United labor bulletin., 1911-11-30
ANOTHER KILLING
IN COAL FIELDS
State Operation of Coal Mines
Proposed to Prevent Legal
HoIdup and Murder.

aroused by the increased forces of depu-
tized strikebreakers, and much trouble
is anticipated.
Angelo De Andrea, union miner and
a night watchman, is being held for the
murder at Superior Tuesday of Dude
Searcy, gunnan employed by the Rocky
Mountain Fuel company. The killing is
the elimination of the restriction of the
rights of the striking miners as citizens
by the guards in the employ of the coal
trust. According to an eye witness,
Searcy and his brother James threatened
the strikers when the latter approached
the depot to meet an incoming car.
We'll get you yet, Angelo" Searcy is
reported to have told the marshal
Two hours later De Andrea returned
to the scene to prevent any outbreak as
another car arrived. Searcy is reported
to have pulled out his gun and fired. De
Andrea shot back He fired several
shots.
Dude searcy kept retreating slowly
until he reached pile of ties to the
side of the -bullpen-" Then suddenly he
dropped. mortally wounded. An exam
ination later is purported to have shown
that Searcy was shot from behind. the
bullet penetrating his side.
This fight was precipitated by the
companys men II was brought about
not by vicious outbreak on the part of
the miners regarding the old contention.
wage increase. but through the nag
ging of them. Success in having the
companys imported men desert the
mines in great numbers is the cause of
this outbreak. We are having greater
success than the interests had counted
on.
Monday 80 men is said to have de-
serted the Louisville mines Tuesday
morning a great many left the Superior
mines. From present indications the
mines will be compelled to shut down
within a fortnight because of the re-
duced forces of its workers.
There seems to be but one way to pre-
vent this slaughter of men on the indus
trial field. and that is through the state
owning and operating the coal mines.
A public meeting will be held by the
chamber of commerce Friday of next
week to discuss the coal trust situation
which exists in Colorado
Omar GarwOod, as a member of a
special committee appointed by the
chamber OF commerce to investigate the
matter. will recommend that the state
contract for mining all its own coal and
sell the product on the cars at the mine
as private operators do now.
President Edward Keating of the state
land board. who has been advocating the
operation of Colorado coal lands by the
state. will show that there is enough
coal deposits on state land around Den
yer TO break the backbone of the coal
trust and keep il broken. Keating de
clares there are at least 100000 acres
of state coal land.
Omar Garwood corroborates this state
ment and adds that lit is time the state
commenced handling the coal it has been
leasing at the rate of 10 cents per ton.
The purpose of the public meeting will
Of sl,..c oil rfnrrN-
mittee and to discuss the whole coal sit
uation as it exists in Colorado"
Before the meeting Professor George.
state geologist. will furnish the commit
tee with a summary of the coal deposits
of Colorado. their approximate situation
and probable value. This information
will be given at the meeting for the
benefit of the members.
Il believe. with President Heating OF
the state land board. the coal trust in
Colorado can be successfully broken if
the state will operate its coal lands
Here is a chance for Organized Labor
to do something really worth while. Let
the delegates to the chamber of COM
merce from Organized Labor attend this
meeting. state the position of Organized
Labor in this matter and pledge the great
influence of Organized Labor TO the sup
port of Mr., Keating of the state land
board and Attorney Garwood il they will
endeavor to have the state operate
mines for the benefit of the people. 1t
is lasting disgrace that men should be
murdered without cause; that the public
should be held up by the coal trust and
inconvenienced in hundred ways. while
at the same time the state and city Off
cials sit idly by and let the plunder pro
ceed. while at the same time the people
own enough coal in the state to last for
a century The position is ridiculous.
Let us act at once.