United labor bulletin., 1911-05-18
CONSPIRACY CHARGED;
OPERATORS C0NSPIRE
MINE WORKERS AND THEIR At
T0RNEY ARRESTED AND BOUND
OVER FOR TRIAL.

Representative A. p. Ardourei Of eoui-
der; Attorney Alexander M. Smith, who
represented the coal miners; Frank L.
Smith, president District No. is, United
Mine Workers Of America; John r. Law
son, who represents District No. is on
the international executive board Of the
United Mine Workers Of America; John
Mclennan, president Of the Colorado
State Federation Of Labor, and Herbert
Saunders, John Mobiles and Thomas
Jones, miners on strike in the northern
fields, have been hailed into court to an
swer charges Of conspiracy, attempt to
kidnap and bringing false charges. There
arg seven counts altogether on which the
nh are charged. The charges were flied
So urday morning last. It was under
stood the complaints would be made at
that time and Lawson. Alexander Smith
and Mctennan appeared in court at that
time and were released on 5000 bon5s
furnished by the Equitable Surety COM
pany.
Monday gave bond in the West side court
for his appearance before that tribunal
in answer to charges OF conspiracy to
commit perjury. subornation OF perjury.
falsely accusing one OF crime and abduc-
ton. filed against him Senator Charles
Ward signed his bond and asked permits
sion OF the court to represent the defend
ant as attorney.
Frank Smith, president of the United
Mine Workers. district No. Is. also gave
bond Monday morning. The other men
charged in the informations have also
presented themselves and given bond.
The only reason that can see for my
being mixed up in the case is that. as
chairman OF the legislative committee.
asked for Judge whitford's impeach-
ment." said Representative Ardourel
~t...xx l... xssd tx.<
Ardourel was chairman of the house COM
mittee that heard the evidence in I'M
peachment proceedings instituted by
John McLennan.
Laboring men In general believe the
case is a conspiracy to keep the leaders
in che labor movement busy all the time
and through attempted prosecutions and
false charges to exhaust the funds of the
labor organizations.
Tho case is an attempt TO get back
at the men that are supporting the strik-
ers in the northern Colorado coal fields
and the prosecutors of Judge Whitford
An injunction was issued by Whitford
restraining the miners IN the northern
fields from doing everything and any
thing Then l6 were brought into court
and sentenced TO one year in jail for vio-
lating the Injunction. some OF the men at
the time not being in the district
Then followed the charges against
Whitford by McLennan and the hearing
of evidence before the house committee.
of which Ardourel was chairman.
During the sitting of this committee
Mrs Margaret Miller testified that she
gave $4,000 to whitford to imprison the
miners. She was later arrested for per
jury. confessed and was sentenced to
from four to six years in the peniten-
tiary.
Now comes the grandstand play of the
district attorneys office. acting for the
coal operators. The Office claims that
the whole thing was conspiracy to i'm
peach whitford. The claim is made that
Mrs. Miller was paid for her testimony
and that she was held under guard dur
ing the hearing before the Ardourel COM
mittee. Many other charges are made.
Laboring men OF the city and state are
not surprised at the steps taken by the
district attorney. for the same thing Is
being done all over the country. The ''in-
terests" are using the government to
prosecute the union men OF the whole
United States. Any charge is made that
will keep the men occupied and divert
their minds from organization.
That the men will prove themselves in
nocent there is no doubt All are men
of high standing in the community in
which they live. and their records as
good citizens win help them greatly in
this trying time OF persecution.