The daily sentinel., 1913-10-18
STATE SHOULD
M|NEHEROWN
COAL THEORY
sentinel speeial servlce.

Sentinel Special Service.
Denver. Oct. 1S.-The same action
urged at the outbreak of the coal
miners strike in the Northern Col
orado fields nearly three years ago,
that the state mine its own coal. is
again being agitated here, but it is
hardly likely that Governor Ammons
VIII take kindly to the suggestion. He
Is being urged to undertake this
method as means of ending the
present strike troubles and prevent
ing the reoccurrence of the difficult
ties in the future.
Petitions calling for ,his action
are to be circulated in Denver and
have already been prepared by those
who want to invoke this plan as
means of stopping the strike and Civ
ing to the whole people OF the state
cheaper coal.
The contention is held by some
that the governor has such n legal
right. while others maintain he has.
Which is a correct Interpretation of
the situation. however, remains to be
proved. Just how, it is not known
at this time.
1t is asserted that If Governor Am
mons has not the power to take this
action, the people have through the
initiative, and the latter alternative
probably will be resorted to by the
advocates of such plan.
| The claim is further being ad-
vanced. that If the state has the con-
/ Istitutional right to grant municipali-
ties the right TO mine coal, it can it
lself mine coal to the end that the
people of the state be served with
coal at reasonable rates, which the
claim is now being they are denied.
If the governor, say the advocates
of the plan. declares himself unable
to take such action, they ask that he
declare the coal belt under martial
law, take possession of the mines,
employ union miners on the same
terms now granted them by some
thirty independent. operators in that
region and furnish the people of Col
orado coal at reasonable figures.
These same advocates also are ask
ing the governor to call the legisla-
ture in extra session for the purpose
of passing a compulsory arbitration
law which will enable the Officers of
the state to end the prevailing coal
strike and prevent future troubles OF
this character. They also want the
law amended so as to enable the
state to fix fair freight rate for
hauling coal to any part of the state.
When seen the governor had moth
ing to give out on these matters. He
Is studying the situation to deter
mine just what action he should take
in the premises.
All these matters have not been
officially brought to the governor 5
attention, but he has been advised
OF what Is being planned.
Discussing the states right to
mine its own coal, w. II. Malone,
formerly private secretary to Cover
( nor Shafroth, said today that in his
opinion the state of Colorado could
legally undertake the mining of coal
which in his opinion could give bene-
ficial results TO the masses of people
OF Colorado. The same plan was sug-
gested during Governor Shafroth's in
cumbency in office. but nothing ever
came of the plan, and IL died in in
fancy. 1t is more than likely the
same fate awaits the present similar
movement, although the plan is being
urged by some of the leading union
sympathi2ers who also are prominent
in democratic circles.
State Labor Commissioner Brake is
another who believes that the state
has perfect legal right to mine its
own coal.