The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-13
AGED MINER TOLD
TEAR FILLED TALE
Continued from Page One.

only the strikers and their wives and
children, not only the coal operators,
but the public"
Thus LAWSON announced what he
declared to he the policy of the Unit
ed Mine Workers In labor disputes.
He recounted the miners version OF
the ten-year controversy in Colorado.
AS he talked his rich, distinct voice
now and then trembled with sudden
passion.
II was n recital OF blood, hate and
misery which the labor leader poured
ont lie told OF battles in which both
sides shot to kill; of a state of war
fare in which strikers and militiamen
braved billiards. in cherries camps.
Began Work When a Child.
The labor leader told the committee
that he began working in coal mines
when a child of eight years. He out.
lined the methods by which, as he
alleged. the United Mine Workers
call strikes. Thus he entered upon
his story of the coal mining industry
In Colorado, from the time of the
strike OF 1903, which was los. py the
miners.
an that strike" he declarsI, "the
operators brought In gunmeC, thugs
who had been guilty OF almC every
crime on the calendar-to in.imidate
the miners. They. were successful
Some OF the strikers were frightened
into going back to the mines. The
others were scattered to the four
winds. Many were deported.
ITO fill the place of the strikers the
companies brought in strikebreakers.
But soon these very strikebreakers
discovered that they had been put
into mines where conditions were un.
endurable Thus IL came about in
course OF time these very men appeal
ed to our organization. They wanted
to join the union, to strike for their
rights.
I'VE took them into the union, but
we advised them not to strike. We
realized then we could not win"
Lawson then told of number of
cases In which, he said. the union had
prevented strikes. In the meantime.
however, the men were joining the or.
der.
Took His Life In His Hands.
But an organizer took his life in
his hands when he went into the
CAMPS" he explained. Some organ
izers have been killed In Southern
Colorado" '
Were any of the murderers tried?"
interrupted Representative Byrnes.
Yes. they were tried by hand.
picked juries," flashed back Lawson.
"The operators picked the juries and
the sheriffs. Look here, I've seen an
English speaking man tried for muir.
der and on the jury were eleven Mex.
leans who couldn't speak English"
Then the witness told of the calling
OF the strike OF 1918. In which he
claimed IS per cent of the miners
walked out within a week. He told
of the exodus of miners from their
homes TO the tent colonies provided
by the union.
The operators had an army of
from 600 TO 700 gunner IN Lasanimas
and Hurfano counties" he said They
had what Is called the death special
an armored automobile, in which was
mounted one OF their machine guns.
and which carried squad Of private
detectives.
"Once I talked with Sergeant Pet
ten, who told me that he was operat-
ing machine gun for the mine com
panies. Seen them operate? Well,
I've heard them. We didn't buy any
machine guns. We bought some rifles
TO protect the lives and property OF
the miners
Lawson then began his recital of
various disorders In the strike zone.
He told OF a skirmish at the Ludlow
tent colony. In which he said. no one
was hurt. Next he described the bat
tie at the Forbes tent colony on Oct.
~. IN which one man was killed aud
two wounded.
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