Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-13
COMPANY REGULATES THEM
EFFORT is MADE TO MAKE THE
PLACES TAKE ON NATURE
or MEMS CLUBS
AN ANARGHISTIC BAR ROOM
BOOZE DisPENsARY At AeulLAR
FLOATS RED FLAG FROM
IT'S STAFF

Denver colo, FEB. saloons
seem to us a necessity in mining
camps declared John g. Osgood,
chairman Of the board Of directors OF
the yictor-American Fuel company,
in cross ss-examination today before the
house committee investigating the
colorado coal miners strike. The coal
operator was questioned by p. P. Cos
tigan, attorney for the strikers, regard
ing the charge in a recent report OF
federal grand jury at Pueblo that
the mining companies run saloons on
their properties.
Il cannot speak for the other COM
panies but we regulate the saloons in
our camps9 replied Mr. osgood. They
seem to be necessity in mining
camps. Ii two of our mines as an
experiment We transformed the sa-
looms into clubs with reading rooms
and other conyeniences. We also
prohibited treating. we found that
at those camps on an average the
miners spent about IS per month
less each for liquor than those at
other mines. AT r Redstone, one Of those
two camps, never saw drunken
man in five or six years. although
the men were drinking constantly. :
The witness told Of an anarchist
saloon which he said was run by
enemies of the mine owners in Agul-
lar canyon. He said that red flag
with a bowie knife on it floated over
the saloon.
Mr. Costigan asked the witness
about political conditions in southern
Colorado mir. Osgood denied any
knowledge Of political activity by the
mine owners. He emphatically dis
avowed any action by himself in n
fluencing politics. ar
John G. Osgood resumed his testi-
mony. telling Of the efforts Of his
company to comply with the law. The
witness told of the Importation OF
strikebreakers being delayed by the
governors order against bringing in
men. He said that the company had
hired no men except on contracts
which stated plainly that a strike was
in effect.
1--WE asked Governor Ammons," nc
added, Ito have the militia examine
all the imported men and make sure
that they understood the conditions
and had not been deceived This was
done by order Of General Chase"
Osgood then told Of the visit OF
Ethelbert Stewart Of the federal de-
partment Of labor, who came to Den
yer in an effort to settle the strike.
"Mr Stewart spent practically all
his time with the labor men while in
This state he declared. I'VE met
him once in the governors office,
We offered to furnish him any infor.
nation available, but he said he did
not want any information that 10
was not an investigators but a media
tor. Secretary Wilson, during his vis.
it here, did not ask US for any infer
nation regarding the strike"
DISCOURAGED Unions
Cross-examination was begun BY
Mr.. Costigan. The witness admitted
that the companies have discouraged
the formation Of unions and secret
societies. He declared that so far as
he knew his company was obeyins
the law regarding the eight-hour day
AS to checlEweighmen, he said his
company was ready to comply with
the statute. but that the miners had
not selected checlkweighman at any
victor-American mines.
Questioned sharply about conditions
under union contracts. Mr.. Osgood
declared that E. G. Belts. an operator
In Fremont county, signed contraei
with the United Mine Workers d
American at the beginning Of the
present strike.