The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-23

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James Adams, the first seif-styled
"peon" to testify before the commit /.
tee. Adams had testified that he was
held prisoner az Delagua and escaped.
The witness waa asked about The
visit OF Ell Gross end George Howe.
OF the state labor bureau. TO the Dell
aqua camp when he refused to per
nit them o. tain To the miners. Snud-
grass explained that he had been ad-
vised that the men had first visited
Hastings and there had told an Itai-
ian workman that he was a "diagrncc
10 the itniian race" for working dur
ing strike. On that account. he
said. he refused to permit them to in
terview miners az Delagaa
SnOdgrass told OF general condi-
tions at the Dciagua mine and the
efforts OF the company tn protect the
men. He said the instructions 81
General Manager W J. Murray were
to spare no expense In makins the
workings safe. Tho prartirc cf putt
ting stone dust in the mine az "a pre-
ventive of coal dust explosions. he
declared. was udopiee nt the DelaRnn
mine eighteen months before Il wa
advocated by Tho federal bureau Of
mines. Tho Witness, IN response TO
questions. said he had never dis
charged man for making complaint
or belonging 90 the United Mine
Workers OF America. lie assorted that
the men az nelagun camp were Suits
fed. and that before the strike many
OF them had assured him that they
would not leave the employ OF the
company
why dld they strike. them" asked
Mr. Cove.
II asked them why they were going
bla khnnd letters warning them not
strike. and they said they were afraid
10 work" replied the witness. They
told me they had received threats and
baIckhand letters warning them not
to stay In the mine"
The witness then Eavc his version
of the various disurdcrs at Delngun
and Hastings during the acute period
OF the strike
snodgrnss said that few days be-
fore the strike was called he made n
canvass Of the Dclagua miners and
that not more than flfty wanted 20
strike. lie said that al present he
had as many men az work as he had
ANAAAA nays N'ANAt AAAi NAAAAAhs
The witness was cross-cNamincd by
T.. =. Costigan. lie was asked about
the story OF Montencsriu secret So
cicty ecing broken up by the company
ami replied that tho organization waF
not broken up. but that its members
gradually drficd away from the camp
and, he supposed, ultimately took
their charter With them
In Response 10 a question, the wit
ness said he had been elected mayor
OF the town of Delagua by the voters.
majority Of whom. he stid were
employees OF the company. lie added
that he received no pay as mayor,
and that he was elected after am
Bouucfne f4is dfndtdaey on lsis own in
itiative and without any prompting
from the company or anyone else
Mr. Cosligan questioned the witness
searchingly about alleged political ac-
tivity of the Victor American Fuel
company. but he made a sweeping de-
niaI OF an charges.
In response To further questions.
snodgrass reiterated that the miners
were free 90 leave the camp any time
they wished
Questioned further about the town
affairs of Delagua, the witness admit
ted that in some cases the company
doducts from the pay of the miners
poll tax levied for the maintenance
of the roads. Replying 10 questions
by Captain Danks. the witness said
the militiamen stationed al Deiagua
during the strike had been orderly
and well behaved.
Oscar N8nder5ur. camp marshal at
Dclagua, next was put on the stand
by the operators. He denied that ne
Stopped Giovanni Minnott when the
latter was trying TO get out or the
camp.
Tho committee then took luncheon
recess until 1880.
Major Edward Boughaon, fudge
sdvocate OF the Colorado national
guard. today investigated the cases
OF Delayo Constantinio and Ettora
Ferrcro. arrested Sunday for attack
ing Mike pinchck. witness for the
mine operators before the strike In
vestigution The men satisfied the
Judge advocate that they were not
strikers and that the incident was tho
result of personal quarrel.
Major Houghton said the prisoners
probably would Doe released