Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-12-02
A MONOPOLY OF LABOR
TRUE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION
ON FAIR BASIS SAID TO
BE sTlFLED
OPERATORS ARE ROASTED
COLORADO GRAND JURY SAYS
employees HAVE MUCH FOR
WHICH TO PROTEST

Pueblo, Col, Dec. 2.-The task of
issuing warrants for the arrest of the
rs officials and members of the Unit
ed Mine Workers Of America, who
were indicted late yesterday by the
United States grand jury, was begun
today by court officials here. The
warrants will be placed in the hands
Of United States Marshal Dewey G.
Bailey. who, it is said, had received
assurances from attorneys represents
ing the indicted men that they would
be produced when wanted.
The indictments charge conspiracy
to monopolize labor and conspiracy
in restraint of interstate commerce.
The one charge was based on the pro
vision Of the federal antitrust law
prohibiting any number of workmen
to conspire to monopolize labor. The
other was based on the provision Of
the same law prohibiting restraint OF
trade between two states.
The indictments followed several
weeks investigation Of conditions ex-
isting IN the Colorado coal fields,
where sg h been Is pKoaraak
tigation scores Of witnesses were ek-
amined, including Governor E M.
Ammons, officials and representatives
of the coal companies operating prop
critics in the various districts, offic-
ials and members Of the United Mine
Workers of America, and peace Of
ficers and citizens of the coal dis
tricts.
The report Of the Jury criticised
acts Of the operators in a number. OF
instances. saying that, from testimony
deduced, there existed reasonable
grounds for many Of the grievances
complained of by the miners"
The jury criticised mine-owned sa-
looms in the coal camps, some Of
which, it said, were conducted con
trary to law. Camp marshals, in some
instances, were accused Of having ex-
ercised system o. espionage. The.
jury found that some phases of the
scrip system apparently are still in
use and are the sources Of complaint
from MANY r1iners .
The jury report declares it had
found that the "state laws have not
been enforced so aS to gIveeall per-
sons concerned equal rights" It
says: "The coal companies have been
sufficiently influential to nominate,
elect and control many county Off
GERS and have done so with the re-
suit Of complicating the industrial
situation by arousing political preju-
dice"
The jury gives space to its findings
Of violations Of the eight hour law
and the method pursued by the Unit
ed Mine Workers in their conduct Of
the strike.
OF these methods the report says:
eThe methods pursued by the Unit
ed Mine Workers OF America in their
endeayors to force recognition Of their
union by the coal mine operators in
this state are an insult to conserya-
tive and law-abiding labor"
On another point the report says:
Evidently no qualification is nee
essary for membership in the United
Mine Workers Of America, other than
a promise to pay dues, which are ap-
parently used to support insurrection
and lawlessness when necessary to
force their demands by intimidation
and fear whenever strikes are called.
with the result Of injuring other
trades and the entailment Of hard
ships and priyations on the people Of
the entire commonwealth"
Recommendations attached urge
the impartial enforcement of the laws
and the enactment Of new laws to
correct the evils mentioned.