Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1903 — MINING TROUBLES IN COLORADO [ARTICLE]

MINING TROUBLES IN COLORADO

Soldiers’ High-Handed Methods Remind One of Russian Despotism. Strikes and lockouts at the mines in Cripple Creek aud other gold mining'districts in Colorado have already reduced the mineral production of the State thin year at least $2,500,000, and if the present conditions obtain until the end of the year the production will fall more than $6,000,000 below what it would have been under normal conditions. In consequence of the strike 1,000 soldiers of the Colorado National Guard have been doing police duty in Cripple Creek for several weeks, and as. yet neither the mine owners nor the strikers show any evidence of weakening. The

cost to the State of maintaining the military force in the field is estimated at $50,000 a month. The unsettled conditions in the mining industry are due to failure of the Legislature do bnact an eight-hour law applying to mines, mills and smelters after the voters of the State had adopted a constitutional amendment authorizing such an amendment. An eight-hour day had been generally granted at tho mines, and the Western Federation of Miners determined to enforce the same in both mines and smelters.

Strikes were inaugurated last June at the smelters in Denver, and the mills in Colorado City, and nine weel;6 ago 4,000 miners in the Cripple Creek district were ordered by the executive officers of the Federation to go cn strike in support of the demand for an eight-hour day for mill and smelter employes, which had been refused by the American Smelting and Refining Company and the United States Reduction and Refining Company. A few weeks after the beginning of the strike at Cripple Creek two men were murderously assaulted by unknown men. Gov. Peabody then sent troops to the camp in response to a request from the Mine? Owners’ Association which represented that many of the strikers would return to work if guaranteed protection. No viohyjce has occurred since the soldiers took the field, but there have been many sensational incidents resulting from the actions of the military in making arrests and disregarding the civil authorities. Although martial law has not been declared more than a dozen miners, including all the members of the executive committee in charge of the strike, have been arrested and incarcerated in the guardhouse, otherwise known as the “bull pen,” some of them being held there more than two weeks. In habeas corpus proceedings the district judge, W. T. Seeds, decided that the military officers had exceeded their authority and ordered the release of the prisoners. The latter were, however, taken back to the guardhouse and held until ordered relented by Gov. Peabody.

The latest act of the soldiers was the seizure of the entire force of employes of the Vittor Record because of the publication of a statement that two soldiers on duty in camp were ex-convicts. The prisoners were detained in the “bull pen” nearly twenty-four hours before charges of criminal libel were made against them. Three thousand business men and citizens of Victor held a mass meeting and demanded the recall of the soldiers. Their demand was refused.

As a result of the high-handed methods of the soldiers a wave of indignation is sweeping the mining region of the State and demands are being made, that the Governor cnll a special session of the Legislature to consider an eight-hodr day in accordance with the constitutional amendment. Many miners are leaving the State and fears are felt lest the populace and soldiery come into bloody colHsion.