You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Sunday May 8, 1904
From the Appeal to Reason: "The progress of Russianizing the Working Class"
General Sherman Bell
Commander of Gunthug Militia
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Armed Bandits in Colorado
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The following in the Denver Daily News of April 23 shows the progress of Russianizing the working class of that state and making a precedent for the same kind of banditry in other states, when the capitalists demand it of the men elected by their corruption fund to execute the CIVIL law. And the working class vote to have this kind of thing when they vote the republican and democratic tickets. Will they never wake up to the premonitions of the times?
Read and reflect:
Special to the News.
Ridgway, Colo., April 23-The train from the east came in here an hour and a half late bearing the twenty-five men of Troop A under command of General Bell, having in charge President Moyer of the Western Federation of Miners, and was met at the depot by a crowd of from fifty to sixty persons, among whom were two of the deported men from Telluride, one of whom, named Morhardt, boarded the train and asked General Bell for permission to return to Telluride and close up some business affairs. Before this was finished the train started and Morhardt was hustled off the train by Captain Wells.
In the meantime the other man, Flohr by name, waited on the platform, and as the train pulled out he waved his hat at Walter Kenley, who was on the rear platform, and said: "This is not over; will see you later." Kenley replied: "They [then?] why didn't you say so before the train started, you __ __ ___," to which Flohr replied with a lot of billingsgate. Then someone ordered the rain to stop, which it did about 100 yards from the depot, and sixteen of the troopers got off and started back, ten towards town and six towards the depot. At this Flohr started up town at a rapid pace and the troopers began to fire at him from both detachments, discharging in all about fifty shots, all of which missed Flohr, who ran, followed by the militia. Flohr disappeared in the Mentone Hotel, which was searched, as were all the buildings in the vicinity, without finding him. After half an hour's search the troopers were recalled and the train went on to Telluride.
There was a good deal of excitement, as stray bullets struck several houses, cut the palings off the park fence and flew close to at least a dozen citizens. After the train left Flohr showed up and rode off toward Ouray. It is reported that two of the troopers are yet in town looking for Flohr. It was also said that Flohr was armed.
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Denver Post: Deputy Kenley explained why he did not shoot Flohr, the deported unionist, who yelled a derisive remark at him when General Bell and his soldiers passed through here Saturday afternoon. "My eyes have been bothering me lately or I would have got that man. You can bet I and every other trooper shot to kill, and am sorry we missed him."
[paragraph break & photo added]
SOURCE
Appeal to Reason
(Girard, Kansas)
-of May 7, 1904
See also:
Hellraisers Journal of April 24, 1904
It was an eventful trip from Denver to Telluride for Charles Moyer
in the custody of the gunthug militia.
Photo: General Sherman Bell
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
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Friday May 8, 1914
Indianapolis, Indiana - Mother Jones Pays a Visit to U. M. W. of A. Headquarters
John Lawson, Mother Jones, Horace Hawkins
John Lawson and Mother Jones are both in Indianapolis as the General Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America meets in session to address the situation in the Colorado strike zone. From last evening's
Indianapolis News:
LAWSON REPORTS ON COLORADO CONDITIONS
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MINERS' BOARD GETS "FIRST HAND" STRIKE INFORMATION.
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MOTHER JONES A VISITOR
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The general executive board of the United Mine Workers of America, in session at the international headquarters in the State Life building, today received first-hand information regarding the conditions in the Colorado coal strike zones from John R. Lawson, a member of the board from that state. Lawson arrive in the city today and read his report at the forenoon session.
The board adjourned at noon until Friday morning, when it will receive the report of the committee appointed to investigate and make recommendations on the Colorado situation. The board held no meeting this afternoon in order to give the committee time to complete its report.
Mother Jones, a well-known and picturesque figure in mining camps throughout the country and who recently was arrested by the militia because of her activity for the union in the Colorado strike districts, was at the headquarters today, greeting members of the board.
Mother Jones is more than eighty years old, and is probably known by reputation, at least to every miner in the United States. She stopped in Indianapolis on her way to Washington.
Lawson's report dealt with the general conditions affecting the members of the union in Colorado, and reviewed the history of the strike which has been in progress for several months in the coal districts of that state.
"It is the prevalent feeling among the striking miners of the state." he said, "that they will be treated fairly by the United States troops, who have been sent to the state by the President to restore order. The miners have welcomed the federal troops and their attitude toward them is one of friendliness."
Telegrams Sent To Washington.
Following action taken by the general executive board Wednesday, telegrams requesting permission to rebuild the tent colony at Ludlow, Colo., were sent to President Wilson and Secretary of Labor W. B. Wilson. The telegram to President Wilson, which was signed by John P. White, president, and William Green, secretary-treasurer, was as follows:
Our striking miners and families, who were driven out of tents at Ludlow, Colo., by state militia when they burned and destroyed the tent colony, are being cared for at hotels at great expense to our organization. Federal officer in charge of federal troops is withholding decision giving authority to rebuild and erect tents as homes for the homeless miners and families. We respectfully request you to issue orders to commander in charge, giving us permission to erect tents on our property as homes for miners and families, immediately.
A copy of the telegram was sent to the secretary of labor, who also was asked to use his influence to obtain the granting of the request by the President in their favor.
SOURCE
The Indianapolis News
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
-of May 7, 1914
Photo: John Lawson, Mother Jones, Horace Hawkins
http://ludlowsymposium.wordpress.com/...
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Popular Wobbly-Utah Phillips
Oh, the "bull," he went wild over me.
And he held his gun where everyone could see;
He was breathing rather hard, when he saw my union card,
He went wild, simply wild, over me.
-T-Bone Slim, 1920
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