The Grit-advocate., 1904-06-24
HAYWOOD-BELL
LETTERS ON MARTIAL LAW
Secretary Of Western Federation Of
Miners Arraisns Military Rule
General Bell Says He Has Never
Wanted Martial Law for the Whole

General Bell Says He Has Never
Wanted Martial Law for the Whole
State.
Denver, June 2o.-General Sherman
Bell, commander of Colorado militia. is
reported to have said that the entire
state of Colorado will have to be
placed under martial law and that
Governor Peabody will be justified in
such a course. The New York World
telegraphed w. D. Haywood, secretary
treasurer of the Western Federation Of
Miners. the appended message Of in
quiry, and Mr. Haywood answered by
wire. His reply is also appended:
New York City, June 10, 1904
w. D. Haywood:
General Sherman Bell is reported to
have said that the whole state will
have to be placed under martial law
and that Governor Peabody will be
justified in placing Colorado under
military rule. What justification, II
any, is there for this position?
THE WORLD.
Haywood's Reply.
Denver, Colo. June 10, 1904.
The World, New York City:
No, there is nothing in the situations
to justify the prediction Of General
Sherman Bell, unless perchance the
people become aroused over the awful
torture inflicted upon innocent victims
confined in the bullpens and the relent-
less cruel war being waged against
women and children.
Military authorities have issued or
ders that no provisions or relief of any
kind can be distributed.
We deposited in the First Naticaal
Bank of Denver, $500 to the credit
of John Ketelson, merchant Of Vic
tor, Colorado. Scarcely $1,000 of this
amount had been expended for the pur-
chase of food for women and children,
when Mr. ketelson was notified by the
vigilance committee that his store
would be demolished as the union
stores had been, if he did not quit seii-
ing supplies to union people.
Miners have been taken from the
bullpens, hung by the neck until near
ly dead suspended by the thumbs and
tortured with thumb-screws. These
punshments have been inflicted by an
investigating committee for the pur-
pose of extorting confessions from in
nocent men.
The spirit Of resentment is strong in
the breasts of the people; but not re-
bellor. That is horrible phantasm,
wrought from the weird brain OF a
military fanatic who would rather hear
the clanking of saber chains than ans
gels music.
The question of martial law does not
depend upon the justification. AS Cen
eral Bell blasphemously remarked,
"Only l and the Lord know what the
next move will be, and the Lord is not
very sure about it."
We had martial law in San Miguel
county for two months, with only six
teen soldiers on duty, and for many
weeks forty soldiers held 1000
brawny miners in subsection in Teller
county.
There may be martial law In Colo.
rado, but not to suppress insurrection,
but rather to insure, if possible, the
reelection of a s30,000,O00 Republican
state administration.
(Signed) WILLIAM D HAYWOOD.
Secretary Treasurer Western Fedora
tion of Miners.
General Bells Position.
Colorado Springs. June ia spe-
cial to the Gazette from Cripple Creek
says:
In regard to a telegram from the
New York World. asking for state
ment from General Bell as to whether
he said THAT Governor Peabody
would soon have to declare the whole
state of Colorado in a state of rebel
lion and put the state OF Colorado
81 tt Ill
replied as follows:
THE World, New York; have your
telegram quoting me in an interview
as saying that Governor Peabody will
soon have to declare the whole state
of Colorado in a state of rebellion and
put it under martial law.
THE press of Colorado will bear
me out in saying that I have never
yet repudiated published interview,
even when given in confidence.
"The alleged interview is absolutely
without foundation. not only never
gave out such an interview, but the
idea is absolutely foreign to my mind
under the past and present conditions.
There is no need of declaring Colo
RADIO under martial law
The whole state is practically
cleared up under my deportation sys-
tenn; there are few anarchists and So
cialists, and those few cannot be found
who can cause trouble.
However. should it become a mill
tary necessity. the whole state of Colo
RADIO will be placed under martial law
and all insurrectionists dealt with ac-
cordingly.
81 do not believe that this will ever
be necessary. In my judgment the
Colorado labor troubles are at an end
I'VE have been making the fight for
the whole United States, and the
Western Federation of Miners has
been receiving financial support and
other assistance from the country at
large.
Colorado is looking to other states
to follow suit.
"(Signed) SHERMAN BELL.
"Rriga6ipr General A1iutap+ GaparoJ