Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-02-11

pie of the strike. The pickets were un-
armed and were instructed to use only
moral suaslOn. Judge Overs said he
told them they had no right to patrol
the outside, and that would be intimi-
dation. They agreed that the pickets
| should be Instructed not to turn any
body back.
After the decision in the Weldon
case, Judge Overs said, In which the
court fixed So as the rate of pay for
| all underground men and men at the
collar Of the shaft, and $3.50 for all
other surface labor, the officers of the
union declared that they were willing
to accept the Weldon decision as the
basis of settlement Of the strike.
Witness suggested that the union take
action to that effect, and upon request
drew up set of resolutions, embody-
ing the Weldon wage scale, which
were adopted.
| About August IA witness asked for
permission to address the Union. He
received permission and addressed
| them at the Weston Opera house. He
told them that he considered the strike
inoppOrtune and i'll advised. He told
them that If they would adopt the sug.
gestions he made he believed that at
least three or four mines would re-
sumo. He further suggested that II
strikers would be confronted by de-
feat. He offered the resolution and
asked that n secret ballot be taken on
It.
On August IS he met John Maxwell
and was much worried over the out
look. He advised Mr.. Maxwell to put
his abstract books in place of safety.
He did not tell Mr.. Maxwell that he
had been In secret councils OF the un-
In h.NN all. l.
MS n friend and his conversation Is now
distorted beyond his meaning. The
only way In which he represented the
miners was as mediator.
Mr.. Campion, In his last interview
with him. told him he was willing to
pay the old wages on the hex, but
could not honOrably withdraw from
the managers agreement.
Judge Overs had heard that Mr..
CamplOn had political ambitions and
had tried to move him by intimating
that by starting up his mine he would
open the door to any political ambi-
tion he might have. Becoming heated,
Judge Overs, In leaving. said In pms
sion that 20 far he tried to bring about
II settlement, but that thereafter he
would do what he legally could to
make the strike n success.
An August % Mr.. Higgins called on
him, saying the Coronado was threat
encd with an attack. but as he de-
clined to give the name OF his inform
ant, the witness declined to act. He
had been convinced for some time that
the managers were doing everything
In their power to get the militia here
and have martial law declared. Wit
ness refused to call for the militia or
upon the governor until the power Of
the county had been exhausted. He
declared that there has never been
day since the commencement OF the
strike when the process OF any court In
the county could not have been served.
Witness claimed that he has been
much mnligned In regard to the ap-
pointmcnt OF the managers posse to
go TO the Coronado. he protested, rs
Mr.. Griffith testified. against their be-
Ing sent up. as there was danger In
their going.
Witness was asked by Senator Rcu-
ter II there was any prospect for less
violence had the Coronado waited for
three or four weeks for things to set
tie down.
The reply was. "Timc simply cools
things down" There was much per-
sonnl feeling here and possibly calmer
judgment would have prevailed.
"wouldn't the starting up Of mines
Certainly It would"
He said that In nll conferences with
either side. arbitration was suggested,
but he never had authority from the
union to Offer arbitration. still. he be-
lievcd that the union would have con-
scented to arbitration before the Coro-
nado affair. He said there was n So
called Law and Order league organized
at the opera house. He did not believe
that either the physical or legal situa-
tion justified the calling OF the militia
He went TO the council chamber and
asked for the facts on which they
based their demand for the militia.
The aldermen seemed to he OF the
opinion that no facts were necessary.
They spoke OF number Of outragcs.
When the occasion arose he Joined In
the call for the militia. This was ut
the time OF the Coronado affair. Wit
ness had no knowledge OF vigilance
committee.
Judge Overs admitted having said
to Il. l.. Davis. when told that armed
men were patrolling the county. warn
ing workmen away. that he (Owers)
thanked God that the constitution
guaranteed the right to carry arms"
He also said that he believed the Coro-
undo mine was started up to provoke
n fight and get the militia here.
This afternoon they received guam
tity OF documentary evidence sub
mittcd by both sides. and then nd
iourncd to meet again In Denver. Mon
day morning. II is understood that
the committee will hold n meeting Mon
day for the purpose of receiving
statement from Ex-Governor Mc1ntire,
| Governor Adams. State Labor Com
missioner Illcct and Representative
O'Ncill and Senator Grove. In the
evening the committee will listen to
arguments by counsel for the mine
managers and the Miners union.
| The committee will finish taking tcs-
timony here tonight and this will con-
cludc the investigation with the cx-
| ccption of testimony TO he given mt
Denver by Governor Adams. cx-Gover-
nor McIntirc and Labor Commission
or Klctt. This will he taken Monday.
and report will he prepared by the
committee as soon ns possible.