LaMont M. Bowers to Woodrow Wilson

Your valued favor of the I9" is at hand . Allow me to say in reply, that we appreciate to the fullest extent the importance of laws intended to laessen friction between employers and employes .
The arbitration law, to which you refer, has the approval of the writer and we would invite arbitration in the present disturbance in this state, if there were any differences between the company and its employes.
To satisfy the public, we have had committees from the Bankers association, the Chamber of Commerce of this city, also the eEditors of the most important news papers of the state, irrespective of party, make a thorough investigation and they each report, that the only question of importance, is the demand of the United Mine Workers of America, for recognition of their union and the abandonment of the open shop policy .
To this demand, we shall never consent, if every mine is closed, the equipment destroyed and the investment made worthless.
I may say, that this strike is now at the point where its local importance or that of its thousands of stock holders and the owners of its bonds, is being rapidly over shadowed by a far more vital matter, viz ; the advowed purpose of the labor unions to force at whatever cost, the open shopss of the country to cloes and their workmen to become members of the unions, or continue work at their peril.
The threats made by repesentatives of the United Mine Workers of America during the past few weeks in Colorado, fully justifies this view of the intentions of the labor leaders. Their speakers have frequently referred to the backing of the government, which has aroused intense interest on the part of employers of non union labor throughout the country ; in this state this boast has had especial emphasis in the close relations between Mr Ethelbert Stewart and the officers of the union during his several weeks stay in Colorado .
Perhaps more concern has been expressed by thinking men of all classes in the address of Commissioner of Labor Wilson during the convention of the Federation of Labor, at Seattle a few days ago . Some statesmen do not hesitate to say, that this outspoken and important utterance will force employers who run open shops together with their millions of employes, to make the rights of the open shop a national issue without delay, as the liberty loving american people will not submit to any organization forcing men to quit earning a living whether they belong to a union or not .
We will assist you Mr President in every possible way that we can, to make a thorough investigation of the riot and destruction that has been going on in the coal mining districts of this state for two months and by men entirely free from bias, so operators, employes and the representatives of the United Mine Workers of America, may all be included.
We promise out best endeavors and cordial cooperation especially toin bringing the assassins and all violators of law and order to trial , that they may receive the punishment that their crimes merit.