Labor disputes

John Graham Brooks reports to Commissioner of Labor Wright about the labor dispute in Colorado. He discusses the history of conflict between labor unions and employers going back nearly ten years. Brooks describes the conflict from both the workers’ and employers’ perspectives. Brooks recommends that the government let it be known that he has investigated the dispute, but thinks there is little else that can be done to fix the situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-04

Creator(s)

Brooks, John Graham, 1846-1938

Judge Jones sends William Loeb information about the court case U.S. vs. Moore in which Jones decided that the right to form a union is dependent on state laws. Jones believes this decision will aid President Roosevelt in answering the news stories that call for Roosevelt to intervene in the labor situation in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-30

Creator(s)

Jones, Thomas Goode, 1844-1914

Oscar S. Straus shares a conversation he had about the labor situation in Colorado with President Roosevelt and gives his opinion that Roosevelt should not intervene. He acknowledges that his opinion maybe premature since an investigation into the situation is still going on. Straus also congratulates Roosevelt on winning the presidential nomination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-28

Creator(s)

Straus, Oscar S. (Oscar Solomon), 1850-1926

William H. H. Llewellyn shares Edward Rosewater’s concern that labor men may not support President Roosevelt in the upcoming election because of the labor situation in Colorado. Llewellyn advises Roosevelt to appoint an independent commission to investigate the matter. He also has written to Secretary of Commerce and Labor George B. Cortelyou about the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-26

Creator(s)

Llewellyn, William H. H. (William Henry Harrison), 1851-1927

H. B. Wessel and William O’Neill of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor Assembly urge President Roosevelt to protect the miners in Colorado who are being deported as part of an ongoing labor dispute.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-21

Creator(s)

Wessel, H. B. (Henry Bernard), 1870-1951; O'Neill, William

Judge Campbell congratulates President Roosevelt on receiving the presidential nomination and discusses the probable outcome of the election. Campbell also shares with Roosevelt the numerous political and social problems in Colorado, but predicts that they will be resolved by the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-24

Creator(s)

Campbell, John, 1853-1938

The Trades Assembly of Pittsburgh, Kansas, urges President Roosevelt to investigate the ongoing dispute in Colorado between mine workers and the mine owner’s organization Citizen’s Alliance. They claim the situation is unlawful and that Governor James Hamilton Peabody has overstepped his authority in allowing martial law declared in several counties.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-18

Creator(s)

Trades Assembly of Pittsburgh, Kansas

M. F. Purcell of District 22 United Mine Workers of America appeals to President Roosevelt to intervene in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-17

Creator(s)

Purcell, M. F.

Herman W. Steinbiss, on behalf of the National Building Trades Council of America, writes to President Roosevelt to urge him to launch an investigation into the ongoing dispute between mine workers and mine owners in Colorado. Steinbiss contends that if the reports are correct that mine workers are being prosecuted for being in labor unions or sympathizing with labor unions, Roosevelt has an obligation to intervene.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-16

Creator(s)

Steinbiss, Herman W.

Secretary of Commerce and Labor Cortelyou informs President Roosevelt that Walter B. Palmer will not finish his investigation into the labor dispute in Colorado until the end of June or July.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-16

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

The United Mine Workers of Illinois call on President Roosevelt to investigate the ongoing dispute in Colorado between mine workers and mine owners and the governor of Colorado. They call for an end to mine workers being punished just for belonging to a union.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-15

Creator(s)

Perry, H. C.; Ryan, W. D.; Smith, W. E.

Richard Bunney and Charles McAllister of the Black Hill Trades Assembly call on President Roosevelt to take action in Colorado to help those workers who are being persecuted for being in a labor union.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-15

Creator(s)

Black Hills Trades Assembly

Edward Long and Dan Donovan, on behalf of the miners of Butte, Montana, appeal to President Roosevelt to protect the citizens in Colorado from actions of the Colorado governor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-14

Creator(s)

Long, Edward; Donovan, Dan

Alvin McReynolds and Robert H. Curl write on behalf of the Cincinnati Typographical Union to President Roosevelt to ask that he protect the union members in Colorado who are being removed from their homes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-13

Creator(s)

Cincinnati Typographical Union No. 3

George H. Harris and G. F. Tomlinson request that President Roosevelt intervene in Colorado with federal troops to stop the Citizen’s Alliance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-10

Creator(s)

Harris, George H.; Tomlinson, G. F.

Theodore Rutenbeck and Tom C. Seaward write on behalf of the Federated Trades and Labor Council to President Roosevelt to take action against the Citizen’s Alliance taking control in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-11

Creator(s)

Federated Trades and Labor Council (Fresno, California)

William D. Haywood requests that President Roosevelt investigate crimes being committed in Colorado due to labor unrest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-11

Creator(s)

Haywood, Big Bill, 1869-1928

J. J. Huckett urges President Roosevelt, on behalf of the Industrial Council of Kansas City, Missouri, to take action against the harsh policies of Colorado Governor James Hamilton Peabody and General Sherman Bell in the labor dispute in Colorado.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-12

Creator(s)

Huckett, J. J.

Isaac Peterson informs President Roosevelt that Adjutant General of the Colorado National Guard Sherman M. Bell says that 40 union men will hang in Colorado. Peterson pleads with Roosevelt to intervene.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-12

Creator(s)

Peterson, Isaac

Louis B. Livingston examines why President Theodore Roosevelt chose retired general John McAllister Schofield to command the troops needed to seize coal mines during the anthracite coal strike of 1902. Livingston chronicles Schofield’s military service, and he details his command of troops during five labor disputes during the late nineteenth century. Livingston contends that Roosevelt was drawn to Schofield’s exemplary record, his support of Army reforms, and the restraint he showed during previous strikes. Livingston suggests that Roosevelt’s threat to seize the mines moved the parties, the mine owners and the United Mine Workers, to accept arbitration. Livingston also explores other aspects of the strike negotiations such as Roosevelt’s poor relationship with General Nelson Appleton Miles and the degree to which Roosevelt kept his plans to seize the mines if necessary a secret. 

Four illustrations and a photograph supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2013