La Junta tribune., 1914-05-30
done. the governor could have done !, home.


II he had been competent.
When the general assembly ad-
journed and II became known that
the president intended to remove the
Y. s. troops frcm the state cry
went up from all over the sta,e, from
operators, miners. aud the people
generally asking him not to take the
troops away. and not to trust the
governor to preserve the peace. That
was certainly strong proof that the
people do not believe that the gov
ernor Is competent to control the sit
uation.
We now have the humiliating
spectacle of several different parts
Of our state being governed by fed
eral troops and merely because the
state government has broken down.
Can you as an old republican and an
old soldier be proud OF that fact?
Our only consolation Is that we have
national government that is able
TO protect the lives and the property
Of our people in times when we have
such state administration as this.
Ny whole course has been to en-
force Law and order. whomsoever 1t
might hurt My criticism of Govern
or Ammons was because he did not
enforce law and order.
voted to pay the state troops.
and other expenses. as they were
debts created In the name OF the
state. and they would have been paid
long ago il we had had competent
man al the head OF affairs.
notice that you state that you
are az old soldier and republican.
| honor YOU for both. was born In
to the republican party and have
Away been faithful To its principles
I stood with II even in the free sill
yer times OF 1896. 1898 and 1900
and supported Mckinley and the par
~ when most OF its present leaders
we're out shouting for Bryan and
free silver and the democratic state
ticket My guess IL that you as a
republican. an old soldier and an
lrishman. stood with me In those
days. l. IL not so?
When you have had time to care.
fully consider these matters. | be.
lieve that you will regret the. harsh
words you wrote and that you will
honor me for having tried to uphold
the honor ond the credit of the stat,
against the disgrace OF the present
incompetent administration.
Very truly yours.
WILLIAM {. ROBINSON
MIR Finity replied to this letter as
follows
La Junta. Colo. May %. 1914
VIM {. Robinson. Colorado Springs
Colo,
.trar Sir: Your letter Of the goth
n reply to mine Of a former date
was received. and It's contents care
fully noted.
find much fault with some o
your statements of alleged facts ant
also with your logic In said letter
ou say that the killing OF men. wo
men and children at Ludlow. Colo.
was done by mine guards. ThaI
Ia,cmcnt IL not correct. Was Ma
lor Hamrock. who commanded III.
mon there. mine guard No. ant
majority of the men under hin
we're not mine guards, Well. VIII,
dlicd the two women and eleven
children Why. III. strikers. ol
course. They often kin women ant
children always Intentionally
prrhaps. but by their ignorance
rarclcssncss and want of foresight
learn they were placed IN hole II
TIE ground. In one OF the tents. b.
Tie strikers. and wcr" all smothorct
to death. except n twelve year old
boy who was shot aud killed by Q
tray bullet know all abou, these
tray bullets No one can tell where
hey come from,
but who fired the tcnts7 Why
I me strikers. or some member Of their
antilles. of eours. when ignorant
or stupid people become excited tbcs
10 not know themselves what the,
IRE doins. They probably knocked
over lamp. or scattered fire OF
matches around. and the tents toot
| ire. lived IN. larger part of tbre.
aud half years IN tents and hay,
This To say: II boy or girl OF eight
or ten years OF age WIS IN q tent
when II caush, fire. they could gc'
out IN on. minute. ~ allowed To dd
o. By pulling Ip the side Of the tent
/ md crawling out, N the opening oi