United labor bulletin., 1914-03-07
STRIKE PROBE IS
NEAR THE FINISH
Committee Returns to Denver
for the Windup
Every Charge Made by Strikers
Has Been Proven; Operators
Make Sorry ,howine

Investigation of the Colorado coal
strike sy the congressional committee
will probably come TO close next week,
IS the taking of testimony at Trinidad
and Walsenburg ended Wednesday and
members Of the committee returned to
Denver Thursday. After concluding here
the committee may make short trips TO
Boulder and Routt counties.
Al charges made by the striking coal
miners and the special committee OF in
vestigation appointed by the State Fed
Grafton Of Labor have been conclusively
proven. with many additional facts
brought to ligh, by the federal probe.
The operators have made a sorry show
ing for their side and in at least one in
stance have plead guilty to violating
the federal po~toffiee laws by issuing
money orders of the Colorado Fuel ami
Iron company in lieu of government
money orders.
While In the Trinidad district the con-
grcssmen entered the under workings OF
the Dclagua mine. the iarges, coal pro-
ducing property in the state. and Chair
man Footer made a personal visitation
10 the military prisoners being held in
communicate In the county jails.
One Of the important matters brought
ont was that In Las Animas and Huer-
fano counties the coal companies were
sole political dictators and that the Of
fieers chosen owed allegiance 10 them
and no; TO the people Crooked elections
and voting OF aliens was shown to have
been the common practice. and by this
method fhc g1nmcn imported By the or-
orators 20 subiugatr employees had been
given commissions a. dcruiy sheriffs.
eonstables. etc. and clothed with com
piefe police authority. Notwithstanding
the fact that they were not citizens of
Colorado.
Several witnesses testified they had
had hcen held in a state Of pconaRc and
refused pcrmission 20 leave the mining
camps Mine forcmen and sub-bosses
testified they were compelled to shor,
weight the coal digpcrs by order of their
superior Officers. and that pay for dead
work in and about the mines was rarely
considered.
President John MeIennan and Moth
cr" Jones are vet TO give their testimony
TO the committee. The latter. who i-
still being held military prisoner in
san Rafael hospital. viii probably be
brought to Denver for this purpose next
week.
Organizer William Diamond. arrested
last week on the charge Of assisting state
troopers 20 desert. was released from
prison. as the military officers were nm
able 20 substantiatc their charges
All the militiamcn with the exception
of about 200 cavalrymcn have been called
in by Governor Ammons. because he i
unable TO raise money 10 pay them.
Most Of the priyatcs have not seen the
paymastcr for sixty days. and they were
dcscrting so fast that recall from
service was the only means left to save
q fragment Of the Colorado National
Guard.
Reports of graft and scandalous con.
duct on the part of the militia and the
Officers are rife. II is highly probable
that the next Legislature will order y
thorough investigation of the militia and
the bills for supplies and pay for men
who deserted but were kept on the rolls
by the military officers.