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This card that recommends an individual for employment with the Cripple Creek Mine Owners’ Association has been cancelled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-27
The Portland mine has had to close, after the military arrested many of the workers. Those arrested are union members who have refused to take working cards in the mine owners’ association.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
President Roosevelt sends Attorney General Moody a report written by Commissioner of Labor Carroll D. Wright on the labor disturbance in Colorado. The report is not complete but Roosevelt believes it contains enough information to make a determination on whether the federal government should intervene. Roosevelt asks that Moody consider the report along with another being prepared by Colorado District Attorney Earl M. Cranston and report back to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-28
Charles R. Neumeister writes to President Roosevelt to offer his insights on an article by the Socialist journalist Joseph Wanhope that covers the 1906 Moyer-Haywood murder trial and the 1904 trial of miners accused of attempted train derailments in Cripple Creek, Colorado. Neumeister is a detective, who was hired by the Mine Owners Association, and he refutes Wanhope’s claim that railroad detectives tried to derail the train and blame miners. Neumeister believes Wanhope’s claims are “baseless” and the entire trial was a miscarriage of justice against the mine owners.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-20
James H. Hawley sends Assistant Attorney General Robb a summary of the confessions given by Harry Orchard and Stephen W. Adams in relation to the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg. Hawley also provides a background history of the Western Federation of Miners, claiming that its leadership has been responsible for numerous acts of violence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-13
The former sheriff of Teller County, Colorado, describes events during the Cripple Creek miners’ strike that lead to his forced resignation. A handwritten note indicates that Robertson dictated the statement to a stenographer, but did not sign it because he left Denver before the document was typed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-03
Frank J. Hangs gives his testimony of the events of the Cripple Creek Labor Strike that eventually led to his forcible deportation from the district.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-29
J. C. Cole, former Deputy District Attorney in Cripple Creek, Colorado, gives Walter B. Palmer his account of the events of the Cripple Creek Strike and how they led to his being exiled from Cripple Creek along with many other supporters of the union miners.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-27
Frank P. Sargent returns to William Loeb the papers referring to the case of the Western Association of Miners.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-13
Commissioner of Labor Wright discusses the investigation and the deportation of miners.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-16
Commissioner of Labor Wright discusses John H. Murphy and the Colorado situation. The statements in the pamphlet concerning the Western Federation of Miners are “on the whole true.” It is evident to Wright that Murphy comes to President Roosevelt “with clean hands,” but that “his clients do not.” Wright assures Roosevelt that when the results are summed up, Roosevelt will have all of the facts necessary to come to a just conclusion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-15
Agent Palmer reports on a pamphlet with information about the deportation of non-union miners by the union, most likely referring to the Western Federation of Miners. Elmer Ellsworth Rittenhouse, the author of the pamphlet, says that he took care to ensure the accuracy of the information since the pamphlet will be used for campaign purposes. Rittenhouse believes that the strike at Cripple Creek “had no connection with the eight-hour question.” James C. Craig, the president of the Citizens’ Alliance, says that there are no records of any deportations of non-union men that are not mentioned in the pamphlet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-03
Commissioner of Labor Wright summarizes the request made by John H. Murphy for executive interference in Colorado. Murphy argues that citizens, specifically miners deported by the Citizens’ Alliance and authorities in Colorado, are being denied basic rights.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-30
John H. Murphy wants President Roosevelt to respond to “the Colorado situation,” most likely referring to the strike at Cripple Creek. Murphy describes the withdrawal of the militia from Cripple Creek and reports that many miners were “forcibly driven away” from their homes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-30
John H. Murphy argues that when President Grant sent troops to protect the citizens during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, he set a precedent for such actions. Murphy believes President Roosevelt would not be criticized if he were to act similarly to protect the citizens of Telluride and Cripple Creek. Murphy encloses a newspaper article to show that “the violation of personal rights by the militia is steadily ongoing.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-21
Commissioner of Labor Wright will give President Roosevelt the results of their investigations in Colorado, particularly focusing on how the results bear upon a document from “the attorney for deported miners and general counsel for the Western Federation of Miners.” Wright is most likely referring to investigations concerning a strike at Cripple Creek.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
Secretary of the Navy Morton hopes President Roosevelt will not be “called upon to take sides in the Colorado labor strife,” most likely referring to the strike at Cripple Creek. He believes that speaking negatively about Governor James Hamilton Peabody’s actions would be unpopular. Morton believes that any investigation of this matter must be thorough and does not mean to imply that Peabody “has made no mistakes.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
Senator Lodge expects that the Democrats have nominated Alton B. Parker as their presidential candidate, and he believes Roosevelt and the Republicans can win the election easily. Lodge discusses several planks of the Republican platform and how they may affect the election.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-09
Joseph Wauhope, associate editor of Wilshire’s Magazine, details the bias of the courts and unfairness of the trial of Charles H. Moyer, George A. Pettibone, and Big Bill Haywood in the murder of Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-19
President Roosevelt would like the Department of Justice to investigate the labor unrest in Colorado.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-25