Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-09-23
SITUATION NOT CRITICAL
IN LAS ANlMAs COUNTY SOME OF
THE BIG MINES ARE
WORKING
STEEL PLANT MAY CLOSE
c. r. G. /. ESTABLISHMENT AT PU-
EBLo MAY RUN OUT OF
COAL

Denver, Sept. 2S The coal miners
strike in Colorado, called by the Unit
ed Mine Workers Of America, to se-
cure recognition of the union, wage
and other concessions, became effect
i've at 8 o'clock this morning. Except
in a few small mines, operated by in
dependent companies, the tie-up was
more or less complete and was ac-
complished without disorder, the day
shift merely refusing to go into the
mines at the usual hour.
OF the 10000 to 10000 men usually
employed in the mines of Las Animas,
Huerfano, Ell Paso, Boulder and Routt
counties, figures based on incomplete
reports placed the number of idle
between 1000 and 5000. How many
Of these previously had left the va
rious camps could not be determined.
Apparently the fight centered in the
Trinidad district comprising Las AMI
mas and Huerfano counties, where
most of the mines are operated by the
Colorado Fuel and Iron company, the
Yictor-American Fuel company and
the Rocky Mountain Fuel company.
Normally more than 5000 miners are
employed in these counties, and i'm
partial estimates today place the num-
ber of idle men at about 5000
In Fremont county, where about 1 :
100 men usually are employed, It was
said that 1000 are idle. In this coun-
ty two small mines employing about
100 men continued in operation. From
Routt county reports were that 400
of the 600 miners we're on strike
Comparatively little effect Of the
strike order was seen in the mines +
Boulder county, where a strike has
been in progress for several months.
The only serious detection was re-
ported at Louisville, where 200 men
quit In Lafayette, Marshall and Su-
perior counties conditions were nor
NAL.
United Mine Workers officials ex-
pressed qualification over conditions
based ON early reports and predicted
that the tie-up would be practically
complete by night Some Of the large
operators stated that their private
reports showed as high as 55 per cent
of men at work in some mines with
practically total stoppage of work
in a few cases. They expressed the
belief that many Of the men would
60 back to work in few days.
Union pickets were stationed around
the mines in some places, notably at
Louisville in northern Colorado. The
union officials continued preparations
to care for the strikers and their
families in the tent colonies establish
ed in Las Animas, Huerfano and Ere
mont counties.
The chief points at issue are: Rec
ognition Of the union; checkweighmen
chosen by the miners; wage scale
based on tonnage rates; eight-hour
day for all classes OF labor; pay foi
dead work, and abolition Of the guard
system.
J. F. Welborn, president of the Col
orado Fuel and Iron company, today
expressed qualification over the stu
alton, stating that his reports show
that so per cent Of the miners are a
work, with no defections in his com
pany's properties in the Gunnison ant
Crested Butte districts. He declared
that SO far as his company is concern
ed more men continued at work thar
had been expected. In a signed state
ment he charged that many Of thos
who stayed out of the mines toda,
did so because they had been intimi
dated" and predicted that "whel
they see they win be protected man,
will return
He declared that the company woul
take steps necessary to protect it
men at work. He expressed conf