CHAPTER VI

DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

THE WESTERN FEDERATION OF MINERS-ITS SIDE OF THE CASE

1

The Western Federation of Miners was organized in a convention held at Butte, Montana, May 15th, 1893. Forty delegates, representing fifteen unions from the states of Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, and South Dakota, assembled, drafted a constitution, and began an active campaign for general organization. The first Cripple Creek strike came six months later, while the movement was in its infancy, and the Federation hardly more than a name. The Altman union secured a charter in the general organization, and this was utilized by the striking miners to secure uniformity and authority in their actions, but the Western Federation of Miners as a body had no connection with the strike.2

The Federation has grown steadily since its organization. By 1903 its unions numbered 200, and its jurisdiction extended over the Rocky Mountains and far western states, and British Columbia. Five hospitals are owned by it, and several cooperative stores at various mining centers. Some of the local unions provide sick benefit, and maintain wards in the local hospitals, and many of them have halls with libraries, reading rooms, and rooms for social entertainment.3

During the first years of its existence the Federation changed officers every year, but from 1896 to 1906 the office of presi

1 Information furnished by the unions. See also Special Report Commissioner of Labor. U. S. Chap. I.

Also Langdon, Mrs. Emma F. The Cripple Creek Strike, Introduction. 2 See p. 20.

3 Information furnished by the unions. See also Special Report Commissioner of Labor, U. S., Chap. I.

The federation does not report its membership. The report of the Colorado Bureau of Labor Statistics for 1901-2 estimated the membership at 48,000.

dent has been held by but two men, Edward Boyce and Charles H. Moyer. William D. Haywood, elected secretary-treasurer in 1901 has held the position ever since. At the end of his sixth year in office Mr. Boyce positively refused re-election, and closed his career in a stirring speech that became a classic to his followers. Its dominant note was an appeal to class consciousness, and its climax a demand for socialistic action" When the convention closed it had voted confidence in the words of its president, and declared itself with the Socialist Party of America. President Moyer and Secretary-Treasurer Haywood, radically socialistic in their own views, lost no opportunity to direct the activity of the organization more and more into socialistic channels. The rank and file of the membership hung back, and did not accept socialistic ideas nearly so generally as has been supposed. At their annual conventions the delegates repeatedly refused to pass extreme resolutions asked for by the leaders." But the Federation has been strongly under the influence of its officers these last years.10 It is its misfortune that these men have been extremists. Its catastrophies have been mistakes of leadership.

The Federation man in speaking of the Cripple Creek difficulties prefers to merge them with the general strike difficulties of the time. The struggle over the eight-hour question, and the wrongs done by capital therein loom large to him, and Cripple Creek is merely a phase of the general situation. The Colorado City difficulty is the immediate irritant. Here the union. just formed is all but broken up by the summary discharge of its members from the employ of the Colorado Reduction and Refining Company. A strike is the remedy, a verbal agreement being reached at last, the union acting under pressure, and coming two-thirds of the way. But the company does not

Official Reports Western Federation.

5 Ibid.

6 Ibid.

Copy officially published by federation. Also in Official Proceedings.for 1902. Ibid.

8 Ibid.

See page 10, 2nd par., also f. n. 1.

10 See pages 25, f. n. 1, 36 and 37, including f. n., and page 13.

11 A digest is here given of the statements of the case by various union officers.

fulfill its agreement satisfactorily-work is offered the men in such a way that they will not accept it-the management will not consider the wage scale. The other mills, which have made entirely satisfactory adjustments, become dissatisfied, and threaten to lower wages again unless the Colorado mill is forced into line. So a second strike is called. But the hostile attitude of the management has been so effective that the strike is unsuccessful. There is danger that all that has been gained will be lost if the mill cannot be controlled. Its ore can be shut off. The Cripple Creek miners are of the same organization and should support their brothers. There is added irritation in that some of the Cripple Creek mines refuse to employ union men at all. The capitalistic class in Colorado is pushing labor to the last ditch, and throttling its every move for betterment. The time for a decisive blow against such tyranny is at hand. So the miners are called out.1:

12

THE MINE OWNERS' ASSOCIATION-ITS SIDE OF THE CASE

Most of the principal mine owners of the Cripple Creek District acted in concert during the strike of 1894, and came to be spoken of collectively as the Mine Owners' Association. While there was no formal organization, the name persisted during the period between the two strikes. At the opening of the difficulties of 1903-4 the mine owners continued to act collectively. On August 13, 1903, a statement was issued over the signatures of thirty mine owners setting forth the generally satisfactory conditions preceding the strike, and declaring a policy of vigorous opposition to the Federation.13 Soon after, steps were taken to give the organization a permanent form. The Cripple Creek Mine Owners' and Operators' Association was formally organized. E. A. Colburn was elected president, W. H. Bainbridge treasurer, and C. C. Hamlin secretary.14 The association acted thereafter as a body through the regular channels of president, secretary, and treasurer.

12 Official Reports Western Federation.

13 Given in full, p. 92, f. n. 12.

14 Accounts by officers.

On September 17th the following notice was posted:

"It is hereby given out that no member of any union, affiliated or connected with the Western Federation of Miners will be given employment on this property.

"By order of the Cripple Creek District Mine Owners' and Operators' Association."

The association thereafter announced its intention not only to refuse absolutely to treat in any way with the Western Federation of Miners, or employ its members, but to prevent if possible the employment of Federation men anywhere in the district. So far as the influence of the organization would reach, mines and mills operating at the time were compelled to discharge all union workmen."

15

March 10, 1904, after the first period of military rule, the association went a step further, and announced its intention "to drive the disturbing and dangerous element of the Western Federation of Miners from the district and from the state if possible. ''16 This was followed by the adoption of the card system, which effectually blacklisted members of the Federation. All applicants for work were furnished with a blank form for the answering of a number of questions, the last four of which were as follows:

"Are you a member of the Western Federation of Miners? "Have you ever been a member of the Western Federation of Miners?

"If so, when did you sever your connection with that organization?

"Do you belong to any labor organization, and if so, what?" These questions satisfactorily answered, the secretary of the association issued the applicant a card, which was surrendered and returned to the secretary upon securing employment. When a new position was sought the card was re-issued. No work could be obtained without it, and a man could be dropped at any time by simply refusing to re-issue his card.

To the mine owners the Cripple Creek strike was simply an unwarranted, arbitrary, and unjust blow, struck at the

15 Labor Disturbances in Colorado, in Report of the United States Commissioner of Labor, p. 224. Also this work, p. 117, f. n. 23.

16 Given in part on pp. 116 and 117.

instigation of a few officials while conditions were unusually satisfactory, and in spite of the actual opposition of the men concerned.1 Whatever may have been the status of the eight-hour day in Colorado City it was not involved at Cripple Creek, for the eight-hour day had been in force there for nine years. Whatever may have been the conditions at Colorado City the mine owners were not concerned. Only a few of the mines were shipping to the mill in question, and most of them were bound absolutely by contracts. It was unthinkable that they should be forced into being the club of the Western Federation for the compelling of anybody and everybody to the wishes of that organization.

The strike called, and no demands to which to accede, no grievances to settle, but one course was possible, to open the mines fearlessly, and run them in independence of the Federation. It was not to be supposed that in the future they would put themselves again under the power of such an organization, Federation men might look elsewhere for employment. When resort was had to threats and actual violence, and they were being prevented from opening the mines, it was no more than right that the state should furnish them protection, especially when the local government was so largely in the hands of their opponents, and no very active efforts were to be expected from them. The card system was to give them a record of their workmen, and to prevent the union miners from quietly getting back into power.

With the explosion and riots of June 6th, it became apparent that no permanent peace could be expected so long as the organization of the Western Federation remained in the county. Under the conditions it was almost impossible to ferret out criminals, and as the mines were successfully operating, and it was not proposed to have any further dealings with the Federation, the only thing left was to rid the community of it. This was a humane and just policy, for angry citizens were threatening general lynchings. Deportation was an act of necessity for the general welfare of the public.18

17 Digest from proclamations, and statements by officers.

18 Ibid.