Tuesday May 22, 1906
To The Indianapolis News: Miners of U. M. W. Defend W. F. M.

A letter written to The Indianapolis News, signed by members of the United Mine Workers of America, defends the Western Federation of Miners which was so viciously attacked recently by The News. The letter was found published in the Socialist section of a newspaper out of Salem, Oregon.

From the Daily Capital Journal of May 16, 1906:

MINE OWNERS GUILTY OF MANY CRIMES
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The Western Federation.
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Miners' Delegates Defend the Western
Association-Facts Cited.
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To the Editor The News, Indianapolis: Sir-We were somewhat surprised to read your violent attack upon the Western Federation of Miners, which appeared in your editorial columns of March 19th, and, believing, as we do, that you are not fully acquainted with the facts in the matter, we would, therefore, kindly ask your indulgence to present our views on this question, which have been gleaned from practical experience and from a personal acquaintance with the leaders and policy of the Western Federation of Miners.

You state that wherever the Western Federation of Miners has been represented there have been riots, kidnappings, assaults, dynamiting and murders. This is a very broad and injurious, statement, and nothing could be further from the truth of the policy of the Western Federation of Miners. Their mission is one of education and their methods of procedure have always been along peaceful lines, and we challenge any person to produce evidence that this organization has even countenanced violence of lawlessness. On the contrary, they have officially condemned every lawless act perpetrated in the labor troubles of the west, and have even gone so far as to offer rewards for the apprehension of the criminals, and in this respect this organization has a clear record, as none of their members have ever been convicted of crime, although numerous attempts have been made by the Mine Owners' association to convict members of the Western Federation for alleged crimes.

Each and every member indicted, when brought to trial, has been acquitted, and this in the Colorado courts, dominated, as they are, by the corporate interests which have plundered the people, stolen the governorship and debauched the legislature of that fair state. Notwithstanding the insults and the abuse which has been heaped upon the members of the Western Federation of Miners by the military deputies and thugs employed by the Mine Owners' association, the fact remains that, for every violation of law of which they have been accused and indicted, scores of instances can be cited wherein those in the direct employ of the Mine Owners' association have been the guilty parties. In proof whereof we refer you to the following crimes consummated by this diabolical capitalist organization, who now seeks to pose as defenders of law and order and who cry for the blood of innocent men viz:

The incarceration of Charles Moyer in the military bull pen at Telluride, Colo., for a period of 103 days, his only offense being that he was president of the Western Federation of Miners and zealously guarded the interests committed to his care.

The assault of A. H. Floten for no other crime than managing a co-operative store patronized by union miners.

The chaining of Harry [Henry] Maki to a telegraph pole at Telluride by deputies and militiamen for six hours in the face of a blinding snowstorm for no other cause than that of refusing to obey their command to work in a cesspool.

The cowardly assaults on Organizers Chris Evans, William Farley, James Mooney and William Wardjon, of the Mine Workers so America.

The attack upon the later organization is ample proof that there is no distinction drawn between the Western Federation of Miners and the United Mine Workers of America.

Another outrage perpetrated by the pliant tools of the coal companies was the dynamiting of the homes of the striking coal miners at Newcastle, Colo. This damnable conspiracy was executed at dead of night, when the miners and their families were in bed, and very little effort was made to bring the guilty parties to justice. Numerous other cases of a similar character can be produced if necessary, but for lack of space they can not be mentioned in this article. However, it is evident that the only criminal organization in the west is the Mine Owners' association. But, screened as they are by the protecting arm of a debauched judiciary, it is impossible to convict them of these dastardly outrages or secure impartial treatment from a subsidized press.

Again, in the latter part of your article you state that we do the cause of labor a very great harm by sympathizing in the slightest degree with the Western Federation of Miners, it being, as you say, a criminal organization. We desire to register an emphatic protest against such an unqualified statement, for we claim it to be incumbent upon all lovers of liberty and justice to extend to Moyer, Haywood and their colleagues all possible aid and assistance in order that they may not be the victims of another foul conspiracy on the part of the Mine Owners' association and Citizens' Alliance, whose attitude in the past has proved that they have no regard for human rights or liberties.

Trusting you will publish this statement of facts, we remain, respectfully, yours, Frank J. Hayes, James Mooney, A. F. Germer, Edward Williams, Duncan McDonald, W. H. James, Pat Carr, Con Kelliher, E. S. McCullough, John Walker, William Wardjon, Delegates to the United Mine Workers' Convention. Indianapolis, March 21, 1906.

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[Photograph added.]

SOURCE
Daily Capital Journal
(Salem, Oregon)
-May 16, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64367479/

IMAGES
WFM Button
https://www.nps.gov/kewe/learn/historyculture/museum-guide-5.htm
HMP Case, UMWC Delg's Letter, Salem OR, May 16, 1906
https://www.newspapers.com/image/64367479/
Is Colorado in America? Poster by Big Bill Haywood
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Moyer
Henry Maki chained to pole, Telluride 1904
http://holcombs.net/peabodyism.htm

See also:

"Hellraisers Journal: Charles Moyer Arrested for Flag "Desecration" Asking: IS COLORADO IN AMERICA?" by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/3/27/1287701/-Hellraisers-Journal-Cha...

"Hellraisers Journal: Cripple Creek Leaders "Not Guilty;" Telluride Miner Chained to Telegraph Pole" -by JayRaye
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/3/3/1281771/-Hellraisers-Journal-Crip...

Minutes of the Special Convention
Indianapolis, Ind. March 15-30, 1906
-UMWA
Cheltenham Press, 1906
https://books.google.com/books?id=9KM4AQAAMAAJ
https://books.google.com/books/reader?id=9KM4AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcove...

Note: The signature of Frank J. Hayes is the first on the letter above. At the convention, Hayes was a delegate from the Belleville local of District 12 of the UMWA. It was the Belleville local that sent $5000 to the WFM immediately after the arrests of Haywood, Moyer, and Pettibone. This was before a defense fund had even been established.

Several of the other delegates named above were also from UMWA Locals affiliated with District 12 of Illinois.

There were members of UMWA District 12 in attendance at that founding convention of the IWW in 1905 (remember that at this time (May 1906) the WFM is still a member union of the IWW) and specifically some from the Belleville local.

For Haywood on Belleville Local's donation:
http://caucus99percent.com/content/hellraisers-journal-haywood-moyer-pet...

IWW Convention, 2nd Day,
Wednesday June 28, 1905, Morning Session.
https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/unions/iww/1905/convention/ch03.htm

The Cripple Creek Strike
-by Emma Florence Langdon
Denver, 1904-05
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon00.html
Appendix, April 1908
(Coverage of Haywood-Moyer-Pettibone Case)
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/wfmhall/langdon29.html#dedication

The Darrow Collection, Haywood Trial
http://darrow.law.umn.edu/trials.php?tid=3