United labor bulletin., 1910-08-18
SHERIFF SCHRADER
WAS CONDEMNED
Man Who Broke UP Miners Household
Goods Given Fair Hearing Before Con-
vention But Did Not Satisfy the Dele
sates-corporation Press Distorted
the Truth.

On account OF the distorted reports of
the reception OF Sheriff Schrader when
he appeared before the convention of the
State Federation OF Labor at Grand
Junction last week. the press committee
of the convention has written the fol-
lowing report and given 1t to the public
over their signatures:
On Wednesday. the 10th day of Aug
ust, a resolution was introduced in the
fifteenth annual convention of the Colo
rado State Federation of Labor. con-
demning Sheriff Schrader of Mesa county
for the action he had taken at the camp
of the Grand Junction Mining and Fuel
company or Cameo. Mesa county. Colo
faco.
The resolution recited that the sheriff
placed armed deputies in charge OF the
camp at the request of the company;
that the day after the sheriffs deputies
had taken charge OF the camp. the strik-
ing miners houses were broken open.
their chnttels removed across the river,
and dumped over an embankment, de-
stfoying stoves. cooking utensils, cloth
ing. bedding. etc, also that the deputies
we're placed at all approaches OF the
camp. and by a show OF arms prevented
the men approaching their former
homes; that the striking miners were in
a body searched without a warrant and
subjected to such humiiiating treatment
as the sheriff and his deputies saw fit
For these actions, the sheriff was con-
demned in the resolution.
After the adoption OF the resolution
by the convention. delegate ON the
Crhr
der to appear before the convention TO
make a statement This permission was
Immediately granted. II was ascertained
that Sheriff Sehrader was not in the con-
vention hail. nor did anyone know where
he was to be found. consequently the
convention proceeded with the usual or
der OF business.
That night the sheriff appeared before
the resolutions committee. claiming that
he had been mistreated in the resolu-
ton, and desired the opportunity to place
himself right before the convention. The
resolutions committee informed the
sheriff that the. resolution was now out
OF their hand. having been adopted by
the conventiin, but that they would bring
In a recommendation that the sheriff be
granted the floor the following morning
at 10 O'Clock. To this the sheriff agreed.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the sheriff ap-
peared before the audience and stated
substantially as follows:
That at the time the request was made
OF him for deputies by Mcneil Bros. of
the Cameo mine, he was informed that
the miners were drinking. carrying guns.
carousing and jeopardizing the peace of
the community. Owing to the fact that
the application for deputies was made
on Sunday he was unable to furnish
them until the following day. Accompa-
MED by these deputies he proceeded to
the Cameo mine. According to his state
ment, two hours were spent by the
sheriff at the property OF the company.
one hour OF which was spent in instruct
ing his deputies In the ofiice, and the
other hour waiting for the return train.
He stated that he instructed them to
preserve the peace OF the camp. to pro-
tect the property OF the company. and
to safeguard the striking miners.
Mr.. Schrader felt that he had been
done an injustice by reports that he
claimed had been circulated throughout
the state. namely, that the miners prop
erty had been destroyed during the time
the camp was under his protection.
When approached by Mcneil Brothers as
to when they could gain possession OF
their houses. the sheriff claims he told
them to seek legal advice. According to
his statement made before the conven-
tion. Mr.. Schrader stated that his dep
uties had absolutely nothing to do with.
the removal OF the miners property from
their cabins and not only that but that
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