The Springfield herald., 1897-02-12

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 Ill 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 If
his suggestions were not adopted the
| strikers would be confronted by de-
feat He offered the resolution and
asked that a secret ballot be taken on
It,
On August 1S he met John Maxwell
and was much worried over the out
look. He advised Mr.. Maxwell to put
his abstract books in a place of safety.
He did not tell Mr.. Maxwell that he
had been in secret councils of the I'M
| ion, as he never was He talked to him
as 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 IbeN, but
could not honorably withdraw from
the managers agreement
Judge Overs had heard that Mr..
Campion 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 pas
sion that so far he tried to bring about
settlement, but that thereafter he
would do what he legally could to
make the strike n success.
An August 27 Mr.. Higgins called on
him, saying the Coronado was threat
ened 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 II
| day since the commencement of the
| strike when the process of any court i'll
| the county could not have been served.
Witness claimed that he has been
much maligned in regard to the np-
pointment Of the managers posse to
go to the Coronado, he protested, as
Mr.. Griffith testified, against their be-
] ing sent up, as there was danger in
| their going.
Witness was asked by Senator Reu-
ter If 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, "rime simply cools
| things down" There was much per-
sonal feeling here and possibly calmer
| Judgment would have prevailed.
"Wouldn't the starting up of mines
at any time preclpitate n confict?'
Certainly 1t would"
He said that In all conferences with
either side, arbitration was suggested,
but he never had authority from the
union to offer arbitration. Still. he be-
| lieved that the union would have coll
| sented to arbitration before the Coro-
nado affair. He said there was a 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 be Of the
opinion that no facts were necessary.
They spoke of n number of Outrages.
When the occasion arose lie Joined i'll
the call for the militia. This was at
the time of the Coronado affair. Wit
ness had no knowledge of n 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 COwers)
| thanked God that the constitution
guaranteed the right to carry arms"
He also said that he believed the Coro-
nado mine was started up to provoke
| Il fight and get the militia here.
This afternoon they received n guam
tity of documentary evidence sub
mitted by both sides, and then nd
journed to meet again in Denver, Mon
day morning. 1t is understood that
the committee will hold meeting Mon
day for the purpose Of receiving Il
statement from Ex-Governor McIntire
Governor Adams, State Labor Com
missioner Kleet and Representative
ONeill 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 tes-
timony here tonight and this will CON
clude the investigation with the eN-
ception of testimony to be given at
Denver by Governor Adams, exGover-
nor McIntire and Labor Commission
er Klett This will be taken Monday
and n report will be prepared by the
committee as soon as possible.
Rich Gold FIell In ALASKA.