Colorado City in which nine men were out. It tied up the industry of a whole section. The Western Federation of Miners had never had an organization in the Colorado City Mills, and the whole difficulty resulted from the attempt at organization there. Success had been achieved in two of the working plants, but not in the third. Ostensibly to force into line this third plant, which was running full capacity, 3,500 men were called from the mines. The Cripple Creek miners were to be used to club the mine owners into clubbing the Standard Mill to the wishes of the Western Federation of Miners. Comment on such an action is hardly necessary."

THE FIRST PERIOD OF THE STRIKE

Quiet prevailed in the Cripple Creek District during the first three weeks of the strike. Mining operations were almost entirely suspended. The men held frequent meetings, strengthening their organization, and thoroughly picketing the district to prevent any men from going to work. The Standard Mill was compelled to shut down on account of lack of ore September 2nd, but announced that one-third pay would be given its employees for an indefinite period. The Portland Mine was allowed to resume operations on August 22nd. All of its ores were reduced by its own mill at Colorado City, and the management agreed specifically that no ores should be shipped to "unfair" mills. The mine was not unionized but continued on the open shop principle. The merchants of the district having announced

which will force them to ship to him or stay closed. My opinion is that at this time the men will not come out if called."

feels that Advisory

"C. E. Johnston, No. 106 Millmen's Union, Board, after giving decision, should control our actions." The Cripple Creek Union asked for a constitutional amendment making all legislation of the district unions subject to the initiative and referendum, but it was voted down. See, same, p. 218.

The queston as to whether the strike was "sympathetic," being merely a question of terms, need not be discussed here. The mine owners insisted upon calling it a sympathetic strike, while the Federation declared that since the strike was all within its own order it was not sympathetic. Whatever be our terminology the vital point remains that the strike at Cripple Creek was called for the sole officially announced purpose of forcing the United States Reduction and Refining Company to close its works through lack of ore.

that they would allow no further credit during the strike, the unions organized cooperative stores in Cripple Creek, Victor, and Anaconda. Goods were sold to the miners from these stores at cost, for cash, or upon orders from the union. The treasury of the federation was well supplied, and no hardship was experienced.10

Late in August the Colorado City Union called a strike upon the Telluride Mill, which earlier in the year had granted all the demands of the union, including the increased schedule of wages. Walter Keene, the head precipitator, considered one of the best men in the employ of the company, had remained non-union and refused all invitations to join the organization. He was warned to leave. When he entered the mill on the 25th, he was met by a crowd of men, jostled, threatened, and finally struck on the head with a dinner pail. Thoroughly frightened he went to the office and resigned. Manager Fullerton discharged two of the men for participation in the assault, and stated his position with vigor in a letter to the union.11 The union officials demanded the reinstatement of the discharged men, and upon being refused called a strike at the mill.

The unfairness of the strike at Cripple Creek was felt keenly by the owners of the mines. There were no grievances to adjust,

10 During the period the Mine Owners' Association was made a formal organization, and elected its first set of officers. The Citizens Alliances of the district were also formed at this time, and began to exert their influence as allies of the Association. For a general history of these organizations see Chapter VI. 11 Special Report, Commissioner of Labor, p. 165:

"Mill and Smelter Men's Union No. 125, Colorado City."

"Gentlemen:-When our company informed you that it was not our intention to discriminate against union men, when hiring our force of workmen, we understood that your union was not to discriminate. One of our best men, Mr. Keene, has just resigned from our employment because of actual bodily violence, and because of threats on his life made by a mob of your union in our employment.

"Our company will not stand for any such system of dictation by any union, as to whom we may or may not keep in our employment, and we give you notice that Mr. Keene did not resign with our consent; that we are well satisfied with him in all respects, and that had he been willing to remain in our employment we should have stood back of him in all events; and that if any such system of dictation is again attempted by your union our company will discover which of our employes belong to your union, and will at once discharge every union man, for the sole reason that he is a union man, and that thereafter we will conduct our mill as a non-union mill.

"H. W. FULLERTON,

"General Manager."

nor any apparent method of settlement unless they were to join hands with the organization that had acted so arbitrarily against them, and eating humble pie, seek to force the Colorado City Mills to share it with them. They determined to exert their strength to the limit to break the strike, and to break it without compromise. On August 13th, they issued a statement which reviewed the satisfactory conditions at the time of the strike, and the unwillingness of the men to participate in it. The strike was characterized as most arbitrary and unjustifiable, and they announced their intention to open their mines and operate them in future in absolute independence of the Western Federation of Miners.12 It was decided to combine upon the opening of single mines, and the El Paso was chosen for the first. The shaft house was surrounded by a stockade, and a board fence ten feet high, and 17 armed guards placed upon the property. The mine was opened August 18th, with about 75 men.

A series of events on Sept. 1st, ended the period of good order and immediately precipitated a crisis. The Golden Cycle Mine was preparing to start up, following the El Paso, and was being surrounded by a board fence. When the carpenters came to work they were held up with a gun by a union picket, but were later allowed to pass. Ed Minster was arrested for the offence and lodged in jail. In the afternoon John T. Hawk

12 "A general strike has been called on the mines of the Cripple Creek district by the executive heads of the Western Federation of Miners. At the time this strike was called, and in fact ever since the settlement of the labor difficulties of 1894, the most entire harmony and good will has prevailed between the employers and employed in this district. Wages and hours of labor have been satisfactory and according to union standards, and genera! labor conditions have been all that could be wished.

"Notwithstanding all this, the heads of the Western Federation have seen fit to compel the cessation of all labor in the district, not because of any grievance of their own against the Cripple Creek operators, but for reasons entirely beyond our control. No more arbitrary and unjustifiable action mars the anna's of organized lagor, and we denounce it as an outrage against both the employers and employed.

"The fact that there are no grievances to adjust and no unsatisfactory condition to remedy leaves the operators but one alternative, and that alternative they propose to adopt fearlessly. As fast as new men can be secured, our mining operations will be resumed under former conditions, preference being given to former employees, and all men applying for work will be protected to the last degree."

ins, a justice of the peace, was assaulted upon the main street of Altman, knocked down and badly cut upon the head. He had discharged one of the El Paso deputies the day before on the charge of carrying concealed weapons, and fined another one $25.00 and costs. On the same night Thomas M. Stewart, an old man, who had gone to work as a carpenter upon the Golden Cycle, was taken from his home by five masked men, cruelly beaten, shot in the back, and left for dead. He managed to crawl to the electric road, and was taken to the Victor Hospital, where he finally recovered.13

These outrages stirred the district deeply, and the feeling was intensified the following day by the release of Minster. The district attorney had been delayed in filing the information against him. Undersheriff Gaughan,1 a federation member of the most extreme type, had been notified that the information was being prepared, but took advantage of the technicality to set Minster at liberty. The mine owners had already begun to demand troops on account of the assaults of the day before, and they were now able to back their demands with the declaration that the county authorities were not trying to give them protection.

THE MILITIA IN THE DISTRICT

Sheriff Robertson was asked to call for troops, but refused, saying he could and would control the situation.15 He agreed however to appoint deputies of the mine owners' choosing and did so in sufficient number to station from three to five men at every mine. Telegrams were sent by a number of the mine owners to the governor, and a lengthy message was sent by the mine owners in common, which declared a reign of terror to be imminent, and the sheriff's office unable to handle the situation,

13 On Sept. 2nd the Mine Owners Association offered a reward of $300 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person who had assaulted Justice Hawkins and $1,000 for those who had assaulted and shot Thomas M. Stewart. The Golden Cycle Mining Co. offered an additional reward of $500 for the arrest of Stewart's assailants.

14 Undersheriff Gaughan was a member of the legislature at the time El Paso County was divided. He was appointed assessor by the governor, but was defeated for nomination in the convention the following fall. He then opened a saloon, where he presided up to the time of his appointment as undersheriff. 15 Sheriff Robertson was a member of the Western Federation of Miners.

and demanded state protection. Mayor French of Victor also sent messages asking for troops."

16

Next day Governor Peabody appointed a commission composed of Brigadier General John Chase,17 Attorney General A. C. Miller, and Lieutenant T. E. McClelland,18 to investigate conditions. The commission left at once for the district. On the same evening the governor and General Bell held a conference with President Colburn and Treasurer Bainbridge of the Mine Owners' Association. As the result of the conference the governor agreed to call out the troops, but insisted that the mine owners should provide funds for the expenses of the campaign, accepting state certificates of indebtedness payable in four years.19 The commission arrived at Victor at about nine o'clock at night, and held a conference with Mayor French, and others. It then proceeded to Cripple Creek, where it met members of the Citizens Alliance and Mine Owners' Association, Sheriff Robertson, and Mayor Shockey. Mayor Shockey refused to sign a request for troops, and Sheriff Robertson insisted that he had the situation well in hand, and that there was no need for troops. The commission left on a special at four o'clock in the morning, having been in the district less than eight hours, and from Colorado Springs telegraphed their opinion of the urgency of the situation.20 The governor a few hours later issued an order calling out the troops.*

16 Mayor French was manager of the C. C. C. Sampler. 17 General Chase was later prominent in the friction between the military and civil authorities, and was an important factor in all the military activity.

18 Lieutenant, later Major, McClelland also became a prominent figure in the militia movements. He is the man who when accused of having violated the constitution replied, "To hell with the constitution! We aren't going by the constitution." He is now (1905) county attorney of Teller County.

19 Special Report, Commissioner of Labor, U. S. A., p. 175. 20 Peabody, State Capitol, Denver, Colo.

Have visited Cripple Creek and Victor, and after careful inquiry among representative citizens and property owners, including mayors of Cripple Creek and Victor, we are of the opinion that the lives of the citizens of the district are in imminent danger and property and personal rights are in jeopardy. Prompt action is imperatively demanded by the above people to protect the lives and property of the citizens. We find that a reign of terror exists in the district. We do not believe that the civil authorities are able to cope with the situation. (Signed by the three commissioners).

* EXECUTIVE ORDER. "Ordered: It having been made to appear to me by reputable citizens of the county, by the constituted civil officers and by the honorable commission