Labor issues became important around the turn of the 20th century in the United States. In Colorado the mining industry was the hot bed for labor disputes with violence erupting from both the miners as well as the mine owners. The State militia was called out several times by Governor James Peabody between 1903 and 1904 in Cripple Creek, Colorado City and Telluride. At the root of these strikes was the miners' demands for better and safer working conditions including an eight-hour work day. Although the General Assembly passed an eight-hour law for miners in 1899, Colorado Fuel & Iron and the powerful Smelter Trust claimed the law was unconstitutional and cut wages in proportion to the reduction in hours. The Colorado Supreme court found in favor of the corporations. In response, Colorado voters passed a Constitutional amendment for an eight-hour day in 1902 which the General Assembly was then supposed to enable in the1903 legislative session. Due largely to pressure from the large corporations, the legislature failed to pass the necessary legislation to implement the law. It was not until 1905, when the next legislative session was convened, that the eight-hour law was passed. Problems with labor and the violence that resulted from the strikes would later cause major problems for Governor Peabody in the election of 1904. The 1903 House and Senate Resolutions below document part of this process as well as a resolution from the Pitkin County Miner's Union No. 6 and the final 1905 eight-hour law.