You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Monday December 14, 1903
From The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette: Labor News from Colorado and Wyoming
U. S. Senator T. M. Patterson
Democrat of Colorado
FIGHT IS BITTER
Both Sides Are Primed for Bitter Contest in Colorado.
Denver, Col. Dec. 12-The executive board of the Western Federation of Miners, now in session here, has authorized a denial of a published report to the effect that the strikes in the Cripple Creek and Telluride districts will be called off. Secretary Haywood says that the principal reason for the prolonged meeting of the executive board is to provide for the better conduct of the strikes in this state. A letter was sent to-day to all labor organizations, throughout the country thanking them for their support of the federation in realizing the attempts of the mine owners to destroy the miners' organizations.
Speaking of the resolution introduced by Senator Patterson in the United States Senate, Mr. Haywood said:
"We desire to see a committee come out here and investigate conditions. Our books will be open to them and we will assist such a committee as much as lies in our power in looking into conditions."
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CITIZENS OF CRIPPLE CREEK REPUDIATE PATTERSON.
CRIPPLE CREEK, Col., Dec. 12-At a joint meeting of the executive board of the Cripple Creek Citizens' alliance and the Cripple Creek chamber of commerce to-day the following telegram was adopted and immediately transmitted to Washington:
"CRIPPLE CREEK. Dec. 12, 1903.
"President of the Senate, Washington:
"The good people of Teller County, Colorado, and the whole state, characterize the resolution of Senator T. M. Patterson, offered yesterday, as false and grossly misrepresenting the acts and motives of Governor Peabody and the law-abiding citizens of this state and county.
"(Signed.)
"THE CRIPPLE CREEK CITIZENS' ALLIANCE,
"I. F. Parsons, Secretary.
"THE CRIPPLE CREEK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
"I. C. Moore, President."
Resolutions were adopted condemning the action of Senator Patterson in introducing resolutions in the United States Senate concerning the labor conditions in Teller county.
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MOTHER JONES TO GO TO WYOMING.
DIAMONDVILLE, Wyo., Dec. 12-"Mother" Jones has sent word that she will be in Wyoming soon to organize the twenty-one unorganized coal camps in this state. Superintendent Sueddon, of the Diamondville Coal and Coke company, says the mine operators are prepared for her arrival and if she attempts or interfere in any way with the miners or influence them to quit she will promptly be jailed. The operators declare that the miners have expressed themselves satisfied with their condition since the 10 per cent increase in wages granted them.
Apparently, according to this newspaper, a report from a Wyoming mine operator is all that is necessary for its readers to understand the situation in the coalfields of Wyoming. Note that no mine worker nor any elected official in the state Wyoming were interviewed for the article. As to Mother Jones, she has proven many times over that she does not fear the threats of any mine operator, neither in Wyoming, Colorado, West Virginia, nor anywhere that her duty to her boys may call her.
SOURCE
The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette
(Fort Wayne, Indiana)
-of Dec 13, 1903
Photo: Senator Thomas M Patterson
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
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Sunday December 14, 1913
From The Lincoln Star: "Labor Organizations Increase Membership 300,000 in One Year"
Chicago, Dec. 12-A summary of the subordinate organizations of the American Federation of Labor made public here tonight shows that the labor unions of the country have increased their membership 300,000 within the last year. The reports are complete to December 1 and estimated after that date.
The total membership is 2,054,326. During the year there were 969 strikes in which 294,236 persons participated. Of this number 186,644 were paid benefits. The strikes won were 544; lost, 65; compromised, 89; still pending 261. Receipts from all quarters aggregated $244,292; expenditures, $258,702.
SOURCE
The Lincoln Star
(Lincoln, Nebraska)
-of Dec 14, 1913
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Saturday December 14, 2013
More on the Patterson Resolution:
In the United States Senate, on December 11, 1903, Senator T. Patterson, of Colorado, introduced a preamble and resolution. The resolution was as follows:
Resolved, That the Judiciary Committee be and hereby is directed to make investigation of all matters connected with existing labor strikes in the State of Colorado, and as to the manner in which the same have been conducted, and as to the conduct of the governor of the State in the use of the military in said State as to whether or not there is at present a republican form of government in said State, and in the several counties thereof, and what, if any, legislation may be proper and necessary to maintain in said State a republican form of government. To this end the said committee may appoint a subcommittee to visit Colorado for the taking of testimony, with such powers as to command the attendance of witnesses and the employment of clerks and stenographers as shall by the Senate be conferred.
[emphasis added]
SOURCE
A Report on Labor Disturbances in the State of Colorado from 1880 to 1904, Inclusive
United States. Bureau of Labor, Carroll Davidson Wright
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1905
(page 189 of 352-refers to scroll bar at bottom of page)
http://books.google.com/...
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My Country 'Tis of Thee— Washington National Cathedral Choir
Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song:
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.
-Samuel Francis Smith, 1832