Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1896-02-08
TO PAY THE INDEMNITY
President Sends a Message Re-
garding Families Of Italians
FoR THE COLORADO AFFAIR
documents Submitted to show Iha'
Congress, i'll fairness, should
rake Prompt Action.

WASHINGTON, Feb 3.-President Cleve-
land today sent congress the following
message:
In my last annual message allusion
was made to the lawless killing OF Ger
tain Italian laborers in the state OF
Colorado, and it was added that the de-
pendent families Of some unfortunate
victims invite by their deplorable CON
dition gracious provisions for thel1
needs. 1t now appears that IN addl-
ton to three Of those laborers who We're
riotously killed, two others, who es-
capped death by flight, incurred pitiable
disabilities through exposure and prl-
walton. Without discussing the ques-
ton of liability of the United States Tor
these results, either by reason of treaty
obligat tions under the general rules OF
Internal ational law, venture to urge up
on congress the propriety Of making
from the public treasury prompt and
reasonable pecuniary provision fol
those injured and the families of those
who were killed. To aid in considera-
ton Of the subject | append hereto the
report OF the secretary of state, ac-
companied by certain correspondence,
which quite fully presents all the feat
ures of the several cases.
"GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Feb. g.
The report of Secretary Olney, rs
ferred to by the president, is as fol
lows:
The President: I hand you herewith
the copies of correspondence on file in
this department relating to the case q
the Italians Iyncned at Walsenberg,
Col, in March, 1895. The facts are
without dispute, and no comment or ar
gument can add to the force of theil
appeal to the generous consideration
Of congress- Three Italians were killed
outright, while two others sustained
injuries Of a character disabling and
painful.
The only question would seem to be
as to the amount of gratuity in each
case, which must rest, Of course, Who'll
~ in the discretion Of congress- to whom
it can hardly be necessary to cite the
statutes of many states Of the Union
fixing the minimum to be exacted in
case of death caused by negligence al
the sum Of $4,000. Respectfully yours,
"RICHARD OLNEY.
The accompanying correspondence
consists of letters exchanged between
Baron Fava, the department Of state
and Governor Mcintyre of Colorado
Baron Fava, on March 13, 1895, the day
following the lynching, called it to the
attention OF the state department on the
basis of newspaper accounts lmmedl-
ate action was taken by Acting Secre-
tary Uhl to ascertain the facts, and this
was so satisfactory to Baron Fava that
he repea tedly expressed his belief that
the federal government would not hes
itate to do all that could be done to
bring the guilty parties to justice. Let
ters and kilograms from Governor Nc
Intyre to Secretary Gresham and Mi.
Uhl showed they were in entire SYM
pathy with the endeayors of the federal
government to give satisfaction to Italy
in the matter.
Under instructions from Baron Fava,
the Italian consul at Denver made an
investigation of facts attending the
lynching and also the political status
of the victims. Governor Mcintyre and
the Italian consul agreed that Of the
italians lynched, one, Lorenzo Andino,
was not naturalized, and the other two,
chentto, had simply secured their first
naturalization papers and were there
fore not full citizens of the United
States.
The correspondence relating to the
citizenship of the Italians is voluminous
and extended up to October 1898. On
the 18th of that month Baron Fava, in
a note to Secretary Olney, suggests that
the amount which may be deemed suit
able to indemnify the families of the
victims he would leave to your high
and benevolent appreciation, according
to the spirit Of justice which prompts
| all of your actions"
| This suggestion was made by Olney
| to Governor Mcintyre, who replied that
no indemnity appropriation had been
made by the Colorado legislature and
suggesting that if any liability attach
| ed it should be to the county and
| through suit brought by the injured
| dependent relatives.