1915 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE MINERS' PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION

Cripple Creek, Colorado: Miners' Protective Assn, 1915. Original document. Very Good. Printed form, accomplished by hand. Datelined Cripple Creek, Colo., June 29 1915. W. Forest Hodgin, age 21, unmarried, born in Indiana and residing at Welty Block, Cripple Creek, states his occupation as Mill Man. He has had 4 months experience with Ray Cons Copper Co. in charge of cleaning the plant. Asked whether he is now or has ever been a member of the Western Federation of Miners, W. Forest answers "No." Nor does he belong to any other labor organization. How long in this District? 4 days. As a reference, he names W.H. Doyier of Canon City, Ok. He declares that he is "in sympathy with the objects and purposes of the Miners' Protective Association [and] will abide by and observe the Constitution...and By-Laws as may be prescribed by its Executive Committee, and signs his declaration as W. Forest Hodgin. Printed on pink stock, 8.75" x 5.5". Few old smudges as expected. Mining in the Cripple Creek District began in 1891. Soon after, miners and the companies they worked for had violent encounters over pay and conditions, leading in 1893 to formation of the Western Federation of Miners, referred to in this document. Tensions between management and workers escalated to the Colorado Labor Wars of 1903. Matters were never settled, and associations such as the Miners' Protective came and went.