Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-14

That the town of Victor, Colorado, Is
in the hands of a mob of anarchists
is the statement made without reserve
by Mrs. M. Winter, formerly of Wap-
clio county, in a letter to the Courier
received today. Mrs. Winter formerly
resided here and is known to several
Ottumwans. She now lives at Victor
and wrote to the Courier on June z,
the day following the dynamiting Of
the depot at independence, near Vic
tor.
Mrs. Winters letter is doubly inter-
esting, coming as it does from the
center of the strike infested region.
She states that what she writes is
only the plain truth regarding the aw-
full condition Of affairs existing there
She says the situation this week is
mine owners, confident because of
their power and mistreat the people,
Her letter follows:
A Lawless Region.
Victor, Col, June Z, 1904.
Editor Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa:
Dear sir.-Supposing you have al
ready received Geographic commune
cation regarding the horrible affair at
the railroad depot where the thirteen
miners were blown to pieces,I thought
perhaps, you might like to know of
what has taken place since.
This state Is certainly in control of
people who know no law or restraint
except as they choose to establish
rules and then abide by them only so
long as 1t suits their pleasure.
When the strike was declared here
last August Ottumwa was never more
quiet and law abiding than were the
strikers in the city of Victor.
Officials Removed.
The mine owners, knowing they had
a plant tool in the person of the chief
executive of the state, made demands
for the militia and they were sent and
from that time on all courts, law and
order has been defed by the militia,
mine owners and Citizens Alliance
No reports Of the true condition of af-
fairs have been allowed to be sent
out l do not mean to write Of rum.
ors. or hearsay or anything of that
kind, and knowing the way eastern
people are likely to judge of these
matters, without being able to see
them / shall not attempt to tell any.
thing but that of which I have person.
al knowledge.
Soldiers Bring Disorder.
This town, year ago, was filled
with people who to large degree
owned their homes and were practi.
cally settled here. The rougher g :.
ment, such as is found in new camps
had nearly disappeared.
There W. but one dance hall ant
that ccn' only exist spasmodically
owing to lack of patronage. The row
which corresponds to Smoky Row a
home was practically deserted ane
during the month Of May 1908 there
was not an arrest made in the city O.
| Victor.
But mark the change. With the ad
vent of the militia the dance hall i'm
mediately began to flourish, the row
| the same and brawls between the mi
litia and the element which the mine
owners began importing were of dali!
| and nightly occurrence. You coulc
not go upon the street without seeing
soldiers reeling along too drunk tt
! keep the sidewalk. In that condition
| they would often imagine they were
| TT" draw their arms and start "ho
| time" If the local officers would ar
rest them body of cavalry woul.
gallop in and take them UP to camp
After martial law was declared they o
course had things their own way. NJ
! one not living here could believe TIL,
insults the people of this town hav,
taken from that horde. Talk about des
ecrating the 1ag-it has never beef
desecrated or disgraced here except b,
| them. My father was an old sodie
and honor. and revere the veterans
/ and the sight Of Old Glory thrills M
/ through. But it has certainly had t
float over acts of tyranny here as ba,
O'MALLEYS XIX