Colorado’s War on Militant Unionism: James H. Peabody and the Western Federation of Miners

by George G. Suggs Jr.

Book by Suggs, George G

244 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suggs gives background on the previous 10 years of labor struggles and increasing radicalization of the Western Federation of Miners leadership, and the rise of James Peabody to the governorship. The bulk of the book covers events in several sections of the state, where the Governor backed the mine and smelter owners and citizen's alliances in their favor, often by imposing martial law, and expelling or indefinitely detaining WFM workers and officials. The disputed 1904 election provides a coda.
Of interest for me was any evidence of WFM involvement in atrocities such as the Independence Depot explosion. While Harry Orchard implicated the WFM leadership in several crimes, his work was the only evidence found, even when the region was under martial law, a fact which Suggs highlights.

[Todd Laugen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to believe the government sponsored attack on working folks. The mine owners went so far as to pay the salary of the state police.