their organization would soon fall into irretrievable ruin, a misfortune which would subject the coal miners indefinitely to the grind of a system destructive alike to body and soul. Therefore, in order to save the union and themselves, the miners laid their just grievances before John Mitchell, National President of the United Mine Workers of America, and begged him to come to their assistance.
President Mitchell responded to this appeal, and wired the management of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, asking for an interview between the operators and the union looking toward a peaceable adjustment of the miners' grievances. The company, in answer to Mr. Mitchell's request, sent him tliis telegram:
Denver, October 7th, 1903. John Mitchell, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Answering your telegram of yesterday in Mr. Heam's absence, I have to say that we have not been advised and do
i62 The Pinkerton Labor Spy.
not believe that our miners have any desire to strike, as we have always been able to adjust directly with them any differ- . ences that exist.
We do not think your organization is authorized to represent our miners, as very few of them belong to it
If you understand the situation as it really is, you no doubt regard the inciting of any further industrial disturbances in Colorado as ill-advised and criminal.
J. F. Welborn.
In this telegram Mr. Welborn gives one the idea that the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company was absolutely ignorant of the doings of the coal miners' union, and innocently believed that their employees really had no