You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Friday September 4, 1903
Cripple Creek District, Colorado - Governor's Commission Investigates Need for Troops.
The general impression of the Western Federation of Miners and their supporters is that the Mine Owners are bringing strong pressure to bear on Governor Peabody to send troops into the Cripple Creek District. Therefore, there was no surprise when the governor's investigating commission arrived yesterday, other than to note the time of the arrival: 9:30 p.m. The commission, consisting of Attorney General N. C. Miller, Brigadier General John C. Chase, and Lieutenant T. E. McClelland, were ushered off the Short Line and through a back ally to the rear entrance of the Bank of Victor.
At this fortress of the wealthy, they met with Mayor French and a handful of upstanding citizens, no miners among them. They visited another prominent citizen, Mr. Franklin, in his home for about a half hour before leaving for Cripple Creek. After a long meeting with Sheriff Robertson and the Mine Owners, they returned once more to Victor.
The governor's commission was in the strike zone for about eight hours total. They met with no miners, nor any representative of the Western Federation of Miners. They returned to Denver early this morning, and will likely meet with the Governor Peabody today to make their recommendation regarding the need to send state troops into the Cripple Creek Strike Zone.
SOURCE
The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma F Langdon
(Part I, 1st pub 1904)
NY, 1969
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Thursday September 4, 1913
Lansing, Michigan - Moyer and Darrow meet with Governor Ferris.
Clarence Darrow
Charles Moyer and Clarence Darrow met with Governor Ferris yesterday to discuss the situation in Michigan's Copper Country. As President of the Western Federation of Miners, Moyer stated that a settlement could be reached without recognition of the W.F. of M. but insisted that the union would continue to fight for the right of the copper miners to organize and choose men from within their ranks to represent them in negotiations. Governor Ferris was skeptical and said:
If [the mine managers] mean what they say, they will never accept such a proposition. When James MacNaughton says that he will let grass grow in the streets before he will ever treat with the Western Federation of Miners or its representatives, I believe what he says.
Darrow suggested that perhaps MacNaughton would confer with the Governor, and the Governor agreed to try. When the Governor was given affidavits regarding the Waddell men who have been serving as deputies, he made it clear to Moyer and Darrow that he had advised Sheriff Cruz of the residency requirement for deputies.
Moyer told Governor Ferris that 16,000 copper miners are now on strike and that most of them are members of the Western Federation of Miners.
SOURCE
Rebels on the Range
-by Arthur W Thurner
MI, 1984
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Wednesday September 4, 2013
From Labor Notes: "Longshore Union Quits the AFL-CIO"
In a surprise move, the 40,000-member International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced its disaffiliation from the AFL-CIO yesterday. The news comes just a week before the federation is set to hold its national convention in Los Angeles, the nation’s biggest port and an ILWU stronghold.
Read full aricle here:
http://www.labornotes.org/...
This is a thoughtfull article by Mark Brenner on a complicated and difficult problem within the labor movement. We ignore problems within our movement at our own peril, or we rush to judgement without thoughtful consideration of both sides of the issue. Here's hoping we can have a civil discussion/debate on this latest conflict within our movement.
The letter announcing disaffiliation from the ILWU to Brother Trumka:
http://www.scribd.com/...
In an effort to present both sides of the issue, I searched the AFL-CIO website for a response, but could not find one. It seems that, for some reason, Mr. Trumka is remaining silent on the disaffiliation of the ILWU.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
http://www.ilwu.org/
AFL-CIO
http://www.aflcio.org/
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There Is Power In [One Big] Union
There is power, there is power,
In a band of working folks
When we stand hand in hand.
That's a power, that's a power
That must rule in every land,
One Industrial Union Grand!