ATDDTA (6) 177 (dynamite for social change)

[bekah]

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Labor_Wars#Union_violence.2C_anti-union_violence.2C_and_unnatural_disasters > 
or 
<http://tinyurl.com/yppjsz>

Using dynamite to effect social changes seems to have been a 
tradition in the Cripple Creek District even when there was no 
strike. Private assay offices catered to the individual prospector, 
and to miners who secreted gold out of the mines. Mine owners were 
concerned about ore theft, and several large mines hired Pinkerton 
agents beginning in 1897,[141] but high grading - the diversion of 
rich gold ore by miners - was difficult to control. Jameson observes 
that "the Mine Owners' Association paid (someone) to blow up assay 
offices in 1902 to try to stop high grading."[142]

The Western Federation of Miners (or at least its members) routinely 
intimidated strike breakers, and also had resorted to violence, such 
as blowing up an Idaho mill in 1899.

That detectives hired by the mine owners sought to create incidents 
which could be blamed upon the union simply complicates our task in 
understanding who in particular inspired much of the violence. The 
Colorado Labor Wars are fascinating in part because we know so much, 
but we know so little for certain.
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