Stay Out. ———-
The striking garment workers, at a large meeting last night in Brand’s Hall, voted to stay out until their demands are granted in full. Addresses were made by president T. A. Rickert of the national organization, President Barney Cohen of the State Federation of Labor, “Mother” Jones, and others.”
Mother” Jones declared there was one place in the country where the workers had made it “mighty uncomfortable” for the employers, and that was Chicago. Ben Miller, said to be a picket for the Capmakers’ union, was arrested in the evening charged with assaulting Samuel Jordan, a nonunion garment worker.
Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday December 6, 1904 Denver, Colorado – Governor Peabody Plots to Hold On to Power
This week’s Duluth Labor World sounds the warning:
Governor-Elect Adams
Colorado is resting over a political volcano. Everyone is on the qui vive and following closely, and in most cases bitterly, the extraordinary antics of the [Colorado] Supreme Court.
Governor Peabody continues his machinations with the assistance of the Court to thwart the will of the people of the State of Colorado. The election of Alva Adams, Democrat, by a plurality of 11,000 votes has not deterred Peabody from his quest to hold onto power.
The latest twist in the plot involves the unseating of three Senators who have been elected from areas of the state where strikes have been conducted during the past year.
From The Labor World of December 3, 1904:
PEABODY’S PLOT TO
HOLD COLORADO GROWS
———-
“Czar” Seeks to Unseat Three Senators
Who Were elected From Strike Centers.
———-
Colorado Resting On Political Volcano
Outbreak Is Momentarily Expected.
———-
Governor Peabody
Denver, Col., Dec. 1.-The rounding out of the Peabody plot to retain the Gubernatorial chair was developed more clearly today by the renewed trial of men charged with contempt. Precinct Eight of Ward Five was the scene of operations. The men arraigned are prominent Democrats-Frank Kratke, Edward O’Mally, Joseph Ray and Charles Kofsky.
The defendants, half an hour before, were arraigned before the United States Commissioner charged with violating the federal laws in regard to the election. The commissioners postponed their hearings until the Supreme Court should pass upon the charges of contempt against them.
The trend is more and more toward a situation wherein the spectacle will be presented of two Governors ruling the same state.
At Pueblo the grand jury will begin consideration of the alleged Republican frauds tomorrow.
A banquet will be given here tomorrow night in honor of Adams’ election, and next day the Republicans will ask the Supreme Court to begin throwing out Democratic precincts.
Colorado is resting over a political volcano. Everyone is on the qui vive and following closely, and in most cases bitterly, the extraordinary antics of the Supreme Court.
Each hearing of cases by that body develops in which direction the efforts of the Republicans are tending, indicating what returns are to be attacked and what valuable precincts are to be thrown out.
To Control Senate.
Upon the face of the returns received from every county in the state, the Democrats elected ten members of the State Senate, without counting any of the members from this county. These, with the nine holdover Democratic Senators, would give that party the control of the Senate.
The Peabody managers have daily asserted that they would be able to organize the Senate. The basis of their claims was not apparent until yesterday when they announced that they contemplated unseating Martin of Pueblo, Ward of Boulder and maybe Beshoar of Trinidad, all Democrats.
The state canvassing board is looked to to do the work. The official canvass in Boulder County was completed several days ago and showed the re-election of Senator Ward by a small majority. No charge of fraud was made in that county until yesterday. In Las Animas County the canvass showed that Dr. Beshoar was elected if every contested ballot were counted for Barela. In Pueblo [County] the official canvass is not competed, but both sides concede that it will show Mr. Martin’s election. It is not charged that Mr. Martin’s supporters committed fraud, but the Peabody managers assert that Republicans voted for him and this is to be made the ground of contest.
Hellraisers Journal – Friday December 2, 1904 Telluride, Colorado – W. F. of M. Claims Victory as Strike Is Settled
The long and bravely fought Telluride Strike has been settled, and the Western Federation of Miners is claiming the victory. The strikers have endured military despotism, bullpens, vigilante attacks, deportations, and more during the past year. Nevertheless, they have endured to the end of the strike and that end comes with all of their demands being met in full.
From the Wichita Daily Eagle of December 1, 1904:
STRIKE IS SETTLED ———-
Both Sides Are Rejoicing Over the Results
Telluride, Col., Nov. 30-Both mine owners and union miners are rejoicing over the action of the district miners’ association in session at Ouray ending the strike in this district which was called September 1, 1903.President Charles H. Moyer of the Western Federation of Miners, who was imprisoned here for several months last summer during military occupation of the camp, has made the following statement concerning the action of the miners’ association which was taken in accordance with is advice:
We have called the strike off because we take the position that the issues involved have been conceded by the mine owners and operators in the Telluride district, in that they recently posted notices to the effect that after December 1 they would grant an eight hour work day both for their mills and smelters and a minimum wage scale of $3. These demands were made over a year ago. We have had no conference with either the mine owners or mine operators and have no knowledge of what position they are going to take regarding the union. But the fact that they have granted our demands indicates that they will ask no questions and neither will we ask any questions, and I believe that within sixty days every mill at Telluride and Ophir will be running to their full capacity with the best workmen in the west employed.
During the past ten days the Telluride Citizens’ Alliance has deported six or eight of our men, but I do not believe the mine owners of Telluride had anything to do with this deportation. I believe the mine owners are inclined to treat us fairly and to meet us half way and I believe that public sentiment will demand that the Citizens’ Alliance keep out of the question entirely.
“What do you think will be the result of this action on the Cripple Creek situation?” Mr. Moyer was asked.
I believe a change will occur within sixty days that will be for the betterment of the Cripple Creek situation. The strike may not be settled entirely in that time, but I am sure a larger number of men will be at work than at present. During the past few days many union members, including some of the men deported by the military and business men last summer, have returned expecting the strike to be called off. Since the inauguration of the strike the mines and mills of the district have never been operated to their full capacity.
—————
—————
