The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-06-02
Of State Troops During Re-
cent Trouble
Commander Of Militia In Colorado
Strike Zone TeStIfieS.
DENIES CHARGES OF CRUELTY

Judge Ben Lindsey Also Appears Be-
fore the United States Commission
on Industrial Relations and Attacks
the Officers Testimony and Bitterly
Assais the Mine owners-Revew
Of the Testimony.
New York, May Zy.-The side of the
miiitiamen in the Colorado strike war
was given before the United STATES
commission on industrial relations By
Major Edward ]. Boughton, who com.
manded the militia during the strike
troubles. He was a member of the
commission appointed by Brigadier
General John Chase to find out who
was responsible for the burning OF
the tent colony at Ludlow and the
killing OF the wives and children of
the strikers, and his evidence was
largely defense of the miIitiamen
when they we're in the strike zone.
Judge Ben d. Lindsey of Denver,
who came here to plead the cause of
the strikers and who has been trying
to see John d. Rockefeller. Jr., ap-
peared after the testimony of Major
Boughton was finished and asked to
be put on the stand to reply to some
of the statements of the latter. The
request was granted and he attacked
the testimony of Major Boughton and
bitterly assailed the mine owners.
Major Boughton said that the i'm
mediate cause Of the strike battle at
Ludlow and the burning of the tent
colony was an attack on the soldiers
mistook a movement of the troops on
a nearby hill as hostile demonstra-
tion. THE machine guns were not
used against the tent colony" he said.
''They we're used merely to cover the
movement of the troops. The tents
were set on fire by combustion caused
by bullet The fire was at first ac-
cidental. but 1t was afterward spread
by the national guardsmen."
Lindsey a Witness.
The presence of the women and
children in the pits where they
sought refuge under the tents, was
unknown to the soldiers, he said.
When the fire started the soldiers
rescued 20 or 25 women. He admitted
there was common belief in Colo
RADIO that militia officers were con-
/ trolled by the mine owners.
Replying to a question by Commits
sioner Garrison, he said that he had
been to the Rockefeller offices and
saw a Mr.. Green, but did not see Mr..
Rockefeller
Judge Lindsey testified that the
president of the mine owners associ-
alton was head Of a society for the
prevention OF cruelty to children, but
did not live up to his precepts. Many
were killed In the mills he declared
and the corporation controlled dis
trict attorneys. judges of the supreme
court and other officers OF the>law as
they would office boys.
Judge Lindsey declared tnat he
had affidavits of people who swore
they heard the order to the soldiers
10 burn the tents also that he could
produce evidence showing that mine
guards were turned on the tents un
Ter which there we're innocent WON
en- and children,
'If the trouble Is settled" Judge
Lindsey continued, "the lull will only
be temporary. A far bigger storm Is
coming unless the employers, who
are the benetciaries of unfair laws
are fair to their employees" He sale
that there would be repetition o
to Ludlow horrors unless the presi
dent kept the federal troops there
He charged the mine owners with de
liberate unfairness to the employees.
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