The chronicle=news., 1913-10-14
4" ACI1AToR IN COAL FIELDS
IS DUE CRIME AND POVERTY y


the desires and interests OF major
ity OF citizens and OF the miners In
volved. presents the question wheth-
er the state OF Colorado Is powerless
to enforce It's laws and protect Its
citizens and revenues from the abus-
es necessarily resulting from a strike
brought on by aliens to tn. common
wealth.
\ month ago these striking min
ers were earning good support for
their families. and were generally
satisfied. while the coal mines On
state land. leased To operators, We're
contributing To the revenues Of the
state; all the other Industries In the
state and thos. employed therein
We're earning money and the condi-
tions We're generally prosperous.
The annual royalty received by the
state each year from leases OF state
land to coal operators is "a little over
$4,000.
From the one-third OF l per cent
per ton tax on all coal mined from
privately owned land. the state
should receive annually about s:I.-
600. making the total yearly revenue
accruing directly To the stat. from
coal mining about 5000.
Prior to the strike. the coal mines
land coke ovens In the state furnished
employment to about $4,000 men
Computing their wages at So per day
each. which Is considerably below
the average. they were earning daily
over $4,000.
Hut now come. uninNitcd. Hayes
aud Jones, man ind woman.
neither Of them citizens OF the state.
nor having y single business interest
In II. and purposciy destroy these de-
-iiabic conditions. violate our laws.
land substitute depression OF business.
suffering. crime. and ,rcafon In their
iatyai.
II the acts Of thcsc dirturbcr. and
their associates are beyond legal CON
troll. and are carried to their nvowcd
purpos. unionism or the cessation
OF all coal minin. In the state
business Of every kind will he parai
yzrd. and a direct loss Of revenue to
tn" state and it's cost miners OF the
above amount. will cnsuc.
The laws Of this stat. forbid Nick
etiug or loitcrtn; ON or patro!'.nI
streets. highways. etc. To in,iintiatc
or influence othcrs not to work.
They also prohibit the carrying of
concealed weapons. except by peace
Officers. tn cities or towns. and pro-
hibit anyone carrying anywhere u
weapon concealed or uhronrcal-d.
with intent to assault another.
Our human laws declare 1; uulaw-
lul to wilfuiiy or uEn.c"ssnr!l. ~
pose to inc,cmcncy of weather or de-
priyc OF necessary food or shelter any
child. ar for any man TO wiifnily me-
gi.r,. fail or refuse tn provide icns-
enable support for hls wife or minor
children. cxccp, FOR physical incapae-
iiy or other good csis-.
The idea that the power and duty
To enforce tho laws Tor the pr.ycn
t,ou and punishment Of crime. rcfi
primarily Gu the county Officers. bi;
not ON the governor OF III. state. uu-
til the county officers fail To perform
or request the governor to act. is "r-
roncous.
a Ia.
county Officers by statute. but 1t als1
;. rests upon the governor by the higb'
!, cr authorIt. OF constitutional com
nand. in thc.c words:
the supreme executive power o
the state shall be vested in the goy
:. crnor. who shall TAX, care that th'
:, laws he faithfully executed
When the governor. either by 7"
guest OF county Officers. or other r,
= liable Information. knows or believe
i. tha, the laws arc not being faithful
~ executed. h. has the power and l
becomes his duty to act speedily an,
in case the county Officers were II
mpathy with the offenders. or 10
any rclson failed to make u request
r,rmit rebellion and anarchy to &
rr rnrcstraincd.
The only excuse of these disturb
Z ,rr is that they want 10 force unio.
ism upon unwilling coal miner.
many of whom are alicnG to the stat
and nation and ignorant Of its law
aud customs.
Hayes admits that all other claim'
such as chcckweighman. etc. are al
re3dy reluircd by law. and hence Ii
refused to submit to arbitration whc
that was gugbested by state officer,