1894 Cripple Creek strike ( Colorado History the centennial state ) Essay

1894 Cripple Creek strike ( Colorado History the centennial state ) - Essay Example However, due to uproar from the miners, the employers decided to maintain the eight hour working time but reduced the wage rates to $2.50 down from $3.00 that they had been getting according to Russell and Cohn (11). Nevertheless, on 1 February 1894, the owners of the mine changed their mines and began implementing the ten-hour working schedule, which prompted those Union members to protest for the reinstatement of the previous eight-hour working schedule. Nevertheless, after realizing that the employers were not ready to heed to their demand, a war ensued. The war was characterized by use of lethal weapons such as dynamites and firefights. The war lasted for five months with the Western Federation of Miners emerging victorious (Russell and Cohn 13). This war has been very important so far as Colorado’s history is concerned. For instance, aftermath of the saw WFM emerged as a very powerful political entity in Colorado region (Jameson 15). This is after managing to draw many citizens and the miners to the group, which had been considered a militia by the government. It is reported that the WFM became so powerful and influenced the political destiny of Colorado as many politicians, as well as labor officials from the whole country, became associated with the group. As a result, Jameson notes that WFM emerged as a political force to reckon within the entire Rocky Mountain West (18). Political pundits argue that the strike has ever since altered the political direction of Colorado (Suggs and George 23). For instance, the aftermath of the strike saw citizens of Colorado fault the Waite for siding with the WFM thereby promoting political instability and violence in the region. The reaction later led the defeat of the waite during the November 1894 polls thereby resulting in victory of Republican candidate, Albert McLntire (Jameson 4). It is said that the