Tag: September 1903

Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on the Military Seizure of the Town of Cripple Creek by General Sherman Bell

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Wednesday September 30, 1903
Cripple Creek, Colorado – General Bell Captures Town as Miners Marched to Court

Cartoon by A. W. Steele of the The Denver Post:

Cartoon Military Authority, EFL p123, 1904Cartoon Steele Military Authority Detail, EFL p123, 1904

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

Friday Sept. 18, was the day the prisoners [Messrs. Parker, Campbell, Lafferty and McKinney] were to be produced by the military. The writs issued by Judge Seeds being returnable on that date. Tom McClelland appeared in the district court that morning to represent Generals Chase and Bell, who were not present, and asked for a continuance of the habeas corpus cases for five days. This was refused by Judge Seeds, on the grounds that the respondents had made no return upon the writ, neither producing the prisoners in court, or showing cause why the order of the court had not been complied with. McClelland then stated to the court that if given until 2 o’clock in the afternoon, he would make a return on the writ and then argue the question of continuance.

When court convened at 10 o’clock McClelland arose and, with folded arms, addressed the court, stating that he represented the respondents, Chase and Bell, and on their behalf asked for a continuance. He said: “A great many question are involved in this case, and owing to the duties of the military camp I have not had the time to prepare such an answer as I would like to present to this court. Under this statute it is discretionary with the court to allow five days for an answer. I would, therefore, ask until Monday morning or longer to do so.”

General Eugene Engley, counsel for the prisoners, objected. He said: “There has not been sufficient showing to warrant the continuance sought by Brother McClelland. The statute is very clear on this point. It says that only upon the return of the writ a day shall be set for a hearing. A continuance must be made after a return of the writ, which has not been made. Whether an imprisonment has been made by the military forces or by civil officers, that person ought to know before making an arrest what is the authority for doing so, and he should be ready at any time to make a showing of his position.” McClelland said that upon the return that day the court might make an order for continuance, either for making a return or for a hearing.

John Murphy, general attorney for the Western Federation said: “The order of this court was to produce these prisoners. The respondents are in contempt because they have not done so, and have given no reason to the court why they have failed to produce the prisoners. Without warrants citizens of this commonwealth have been thrown into prison. The military is only the reserve police of the state, and cannot hold a man longer than absolutely necessary to take him before a magistrate.’’ The court said that section 2108 of the code contemplates a return of the parties to whom a writ is directed. He added: “That would be a foundation for the court to consider the questions at issue. Upon that the court would be advised that there are matters subject to trial. It would then be within the province of the court to fix a time for a hearing. Moreover, it is the judgment of the court that on a proper showing the time of the return may be extended, but that the showing must be one upon which the court should be advised that more time may be necessary. Mr. McClelland’s showing is not sufficient. It should be supported by facts and circumstances.”

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Hellraisers Journal: Editorial from The Rocky Mountain News: “Adjutant General Sherman Bell should be relieved and removed from command of the troops at Cripple Creek.”-Dangerous and Unfit

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Tuesday September 29, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – General Bell Unfit for Command

From The Rocky Mountain News of September 14, 1903:

Gen Sherman Bell Above Law, RMN p1, Sept 14, 1903

Editorial Page:

BELL SHOULD BE REMOVED

ADJUTANT GENERAL SHERMAN BELL should be relieved and removed from command of the troops at Cripple Creek. His mental characteristics are such as to make him an unsafe and even dangerous person to hold that position. This has been shown by his conduct since he went to the district in his disregard of the law and the most ordinary rights of citizens.

The troops have been used to make domiciliary visits, to enter peaceable meetings by force of arms and to make arrests without warrant or indictment and without giving information to the persons arrested or to the public of the reasons of the arrests. Some even are being held forcibly in durance without charge of any kind against them.

Granting that the governor was sincere in the belief that the troops were necessary in the district, his first great mistake was to consent that the cost of sending them should be paid by one of the parties to the controversy. The officer in command looks upon himself and his troops as in a sense the employees of that party, and it is not to be doubted that the mine owners have driven Bell to do illegal acts which have marked his sway. He and they protest that there is no martial law; while martial law prevails in fact almost to the last extreme. When men are arrested and place in confinement without charges against them, solely by the order of the general commanding, it is martial law.

The troops of the state when called out on such occasion, should act solely as assistants to the civil authorities in preserving the peace. The officer in command has no right whatever to undertake to set aside civil authority and make his own whims the sole law.

The officer in command in Cripple Creek should be calm, self-controlled and responsible, and as Bell is not qualified in any of those particulars, the governor should repair, so far as possible, the harm already done by removing him at once. A man of demonstrated unfitness should not occupy a place of such great trust at a time when so much is involved as is the case in the Cripple Creek district at the present time.

[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Military Despotism in the Cripple Creek Strike District of Colorado

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Monday September 28, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Military Despotism  Dominates Strike Zone

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

Military Despotism in the Cripple Creek District

Arrest of Sherman Parker Sept 12, SF Call p24, Sept 13, 1913

September 13 found the military in complete control of the entire district. The troops dominated everything. A “bull pen’’ was established. Men were taken from home and families at dead of night, made to get out of bed and go with the militia and placed in the “bull pen” without explanation. They were not allowed defense and there were no charges preferred against them. Union meetings were, from the date given, broken into and obstructed without apparent cause.

One among the first shocks dealt the people of the district was Sept. 12, when it was announced that the leaders of the military had ordered the arrest of Sherman Parker. It was learned that the order had been executed shortly after midnight, when Mr. Parker was at home asleep. At 12:20 [a. m. Saturday], Sept. 12, Mr. Parker was awakened by a knock at the door. He went to the door and answered the call. He was told that the gentleman calling had a note from a man by the name of Jack Minor to present to him in the way of introduction. Mr. Parker stepped nearer the door and was immediately placed under arrest and taken from his family without further explanation and lodged in the ‘‘bull pen,” which was established near the Strong mine.

Sherman Parker is and has always been a peaceable citizen. There is probably none better in the county, but he was a member of the strike committee, and after the troops were here at the instigation and for the assistance of the mine owners, they were to arrest anyone that stood in their way of running affairs with an unlimited high hand. He was forbidden consultation, it is stated, with an attorney, and was simply told to “lie there and take what he was given.”

The executive committee of District Union No. 1, Sept. 13, ran the following statement in its official organ in regard to Minford and Sherman Parker:

W.H. Minford, the man who was supposed to have been beaten by strikers at Goldfield, was in reality beaten up in a bawdy house fight at Cripple Creek. He is now under arrest for giving false information and is detained in the county jail.

Sherman Parker, secretary of Free Coinage Miners’ Union No. 19, was dragged from his bed at his home in Independence by a squad of soldiers at 12:20 yesterday morning. No charges have been preferred against him and he is a prisoner without warrant of law. We want all union men over the country to know how the military are treating our members. Several have been arrested and in no case have charges been preferred against them.

DISTRICT UNION NO. 1, W. F. M., EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

One of the most ridiculous things that occurred during the strike was the operating of a searchlight. The light was moved from one mountain to another and turned on the various little cities of the district. Another ridiculous thing was that the citizens of the law-abiding community was given the opportunity of seeing a gatling gun. One was taken from Camp Goldfield to Beacon hill in the afternoon of Sept. 11. It was probably the one that was borrowed from Wyoming to help out Colorado in the great war of the Cripple Creek district. At any rate the gatling gun was here and was hauled from place to place as the great “rebellion’’ went on.

Sept. 15 the militia aroused the people of the district when a company of cavalry marched to the residence of Patrick J. Lynch of Victor, and who is chairman of the board of county commissioners of Teller county, and, without doubt, as peaceable a citizen as lives in the state of Colorado, arrested and marched him to appear before Generals Bell and Chase. Nothing since the strike started so thoroughly aroused the people of the county as this outrage of September 15. Mr. Lynch was presented with no papers. He was given no reason for arrest. He was simply taken from his table while dining, and marched at command to Camp Goldfield.

A troop of about twenty men marched down Fourth street across Portland, where Patrick J. Lynch resides. They immediately surrounded his residence, going into the back yard and into the alley, then an officer approached the house and arrested Mr. Lynch. He was rudely seized and taken out forthwith. He was not allowed to return to his residence, but soldiers were sent back for some purpose.

Mr. Lynch was ordered to mount one of the horses and was surrounded by troopers. Two were kept on foot also to guard him. As the procession marched along the street to the camp hundreds of people lined both sides of thoroughfare and the expressions that were uttered were possibly the strongest that had been heard. Others laughed at the folly and the absurdity of the action was ridiculed from every source.

Mr. Lynch was immediately ordered before Generals Bell and Chase when he reached the camp. He was told that it had been reported to them that he had criticized the soldiers and exercised the privilege of every American citizen in urging men not to return to work. This Mr. Lynch denied emphatically, and, turning to General Bell and pointing his finger at him, said: “There is a man who has known me for ten years, and he knows that I am as peaceable a citizen as lives in the state of Colorado.” After a few other remarks Mr. Lynch was released and allowed to return to his home and partake of another meal by his own fireside, though the military bravos were still in the district.

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Hellraisers Journal: Convention of the Colorado Federation of Labor Condemns Militarism in Cripple Creek Strike Zone

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MJ Quote Solidarity—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday September 27, 1903
Colorado State Federation of Labor Supports Striking Miners of Cripple Creek

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

 STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR AROUSED. 

CO Fof L Conv re Militarism Cripple Creek, Dnv Pst p6, Sept 19, 1903

During the week of September 14-19, the Colorado State Federation of Labor was in session at Canon City and realizing the oppressing domination of Colorado militarism and understanding that all organized labor was in imminent danger of military suppression by the determined and lawless methods used to crush the Western Federation of Miners, passed unanimously the following resolutions:

Whereas, A gatling gun, the property of the state of Colorado, supposed to be used by the Colorado militia to uphold the laws of the state of Colorado, without class distinction, has been loaned and for the past six months has been in the Standard mill at Colorado City; and,

Whereas, Such loaning of the property of the state of Colorado is not only not good public policy, but is a detriment to the interests of the state and is without doubt at the behests of certain citizens for the purpose of intimidating other residents of Colorado City and is distinctly a case of arming one class of citizens against another, which is absolutely against the constitution, wherein equal privileges are guaranteed to all; therefore be it

Resolved, By the Colorado State Federation of Labor, in convention assembled, that the action of the officers of the Colorado National guard, and especially of Governor Peabody as commander-in-chief, be denounced as absolutely without warrant or precedent and as against the best interests of the state and dictates of good government.

Whereas, On the 28th day of July, 1903, the Sun and Moon transformer at Idaho Springs, Colo., was blown up by means and persons as yet unknown; and,

Whereas, There is a certain organization in Idaho Springs known as the Citizens’ Protective league, composed of all classes except organized labor and organized for the purpose of antagonizing labor in their efforts to better their conditions; and,

Whereas, Said Citizens’ league without warrant of law, aided and abetted by the sworn peace officers of the county, did take from their homes and imprison certain members of organized labor for certain affiliations and did after said imprisonment as an organized mob under the direction of the said Citizens’ Protective league (did) expel said members of organized labor from Idaho Springs with a warning to never return on pain of death and did banish said members of organized labor from their homes and families; and

Whereas, The district judge of Clear Creek county, presided over by Judge Frank W. Owers, has in the trial of the cases instituted by the banished members of organized labor against the members of the mob shown a spirit of fairness, as refreshing as it is rare in cases where a clash has arisen between labor and the capitalistic class; and ,

Whereas, The said Judge Owers has publicly declared from the bench that it is his purpose to administer the laws of the state of Colorado regardless of class or caste; therefore be it 

Resolved, By the Colorado State Federation of Labor, in convention assembled, that we do strongly commend the action of Judge Owers in meeting out exact justice to all violators of the law; and that a copy of these resolutions be furnished Judge Owers under the seal of the Colorado State Federation of Labor.

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Hellraisers Journal: Strikebreakers Shipped Into Cripple Creek Strike District, Guarded by Troops, Escape to Union Hall Under Fire

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Quote Frank Gould Poem Scab, IW p3, Aug 6, 1910—————

Hellraisers Journal – Saturday September 26, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Imported Strikebreakers Escape to Union Hall

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

51 STRIKE BREAKERS ARRIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

Cripple Creek, Scabs Shipped In, SL Tg p8, Sept 8, 1903

On Sept. 18 the much heralded strike breaking miners from the “east’’ arrived in Denver on their way to the district under heavy guard.

When the train carrying these men reached Cripple Creek the soldiers abandoned them, but the mine owners had places provided for their comfort. The newsboys followed them down the street and cried, “scab!” after them. This frightened the mine owners and a detachment of troops was immediately sent from Camp Goldfield to Cripple Creek, going over on the 9 o’clock electric low line from Victor. These soldiers were soon joined by two other companies of infantry and they lined Bennett avenue from First to Third streets and guarded the alleys more particularly. The soldiers’ headquarters were made at the Mining Exchange building, from where they received their orders. Citizens walking along the streets were told to move on and not to loiter.

The Finns and Norwegians, which constituted most of the men brought in—in fact, there was only two Americans among them—and very few who could speak English. The ones who could speak English stated that conditions had been misrepresented to them. They had just finished their work in the harvest fields of northern Michigan and were told that a new gold field had been opened here and that the mine owners wanted men badly. They were informed that in order to get men at once they would pay $3 for eight hours work and that the first men who responded would get the jobs. They were told further that if they did not like the work they would pay their expenses back to their homes and that it would not cost them a cent to get to the district.

There was eighty-seven in the crowd when they reached Denver, but twenty-six of the number pulled away in that city and about nine quit at Colorado Springs, leaving fifty or fifty-one to arrive in the gold camp.

STRIKE BREAKERS CONVERTED TO UNIONISM.

Eighteen of the men shipped into the district from Michigan were at union headquarters Friday night, Sept. 18, and stated that they would not go to work under the conditions here; that matters here had been grossly misrepresented to them. The balance of the fifty-one were taken to the Independence mine in the morning under heavy guard, but when they got to the mine they refused to go below. They were kept there all day and fed at Camp Goldfield.

On Saturday morning, Sept. 19, while the remaining twenty-three imported laborers were being escorted along Bennett avenue, Cripple Creek, by the military, the first shot of the “Cripple Creek District War” occurred when Lieutenant Hartung, of company B, took a shot at one of the imported Finns, Emil Peterson, who had been drawn off by the unions.

The strike breakers were being escorted from Miners’ Exchange hall to the depot by a detachment of company B. At the corner of Second and Bennett avenue Peterson broke through the lines and tried to talk to the strike breakers. He was ordered out by Capt. Frazier. As the man turned away he shouted in an excited manner, in his own tongue, to the others, and the captain called on Lieut. Hartung, “Arrest that man.” Peterson ran up the avenue, and Lieut. Hartung called, “Halt!” three times. The man increased his speed. The officer then sent a bullet after the man, who was now running like a frightened rabbit, his hat falling off in his mad rush for freedom and perhaps unionism.

Saturday morning unionists persuaded eighteen of the imported Finns to desert the mine owners, one of them being the man who was shot at by the lieutenant and whom the private sharp shooter offered to kill if the order was given. Peterson claimed that all of the strikebreakers were induced to come to Colorado by false representation, and the promise of high wages, from $4 to $5 a day being offered.

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Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: President of WFM’s Miners’ Union, No. 40, Arrested 

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday September 13, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – President Charles Kennison Arrested 

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

Charles G. Kennison Arrested

Emma F Langdon, EFL p8 of 274, 1904
Emma F. Langdon

Sept. 10 Chas. G. Kennison, president No. 40 Miners union, was arrested while riding on an early morning train. There was a number of men on the train on their way to work on some of the unfair mines. Kennison got into an argument with a man by the name of T. J. Sturdevant who was working on the El Paso and at that time was on his way to the mine. Sturdevant immediately became insulting to Kennison and finally struck him in the mouth and on the head. Kennison was reported to have drawn his revolver and attempted to strike Sturdevant over the head, when the gun caught in the bell cord in the car. Passengers on the car immediately interfered and stopped the trouble. Kennison got off the train at Elkton, where he was going, and attended to his business there and then went back to Cripple Creek and notified the sheriff’s office where they could get him. He made no attempt to get away or avoid arrest. General Bell had a detachment of militia out all the forenoon and part of the afternoon looking for Kennison. After he was placed in the county jail a detachment of troops was sent to investigate. They found him there but made no demand for him.

THEN CAME CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.

Under Sheriff Gaughan said in relation to the matter that the military had no right to interfere with the procedure of the sheriff’s office and if they took Kennison into custody they would exceed their authority so far as he was informed. But as to authority, what authority had they in the district at all? This was only the “beginning of the end.”

Lieutenant Wahm, with a squad of six soldiers, rather surprised the miners at union headquarters in Cripple Creek by stationing his detail in front of the hall. Two of the men were deputed to go up stairs and make a search for the president of the union, but as he was not in evidence they soon repaired again to the street. Lieutenant Wahm was informed that a warrant had been sworn out by some person, unknown for the arrest of Kennison by the sheriff’s office and was asked if he would take Kennison in custody in any event.

“Certainly I will take him,” he answered, “even though he is released on bond. If he is not released on bond and is confined in the county jail I will go back to the camp and will secure sufficient force to get him anyhow.”

The Denver papers of Sept. 10 in speaking of the arrest of Mr. Kennison said in part:

C. G. Kennison, president of Miners’ Union No. 40, was arrested about noon today and placed in the county jail on the charge of carrying concealed weapons. In an interview with our correspondent he said:

“I am guilty of the offense charged. I carried a weapon for the sole purpose of defending my life. The guards at the El Paso mine said that they would stretch me up to an electric light pole. Manager Sam McDonald of the Strong and Gold King properties told me on Bennett avenue that I would be in my grave before the strike was over. I was brutally assaulted this morning and shamefully abused by a lot of scabs and I drew a revolver in defense of my life. I do not care to say any more about the matter at the present time. No, I am not a deputy sheriff. I had a commission but I surrendered it some days ago.”

Deputy District Attorney Cole, when told of the bull pen that had been established at Camp Goldfield said: “It is perfectly outrageous and General Bell has no warrant of law for arresting people and detaining them without a warrant. I shall look into the matter officially at once.”

Kennison was released Sept. 11 at 4 o’clock from the county jail on bond. The charge against him was assault with intent to kill. He gave bond in the amount of $500. Mr. Kennison was in jail just a day when released. The men who assaulted him were never arrested the reader will take note of that fact.

[Emphasis added.]

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Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Citizens Protest Colorado’s Military Despotism

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

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, EFL p8 of 274, 1904
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.

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Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Colorado Governor Sends Troops into Strike Zone

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege ed, Ab Chp III—————

Hellraisers Journal – Friday September 11, 1903 
Cripple Creek District, Colorado – Governor Sends the Militia into Strike Zone

Report of Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:

[Cripple Citizens’ Alliance]

Emma F Langdon, EFL p8 of 274, 1904
Emma F. Langdon

About Sept. 1 there were many rumors of an alliance being formed in Victor. Upon investigation it was found there was an organization known as the “Citizens’ Alliance” in Cripple Creek. If there was at the above date, such an organization in Victor, there could not be one member located. Just what this organization hoped to accomplish in the Cripple Creek district was hard to understand, but it was not hard to understand from whence the spirit of the movement came. It required but little investigation into the membership to convince one that it was inspired by the mine owners; at least, the most prominent members are their lieutenants in the district. These men, it appears, first interviewed the Victor merchants but received a decided “turndown,” for which all friends of organized labor were grateful. The situation is different here from what it is in Denver. The great mass of people here are union people and just how a “Citizens’ Alliance’” could hope to accomplish any good for itself or anybody else is hard to understand. Just think of it; the idea of the business men, or anyone else of this district, organizing to fight organized labor. What has made the Cripple Creek district from a business standpoint? Has it been the generosity of the mine owners, or the work of organized labor in establishing a wage scale here that would put enough money in circulation to make business here in place of going to Colorado Springs.

In the city of Victor the news of the organization caused much amusement at that time, be it said to the credit of Victor’s business men.

[Home of Mr. Dennison, Union Miner, Burned]

[From] when the first non-union men began the work of building a fence at the El Paso, until the completion of the tunnel, there was enacted at the mine many disgraceful scenes of lawlessness. Guards at the mine had fights among themselves; insulted passers-by; stopped respectable people that had business to pass that way, at the point of rifles. They were, it was said, caught stealing. They made indecent exposures before innocent children; for which some of the men employed were arrested. The home of Mr. Dennison, a union miner, was destroyed by incendiaries on the night of Sept. 2, and while it was not proved positively that it was the work of the El Paso crew, evidence was strong against them. If they did not actually light the fire that destroyed the property, they, at least, made plain the fact that they were glad to see Mr. Dennison and family made homeless. While the house was in flames and the work of saving some of the household goods was in progress, the guards stood by and laughed and jeered. They did not offer to assist the unfortunate people. For that reason, I say if they were not instrumental in the burning of the building, at any rate, they made no secret of their joy at the sight of Dennison’s home being in flames.

[Large rewards were offered by the county officials and citizens for evidence leading to the arrest of those guilty of the assault upon businessmen Stewart an Hawkins, however] no reward offered for the villains that burned the home of Mr. Dennison, a union miner, and there was very little said of the matter by the enemies of organized labor.

[Governor Sends Investigating Committee]

When it was announced that an investigating committee was to visit the district a general expression of satisfaction was heard on every side. But, alas, that investigating committee—what a farce.

The members of the committee arrived [in Victor] over the Short Line Sept. 3, at 9:30 p. m. They were hastened through a back alley by F. M. Reardon to a rear entrance into the Bank of Victor, where they were met by Mayor French and a few other prominent citizens and held a short consultation, when they left for the residence of Nelson Franklin. The committee remained at the residence of Nelson Franklin about a half hour and then took the low line electric for Cripple Creek, where they went into session and held a long interview with Sheriff Robertson. They refused to talk. After the meeting with the mine owners they returned to Victor on a special car.

A telegram received at the Victor Daily Record office from Denver shortly after midnight said that the commission was in session at the National hotel in Cripple Creek and would not be ready with the recommendation for several hours. The commission consisted of Attorney General N. C. Miller, Brigadier General John Chase of the National guard, and Lieutenant T. E. H. McClelland, an obscure lawyer of Denver. No intimation was given out as to the possible conclusions.

The commission returned to Denver early the following morning, being in the district less than eight hours and only interviewed one side of the question.

[Troops Arrive]

September 4, about noon, the news reached the district that troops had been ordered to the gold camp and would arrive that night. The people were seized with consternation at this news. A wail of indignation went up from at least two-thirds of the entire population. The people at once understood the mission of the “investigating committee” and why they did not consult. all parties concerned. The first of the state troops arrived in the district Sept. 4 before midnight, and from then on for twenty-four hours they came until there was located, in one of the quietest, most conservative, law-abiding districts in the world, over 1,000 men with munitions of war sufficient to fight a small nation.

The all absorbing subject on the streets of Victor and in the entire district was the question of the arrival of the troops. The farce committee sent here by Governor Peabody to secure an excuse to bring the troops, returned to Denver Sept. 4, early in the morning, and immediately advised the governor to send the troops. Adjutant General Bell had his men in readiness. In fact, they were wearing their uniforms around Denver early in the morning and were simply waiting for the farce committee to report what had been agreed upon the day before.

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Emma F. Langdon Reports on Cripple Creek Strike: Colorado Governor Sends Troops into Strike Zone” →

Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Visits with Eugene Debs at His Home in Terre Haute, Indiana; Debs Speaks on Populism

Janet RayeEugene Victor Debs
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Quote EVD, Socialist Ripe Trade Unionist, WLUC p45, May 31, 1902—————

Hellraisers Journal – Thursday September 3, 1903
Terre Haute, Indiana – Mother Jones Spends Day as Guest of Eugene Debs

From The Cincinnati Enquirer of September 1, 1903:

EVD crpd Nw Orln Tx Dem p3, Jan 26, 1900 Mother Jones, Socialist Spirit p19, Aug 1902

ECHO OF THE PAST
———-
Is Populism, Says Eugene Debs, the Labor Leader.

SPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE ENQUIRER

Terre Haute, August 31.-Eugene Debs, who has closed his Chautauqua engagement, spent yesterday at home, with Mother Jones as his guest. In regard to the conference at Denver to revive the Populist party, Mr. Debs says:

The committee on the exhumation of issues and galvanization of corpses reported both in a state of satisfactory preservation. There is no inspiration in a cadaver. Populism is an echo of the past, with gray whiskers on it. The Denver funeral procession and its Populist pallbearers present a sorry picture in contrast with the advancing, enthusiastic, confident, cheering, revolutionary hosts of International Socialism.

[Photographs and emphasis added.]

Continue reading “Hellraisers Journal: Mother Jones Visits with Eugene Debs at His Home in Terre Haute, Indiana; Debs Speaks on Populism” →