USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume I > Part 95
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
CHAPTER XLI
LABOR WARS OF HALF A CENTURY
FIRST ORGANIZATION OF METALLIFEROUS MINERS IN COLORADO-THE LEADVILLE STRIKES OF 1880 AND 1896-REDUCTION MILL EMPLOYES' STRIKE-SYMPA- THETIC STRIKE AT CRIPPLE CREEK-THE "EIGHT-HOUR" STRIKE OF 1903-THE TROUBLE IN IDAHO SPRINGS-TROUBLE AT TELLURIDE-STRIKES AT CRIPPLE CREEK, 1903-4-THE STRIKES IN THE COAL SECTIONS OF COLORADO.
(Compiled direct from official reports of the U. S. Department of Labor.)
A history of the labor wars of Colorado is a difficult task in view of the conflicting statements from the two sides of the controversy. It is the purpose of this narrative, however, to allow no bias of any kind to creep into its pages, and the following record follows in its details the official reports made to the Government at Washington.
Some form of organization among the metalliferous miners in Colorado, has been in existence since 1879. The first union composed of hard-rock miners in this state of which there is any record was organized at Leadville. It was publicly known as the Miners' Co-operative Union, but in reality it was a Knights of Labor assembly, working in secret. It was chartered in January, 1879, as is shown by the records of the general office of the Knights of Labor. It was the second Knights of Labor assembly organized in Colorado. The first one was composed of coal miners at Erie, and its charter was issued in August, 1878. The Co-operative Miners' Union, as it was called was involved in the strike at Leadville in 1880. The membership of this union largely increased during the progress of the strike, and at its close included nearly all the miners in that camp.
A miners' union, with 85 chartered members, was organized at Leadville in May, 1885. Within two years it reached a membership of about 600, and in 1889 it was chartered as an assembly of the Knights of Labor. From 1885 to 1890 several miners' unions were organized in the different mining camps in Colorado. They were entirely local. There was no affiliation between them, not even any arrangement for the exchange of working cards. Some of them became assemblies of the Knights of Labor, some went out of existence, while about four maintained a more or less active organization. In the spring of 1893, with the exception of the few local unions referred to, having a very small membership, the only organizations of miners in Colorado were Knights of Labor assemblies that were composed exclusively of miners, of which assem- blies there were several. There were, however, other metalliferous miners who
837
838
HISTORY OF COLORADO
belonged to Knights of Labor assemblies that were composed of workingmen of various trades.
The Western Federation of Miners was organized at a convention held May 15, 1893, at Butte, Montana.
The delegates represented 15 unions of miners, as follows: Aspen, Creede, Ouray, and Rico, Colorado; Butte, Bannock, Barker, Belt Mountain, and Gran- ite, Montana; Burke, Gem, and Mullan, Idaho; Central City and Lead City, South Dakota; Eureka, Utah.
A sketch of the organization in the report of the bureau of labor statistics of the State of Colorado for 1902 says that the federation had grown "from the small beginning of 14 unions, which took out charters when the organization was formed in 1893, to 165 unions, and the membership had increased from something like 2,000, to 2,500 at most, to about 48,000 in good standing."
In 1902, Charles H. Moyer was elected president; in the previous year Wm. D. Haywood had been chosen secretary. Both held these positions at the time of the strike of 1903.
Until 1901 the headquarters of the Federation were at Butte, Montana. In that year they were moved to Denver.
The following-named local unions were in existence in the Cripple Creck district when the strike began, August 10, 1903:
Free Coinage Miners' Union, No. 19, Altman, Colorado; Anaconda Miners' Union, No. 21, Anaconda, Colorado; Victor Miners, Union, No. 32, Victor, Colorado; Cripple Creek Miners' Union, No. 40, Cripple Creek, Colorado; Inde- pendence Engineers' Union, No. 75, Independence, Colorado; Excelsior Engi- neers' Union, No. 80, Victor, Colorado; Cripple Creek Engineers' Union, No. 82, Cripple Creek, Colorado; Banner Mill and Smeltermen's Union, No. 106, Victor, Colorado. There was also a District Union, No. I, composed of 13 members, representing these 8 unions.
The statement that the strikes at Cripple Creek in 1903 were called by the executive board of the Federation, with headquarters at Denver, has been widely published, but it is a mistake. The strike of March 17, 1903, was called by District Union No. I, after the eight local unions in the district had delegated to it such power. However, the strike order was signed by two general officers of the Federation, as well as two of the district officials, one of the general officers being President Charles H. Moyer.
The second strike in 1903 in the Cripple Creek district was called by Dis- trict Union No. I on August 8, to take effect August 10, the power to call a strike having been given to the district union by a vote of the eight local unions.
THE LEADVILLE STRIKE OF 1880
A strike for higher wages and fewer working hours took place in 1880 at Leadville, Lake County, Colorado. At that time the railroad was not completed to Leadville. Trains were running only as far as Buena Vista, about 40 miles distant. The prevailing rate of wages for miners was $3 per day though a few who worked in wet mines and men engaged in timbering received $3.50 per day. There was no regularity as to hours of labor, the men in some mines working eight hours, while those in others worked ten. The miners
839
HISTORY OF COLORADO
demanded an increase of wages of $1 per day, and that the hours of labor should be eight per day for men working above as well as for those working below the surface. These demands the mine owners refused.
The strike was declared by the Miners' Co-operative Union, which was really a local assembly of the Knights of Labor. Michael Mooney was presi- dent of the union and the principal leader of the strikers.
Dissatisfaction had existed for several months previous to May 26, 1880, and when the strike began in the Chrysolite mine, of which W. S. Keyes was the manager. The men at this mine worked only eight hours, but they struck for an increase of wages, and also because they objected to an order by the manager which prohibited smoking and unnecessary talking during working hours.
When the day-shift men went to work at the Chrysolite at 7 a. m. on May 26 they were informed by the night-shift men, numbering 300, that the long- expected strike was inaugurated. The two shifts united and compelled the carpenters to quit work. Then they marched to the Little Chief mine, and were about to send a committee below to induce the miners to co-operate with them. At the mouth of the shaft they were met by George Daley, manager of the mine. Michael Mooney informed him that the union demanded that he should increase the wages of his men from $3 to $4 per day, also that he should discharge his shift boss and that the men should have the privilege of choosing their own shift boss. A parley ensued which resulted in Manager Daley calling the men up from below and closing the mine. He also closed several other mines which were in his charge. Other mines were shut down by their managers, while the strikers compelled the men in some mines to quit work. By noon Leadville's splendid industry was' paralyzed. The only exceptions were the El Paso and the Olive Branch mines, which had paid $4 per day for some time as a precautionary measure.
The number of men who quit or were thrown out of work was about 3,000.
Several fruitless efforts at arbitration were made. On June 10 the strikers offered to compromise on the basis of $3.50 per day with eight-hour shifts, but the managers rejected the proposition.
A semi-military organization of citizens was formed to preserve order, over 2,000 being enrolled.
On June 12, six hundred or more men, many of them armed, formed an imposing semi-military procession, marching through the streets of Leadville. They did not come in conflict with the strikers, but the latter, instead of being overawed, were greatly irritated by what they considered an attempt to force them to accept the managers' terms.
Sheriff Tucker and several prominent citizens of Leadville sent telegrams to Governor Pitkin, representing the condition of affairs as alarming, declaring there was danger of bloodshed and of destruction of property, and calling upon him to declare martial law. The governor received these messages about I o'clock on the morning of June 13, 1880.
Maj. Gen. David J. Cook of the State Militia, arrived at Leadville on June 14, and enrolled sixteen companies of volunteer soldiers on that day. Several of the strikers and their sympathizers received orders from the citizens'
840
HISTORY OF COLORADO
committee to quit the county, and they left on the afternoon of June 14. In this number were both the editor and the publisher of the Crisis, the local organ of the miners, and also a deputy assessor and three members of the typographical union.
A representative of the miners' union asked permission of the military officers to hold another meeting of the union, with a view to effecting a settle- ment of the strike. General Cook granted this permission and on June 17 a meeting was held which was attended by the strikers, military officers, mine managers, and other citizens. The resolutions, in which the miners' union pro- posed to resume work upon the terms on which they had been employed before the strike began, were adopted. However, Manager Keyes, of the Chrysolite mine, and Manager Daley, of the Little Chief and other mines, assured the miners that they would recognize the eight-hour system in the future, as they had in the past, and pledged themselves that they would use their personal influence to have the system adopted generally throughout the camp. It was distinctly understood that the miners were to return to work at the former wages wherever they could get employment, and that no strike would be ordered or permitted against the managers who insisted upon ten-hour shifts. Further, it was agreed that the leaders of the strike should be granted exemption from punishment, and permission to work if they could obtain it, but those who were known to have counseled or resorted to violence or intimidation would not be re-employed. It was not required that the union should disband, but the miners were made to promise that the union would make no public demonstra- tion of a threatening character. On this basis of settlement the strike was declared off on June 17, and the strikers resumed work the next day.
THE CRIPPLE CREEK STRIKE OF 1894
The Western Federation of Miners, organized in 1893, had a large number of members in the Cripple Creek district when the strike of 1894 began. In January, 1894, 40 mines and prospects were working under the eight-hour schedule and 9 under the nine-hour system. The union scale called for a mini- mum wage of $3 per day of eight hours' work, although many union men, under contract or other conditions, were permitted to work nine hours per day. All of the mines of larger production were paying $3 per eight hours' work, excepting the Independence, which was working nine-hour shifts at $3.25.
On January 17, 1894, a notice was posted at the Pharmacist mine to the effect that all miners who desired to continue working on that property would be required to work ten hours a day and lunch on their own time, or work eight hours for $2.50 per day. A few days later similar notices were posted at the mines of the Isabella property, owned by J. J. Hagerman, and at the Victor and Anaconda mines, owned chiefly by D. H. Moffat and Eben Smith. These mines were the largest producers, employing nearly one-third of all the miners at work in the district for wages. No reason for the reduction was assigned other than that the production of the properties did not warrant the wages then paid. The miners, referring to the fact that the latest quarterly state- ments of the respective properties showed that large dividends had been paid, took the position that there was no cause for a reduction of wages. The mine
841
HISTORY OF COLORADO
owners held that the mines, having but a slight development, were not steadily producing a large profit and that they were worked at great expense for trans- portation of supplies and for hauling ores over the mountain roads to the railway terminals.
On February 2 a mass meeting of miners was held at Anaconda, at which John Calderwood, a prominent union miner, advocated that all mine managers working their men nine hours be given notice to comply with the rules of the union that eight hours should constitute a day's work at a minimum of $3 a day, and that if they failed to comply with this rule within ten days the union should call out all men working nine hours. This measure was adopted and put into execution. Among the principal mines which continued at $3 for eight hours were the Pike's Peak, Garfield, Grouse, and C. O. D. By special arrange- ment with the union the Independence and Portland mines continued operations, paying $3.25 for nine hours a day and $3 for the night shift of eight hours, and this agreement continued in force for two years thereafter.
The mines against which the strike was directed were picketed by members of the miners' union, but during the latter half of February and the first half of March some of the mine managers secured enough nonunion miners to operate their properties. Some of the mivers who were working contrary to union rules were maltreated and severely dealt with by union miners.
On the evening of March 16 six deputy sheriffs, while on their way to the Victor mine to protect that property from threatened injury, were surrounded near Altman by a force of miners and arrested. One of the deputies was wounded by a pistol shot; another was struck on the back with a club. The deputies were disarmed, taken to Altman, and arraigned before the police magistrate, who was a union miner, on the charge of carrying concealed weapons, but, being released, returned to Cripple Creek. The rioting miners visited various mines and drove away the men who were objectionable to them.
On the same night the sheriff of El Paso County, M. F. Bowers, appealed to Governor Davis H. Waite for troops to preserve order. The governor responded by dispatching three companies, the signal corps and a battery of artillery from Denver and a company from Colorado Springs. A force of fifty deputy sheriffs was sworn in at Colorado Springs to serve in the Cripple Creek district. The troops, under command of Brig. Gen. E. J. Brooks, arrived at Cripple Creek on the morning of March 18.
On the evening of March 18 prominent union men from Altman met General Brooks and General Tarsney, by invitation, in Cripple Creek, to discuss the situation. These union officials affirmed, to quote from General Tarsney's report, "that no resistance to constituted authority had been offered by anyone in the mining districts, and that no disturbance of any kind had occurred beyond the ordinary small offenses that are constantly occurring in mining camps." These facts being telephoned to the governor he ordered the withdrawal of the troops on March 20.
About May 10 a committee of seven miners met, by invitation, a like number of mine owners in conference at Colorado Springs. In an endeavor to adjust their differences the mine owners submitted an ultimatum of $2.75 for eight hours' work. The miners unanimously rejected this proposition. The mine owners determined to put a force of men of their own selection into the mines.
842
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Sheriff Bowers enlisted a force of several hundred special deputies to protect the men who were willing to go to work in the mines which had been closed. The union miners apprehended that this large force of deputies was intended to drive them from the county. They also knew that the sheriff held a large number of warrants for their arrest on charges of lawless conduct. These circumstances aroused them to defiance. Anticipating an attack from the deputies the strikers armed themselves, established headquarters, and intrenched themselves on Bull Hill and enforced military discipline. Men who sought work or who were suspected of disloyalty to the union were ordered out of the camp and in some cases severely beaten.
One hundred deputies, under command of Capt. J. C. Veatch, left Denver on May 24 for Cripple Creek, and were joined at Colorado Springs by about 50 more, arriving near Victor on the following morning. The number of deputies under command of Sheriff Bowers then numbered about 1,200.
The miners marched down Bull Hill in force to meet the deputies and took position near the mines on Battle Mountain, just above Victor. They attacked and captured the Strong mine, where non-union men were working. This mine had been guarded by a squad of deputies. These were captured and their arms and ammunition confiscated. Not content with this bloodless victory, some of the hotheads among the strikers injured their cause by wanton destruction of the shaft house and machinery of the Strong mine by an explosion of giant powder. The superintendent, Sam McDonald, the foreman, and the engineer were caught below the wreck and imprisoned in the mine for thirty-six hours.
. The deputies, realizing that an assault upon Bull Hill would be fatal to many of them, withdrew down the line of the Florence and Cripple Creek Railway to Wilber station, where they encamped for the night. On the morning of May 25 a force of 300 strikers started out to attack the camp of the deputies. Fifty men sent in advance unexpectedly ran close upon the outposts of the deputies. Both sides opened fire. Harman Crawley, the leader of the strikers, was killed, two men were wounded, and six taken prisoners. Frank Robideau, one of the deputies, was killed. The captured strikers were taken to jail at Colorado Springs. The three men who had been imprisoned by the explosion of the Strong mine were liberated, taken to camp of the strikers on Bull Hill, and held as hostages for the six prisoners taken by the deputies. Later an exchange of prisoners was made.
. On May 26 Governor Waite issued a proclamation, in which he called upon the strikers to lay down their arms, to cease resistance to the law, and to desist from assembling in unlawful bodies. He also declared that the assembly of a great number of deputy sheriffs, many of them recruited from other counties, was illegal, and he demanded that they immediately disperse.
Governor Waite left Denver by special train on the night of May 27. The next morning he appeared on Bull Hill, where he met the strikers and assured them that they should not be ill-used by the deputies. On the afternoon of May 28 he held a conference with the strikers at Altman, the result of which was that they appointed him their sole arbitrator, with power, if possible, to settle all the differences between them and mine owners.
At Colorado Springs on June 2 Governor Waite met J. J. Hagerman, one of the largest mine operators, to consider upon what terms existing differences
843
HISTORY OF COLORADO
might be settled, so as to avert a conflict at arms. The governor and Mr. Hager- man agreed upon terms, but, other parties interfering, no settlement was then effected.
At this time bands of armed men were assembling in many mining camps in the state and preparing to march to aid the strikers at Cripple Creek. At Rico, in the southwestern part of the state, one hundred men, fully armed, under the leadership of Capt. William Simpson, had seized a train on the Rio Grande Southern and had proceeded as far as Montrose, over one hundred miles, when a telegram from the governor reached them, commanding them to return to their homes and advising them that efforts to effect a settlement would be continued.
Another arbitration conference was arranged and was held in Denver June 4. The mine owners were represented by J. J. Hagerman and D. H. Moffat, the governor appearing as sole arbitrator for the strikers, E. T. Jeffery and J. F. Vaile as neutral parties, and Eben Smith and J. B. Grant as witnesses. The governor and Messrs. Hagerman and Moffat agreed upon the following terms of settlement :
For the purpose of settling the serious differences between employers and employes in Cripple Creek mining district, El Paso County, Colorado, it is agreed by and between Governor Davis H. Waite, appointed by and representing the Free Coinage Miners' Union, No. 19, W. F. M. A., its members and other miners of said district, on the one part, and J. J. Hagerman and D. H. Moffat, for them- selves as mine owners, and employers of mining labor in said district, on the other part, as follows:
I. That eight hours' actual work shall constitute "a day," divided as follows : Four hours' work, then twenty minutes for lunch, then four hours' work, for which said eight hours of labor there shall be paid three ($3) dollars.
2. In the employment of men there shall be no discrimination against union men or against nonunion men.
3. The undersigned, J. J. Hagerman and David H. Moffat, earnestly urge upon other mine owners and employers of mining labor in said Cripple Creek mining district to accede to and act upon the foregoing agreement.
On the same day the people of Cripple Creek, rejoicing in the belief that the agreement made in Denver meant permanent peace in the camp, decorated the city and paraded the streets with bands. The strikers were mollified and relaxed their vigilance. For the first time in many days they came into town and freely mingled with the people. But there was a sudden change when it was learned that the army of deputies, 1,200 strong, under Sheriff Bowers, had advanced from Divide and were on a forced march to Bull Hill. Being informed of this movement, Governor Waite, on the evening of the same day, June 4, ordered the entire National Guard to the scene of disturbance.
June 6, the deputies, led by Sheriff Bowers, came within range of Bull Hill, and exchanged shots with the pickets of the striking miners. Sheriff Bowers received orders from Governor Waite to observe a truce until the troops should arrive. The force of deputies went into camp at Grassy. On June 7, there were several skirmishes incident to the reconnoissances of the pickets on both sides. Owing to heavy rains and washouts the militia did not arrive until the
844
HISTORY OF COLORADO
afternoon of June 7. The militia, commanded by Brig. Gen. E. J. Brooks, took position between the opposing forces.
On the morning of June 8 the entire force of deputies left their camp in three columns, moving toward the miners' camp on Bull Hill. General Brooks and his staff pursued the deputies, overtaking a column led by Sheriff Bowers, from whom he demanded to know the meaning of this movement. The sheriff pleaded that he had no control over the men. The other columns were inter- cepted and informed that the National Guard would open fire upon them if they did not return. The deputies heeded the warning, turned about face, and marched back to their camp in Beaver Park.
The adjutant general, on receipt of a telegram from the governor authorizing him to receive the surrender of the strikers, gave the order to Brigadier General Brooks, who put the militia in motion. Without opposition the militia entered the camp of the strikers, where the strikers peaceably surrendered.
On the following day, June 9, the deputies, to the number of 1,100, broke camp at Beaver Park, marched to Cripple Creek, and made a demonstra- tion through the principal streets, still maintaining a threatening attitude. They made numerous arrests of citizens and indulged in outrageous acts toward other citizens, many of whom, for no offense at all, were clubbed and kicked, dragged from the sidewalks, and forced to march between the lines of deputies. Toward evening the deputies took up the line of march, with the intention, as stated by them, of going into camp at the Independence mine.
At the instance of Adjutant General Tarsney, a conference of military officers and prominent mine owners was held at Altman on June 10. At this conference a settlement was agreed to, providing for the immediate withdrawal of the deputies from the Cripple Creek district. The next day the deputies moved to Colorado Springs, the county seat, where they were paid and discharged. Under the terms of the agreement portions of the National Guard were sta- tioned at different places in the district for thirty days, the remainder having been relieved from duty. Peace was established in the district, all of the prop- erties were restored to the control of their respective owners, and the mines resumed operations at wages and hours in accordance with the agreement signed by Governor Waite and Messrs. Hagerman and Moffat on June 4. The agree- ment provided that ordinary miners should be paid $3 for eight hours' work, and these wages and hours continued to be observed in the district until recent years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.