You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
Saturday August 15, 1903
Cripple Creek, Colorado - Statement of the Mine Owners' Association
This public statement was issued yesterday by the Mine Owners' Association:
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 the employed in this district. Wages and hours of labor have been satisfactory and according to union standards, and general 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 reasons entirely beyond our control. A no more arbitrary and unjustifiable action mars the annals of organized labor, and we denounce it as an outrage against both the employers and the employed.
The fact that there are no grievances to adjust and no unsatisfactory conditions to remedy, leave the mine operators but one alternative, and that alternative they propose to adopt fearlessly. As fast as 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.
In this effort to restore the happy conditions which have existed so long, we ask and confidently count on the co-operation and support of all our former employees, who do not approve the methods adopted, as well as of the business men of the district who are equal sufferers with us.
In the resumption of operation, preference will be given to former employees, as before stated, and those desiring to resume their old positions are requested to furnish their names to their respective mines at an early date.
We believe the mine owners could have better spent their powers of persuasion on Charles MacNeil to settle this conflict, rather than on attempting to induce good union men to scab on their brothers.
Yesterday the Victor Daily Record became the official newspaper of the Western Federation of Miners in this district. Official news of the strike will be printed daily over the signature of the executive committee of W.F. of M. District Union 1.
SOURCE
The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma F Langdon
(Part I, 1st pub 1904)
NY, 1969
Friday August 15, 1913
Seeberville, Michigan - Deputies and Waddell Gunthugs Kill Two at Boarding House
Two men were gun down yesterday in a small hamlet just south of Calumet when deputies and Waddell gunthugs opened fire on a boarding house. Inside the house were men, women and children. Several other men were seriously injured and a baby was burned on the face by gunpowder.
The trouble started when two strikers took a well worn shortcut across mine property. This had long been their route home, and little did they think it would be cause for arrest, much less a murderous barrage of bullets upon their home.
The dead are Steve Putrich and Alois Tijan. A funeral will be held tomorrow and 5000 are expected to attend. Joseph Cannon will address the mourners.
SOURCES
Big Annie of Calumet
-by Jerry Stanley
NY, 1996
Rebels on the Range
-by Arthur W Thurner
MI, 1984
Hellraisers Journal on vacation!
Hellraisers will appear in abbreviated form until Sept 2nd for a vacation of sorts. A total vacation is not possible since the capitalist never took any time off in their suppression of the U.S.labor movement.
Solidarity,
JayRaye