You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Sunday July 3, 1904
Cripple Creek Strike Zone, Colorado - W. F. of M. Leaders May Soon Face Arrest
Report received from Emma F. Langdon of Victor, Colorado:
INFORMATION FILED.
July 2.—Informations against forty-eight leaders and prominent members of the Western Federation of Miners were filed in the district court of Teller county, consequent upon the findings of the coroner's jury in the inquiry into the death of Roscoe McGee and John H. Davis who were killed in the Victor rioting on June 6. Sheriff Bell filed two direct informations in the district court charging murder, conspiracy to murder and assault to kill.
The second information was filed against the same parties and charged them with intent to kill one Fred Studavoss.
Mrs. Langdon further reports that those named in the informations are:
Charles H. Moyer, president Western Federation of Miners; William D. Haywood, secretary-treasurer Western Federation of Miners; John C. Williams, vice-president W. F. M.; J. T. Lewis, L. J. Simpkins, James P. Murphy, D. C. Copley, James Kirwan, James A. Baker, members Executive Board Western Federation of Miners; John M. O'Neill, editor Miners' Magazine; Michael O'Connell, Charles Kennison, Sherman Parker, W. F. Davis, L. R. Jenks and about forty others.
CORONER'S VERDICT.
An inquisition holden at Cripple Creek, Teller county, state of Colorado, on the 27th to the 30th days of June, 1904, before George Hall, coroner of this county, upon the bodies of Roscoe McGee and John Davis by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed, said jurors, upon their oath do say:
First—The jury finds that said Roscoe McGee came to his death in the city of Victor, in the county and state aforesaid, on the 6th day of June, 1904, by means of a gunshot wound inflicted, as the jury believes, by one Albert Bilat, fired by him, the said Albert Bilat, with felonious intent, he having been aided, abetted and encouraged in said crime by others as in this verdict hereinafter stated.
Second—We find that the said John Davis came to his death in the city of Victor on the 6th day of June, 1904, by means of a gunshot wound inflicted by one William Boyle, and fired by him, the said William Boyle, with felonious intent, he having been aided and abetted in said crime by others as this verdict hereinafter states.
Third—The jury further finds that upon the said day an armed body of men, about ninety, members of the Western Federation of Miners, assembled at Victor, in the said county, in the afternoon, pursuant to a prearranged plan, understanding the conspiracy, from different parts of said county, principally the city of Victor, the town of Goldfield, the town of Independence and the town of Anaconda.
That said body of men so assembled were appointed special policemen for the city of Victor by one Michael O'Connell, the then marshal of said city, and were by him and through his influence furnished with badges of office, firearms and ammunition.
That, while the act of deputizing said men gave them temporarily a color of office, the same was done and said body of men congregated and armed themselves for another and unlawful purpose, namely: to commit acts of violence, to override the law and to take human life; and that, in fact, the men so armed and deputized constituted an unlawful assembly or mob.
That before the death of said Roscoe McGee and John Davis and before the commission of any overt act by said mob the said O'Connell was removed from office by the mayor of said city, and said mob were by the sheriff of said county publicly ordered to disperse and go to their homes, notwithstanding which a portion thereof, armed as before stated, and being about fifty in number, secreted themselves in and upon a building in said city, and used and occupied for the Miners' Union hall. That certain other members of said mob stationed themselves at different points on the streets and other places in said city, including the store operated in the interests of said Western Federation of Miners.
That about 3 o'clock on said day a public meeting was in progress upon a vacant square in said city midway between Union hall and the said union store.
That a riot was started by a member of said mob, to-wit: one Alfred Miller, when he attempted to shoot and kill C. C. Hamlin and others who were engaging in said public meeting, that thereupon many shots were fired, principally by the members of said mob, both from the front windows and roof of said union hall and from the front part of said union store and different points on the street, and that certain of such shots took effect, as herein above stated, causing the death of said Roscoe McGee and John Davis.
That eight or ten other shots took effect in the bodies of as many citizens, grievously wounding them; in almost every instance said victims having been shot in the back. That the members of said mob who had gathered in and upon said union hall were under the immediate command of one Peter Calderwood, aided and assisted by P. J. Hall, G. M. Hooten, Mike Hannigan, William Johnson, W. E. Haskins, A. M. Weir, William Welsh, James Tedrow, J. R. Shoemaker, C. H. Say, Jack Cheby, Frank Chelan, D. T. Mitchell, Jerry O'Brien, Peter O'Neill, Tom Nolan, Lyman Nichols, Mark S. Nichols, P. J. Murphy, D. A. McCloud, Fred Minister, Thomas F. Lloyd, F. H. Greffer, John Brogan, Nick Voyle, William Voyle, Albert Bilat, D. A. Cameron, William Graham, J. I. Jenks, James Whalen. That during the progress of said riot the said Michael O'Connell, feloniously, wickedly and of his malice aforethought, fired upon and shot one J. J. Hosmer in the back with the intent then and there to take the life of the said Hosmer.
That it was the evident intention of the leaders and members of said mob, as shown by the testimony and their own declaration, to shoot down and take the lives of citizens, called by them the mine owners.
We further find from the evidence that the officials of said Western Federation of Miners are primarily responsible for the crimes committed as aforesaid.
That by incendiary, unlawful and seditious statements officially promulgated and published they have incited, encouraged and abetted acts of violence and crime on the part of their members and officials and are chargeable with the said unlawful and criminal assembly and the crimes resulting therefrom.
That among those who aided, abetted and incited the commission of said crimes are Charles H. Moyer, William D. Haywood, John C. Williams, J. T. Lewis, D. J. Simpkins, James P. Murphy, D. C. Copley, James Kirwan, James H. Baker and John M. O'Neill, and that each and every member of the said mob organized and armed by Michael O'Connell are jointly and severally guilty of the acts of violence committed in the said Victor, state of Colorado, on the 6th day of June, 1904.
In testimony whereof the said jurors have hereunto set their hands the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed)
H. P. REITON, Foreman.
F. A. PHIPPS, Clerk.
R. ARNOLD.
P. L. THORSEN.
G. C. BLAKEY.
D. BERNARD.
G. A. R. HALL, Coroner.
Deportations Continue
Mrs. Langdon reports:
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS APPLIED FOR.
June 28th.—In order to ascertain whether the men arrested were held as military or civil prisoners, Attorney Hangs, for the W. F. M., made application before Judge Seeds, of the district court, for a writ of habeas corpus, in behalf of L. R. Jenks, who had been secretly confined in the city jail for several days. At Victor the evening of June 28th, thirty-nine of the prisoners who had been confined in the bull pen were hurriedly placed on board a train and deported. This deportation caused much suffering to the relatives as the deportation was so hurriedly, so secretly carried out that they were not given an opportunity to say good-bye.
An attempt was made to land these men at Colorado Springs but upon the city officials objecting they were landed at Palmer Lake. Arrangements were made at that point to transport the men to Denver, where they arrived the following day. They were met at the depot by the officers of the Western Federation who had been notified of their coming, taken in charge and cared for.
Deportations continue unabated; many exiles are making their way to Denver. All are being provided for by the W. F. M. The ways and means committee of the Colorado Federation of Labor has provided a headquarters for the use of the exiles.
Mrs. Langdon further reports that on July 2, five more men were deported upon the orders of the military commission, making a total of one hundred and eighty-eight persons who have been deported by direct orders of the military commission.
At least five hundred others have left the Cripple Creek district, some of whom have been "warned to leave by members of the Citizens' Alliance and the hired thugs of the Mine Owners' Association; others left taking their families with them fearing they would be subjected to indignities at the hands of the would-be 'law and order' elements."
MILITARY INVADES HOME OF FARMER
Another troubling report from Mrs. Langdon shows that even farmers are not immune from the ravages of Military Despotism:
Mr. M. C. Parish, a retired farmer, related an experience he had with the militia, as follows:
I can't say anything as to the merits of either side in Cripple Creek, for I don't know, but I do know of a few outrages the militia has perpetrated. The other day they came over to Mount Pisgah, where my wife and I had gone to visit our son. They said they were searching for guns and men. I don't know who any of the soldiers were, but the man in charge was called captain. The school teacher had closed her season's work and was en route to the railroad to take a train for home, but had stopped over night at the ranch house I speak of. The soldiers entered her room, looked under the bed, searched everywhere and commanded her to open her trunk.
She insisted that it contained nothing but her personal effects, and asked the men to desist from going through a lady's wardrobe under the pretext of looking for guns. This was in Park county, too, mind you.
Without further parley the order was given, a soldier took an ax and chopped off the lock of the trunk, and when it was opened it was turned bottom side up, the contents dumped on the floor and scattered.
She begged them not to molest her letters, and they paid no attention. The captain read the letters and put some of them in his pocket.
When they got through one of the soldiers told her she could pick up her belongings when she chose, and they left for Teller county.
The same party held up my seventeen-year-old son, searched his room and took with them his target rifle and some cartridges he had brought out from Iowa.
Military rule may be all right—I am not prepared to say; but this sort of thing is wrong in any land.
REPORT FROM THE TELLURIDE STRIKE ZONE
-by Guy E. Miller
Guy E. Miller
Union men and union sympathizers continue to be deported from the Telluride Strike Zone, usually upon the orders of Captain Wells. Guy Miller reports the following as a typical examples:
Tony Ralla, a property holder, who formerly owned the Senate saloon in this city, was today notified by a deputy sheriff that it would be best for him to leave the county. When he attempted to argue the matter with the officer, he was referred to Captain Wells. He had an interview with Captain Wells later, but it ended without any definite understanding whether or not Ralla would be compelled to leave the county. But for the delicate condition of his wife the man would have been deported with others a month or so ago. Ralla states that he will not go unless positively compelled to do so by the authorities.
The latter part of June Harry Floaten was compelled to leave town for the second time. In the absence of his brother he was manager of the People's Supply Company, carrying a stock of $25,000. The only accusation was one by Captain Wells, stating that he received funds of the Miners' Union on deposit. His statement covers many instances:
Having been compelled to leave my home and business in Telluride I will give the public a statement of facts in my case. I am secretary of the People's Supply Company, doing a general merchandise business in the city of Telluride. On June 3, I was notified by Captain Bulkely Wells that I must leave on June 7. Several of my friends went to Mr. Wells and protested. I had a talk with him also and told him I was going to Denver on the 15th, but intended to return by July 1. He said that would be all right. On the 15th martial law was declared off in San Miguel County. When I had transacted my business in Denver I made up my mind to return home, as I thought civil rights would be respected once more. Before I left I called upon Acting Governor Haggott and stated my case. He assured me that I could go home and there would be no interference. I arrived in Telluride on the night of the 23rd, and, in stepping off the train, was told by the night marshal that I was under arrest. I asked what the charge was. He said: You will find out." I was taken to the sheriff's office and told to remain there. After a while I requested the sheriff to show cause for my detention. He told me to wait a few minutes, and when the minutes were up told me I could go. At my home in the evening later I was waited on by a committee of five. They stated that but for their interference a mob would have had me before this time, and advised me not to stay, but if I would leave on the morning train I could stay over night. I took their advice.
What are things coming to in this state? I have lived in Telluride over thirteen years, and there isn't a person that can point out that I ever disobeyed any law. All I have on this earth is there—my home, my wife, child and business. They say I have been doing business with the union. It is true, but is that a crime?
The Citizens' Alliance has boycotted our store, and now they ask that we discontinue to sell to people that will patronize us. As for the miners' union, let me say that that body of men has shown the most exemplary conduct during the strike. Goaded to desperation through tyrannical oppression, they have not resisted and have never interfered with non-union men. The lessons the union has received from this strike must be demoralizing to them. It shows that when they are using force in a strike they win. When they are law-abiding and the other side is using force, they get the worst of it. But the only solution of it is peaceable means. Workers, do your duty next election.
(Signed)
HARRY A. FLOATEN.
Ouray, Colorado.
Marshal Geyer escorted Grover Skelton, a 19-year-old lad out of town and told him to go on; instead he returned to his mother's home in Pandora. Geyer learned of his return and went to his home after him. Grover was at supper. Mrs. Skelton stood in the doorway as Geyer came up and when he went to enter she put up her hand to keep him out or ward off his blows. Geyer struck her over the head with his revolver, knocking her down. From his advent on the premises he had been using the vilest and most abusive language. A sister of Skelton's, Mrs. Bacheller, heard the disturbance and abuse of her mother. She came—a cripple —Geyer knocked her down on the porch, then kicked her off. Young Skelton was then handcuffed to Dan McMillan and taken back to the edge of town. Geyer was one of the bulwarks of the Alliance from the inception of the strike.
The Alliance hounded Cory, whom the people elected marshal and who refused to do their dirty work, until he resigned his place. Geyer took it and has worked in perfect accord with his masters.
[emphasis added]
SOURCE
The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma F Langdon
CO, 1905
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
IMAGES
1). WFM Button
http://www.nps.gov/...
2). Victor, Colorado
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
3). Emma Florence Langdon
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
4). Guy E Miller
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
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Fading American - DreamStreet Dogs
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