The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-08

The History of tie strike.
Denver. Dec. Sin duration. sac
rlnce Of Hfe. property and in none
tary loss Go the state, miners union.
the coal operators, the miners rail-
roads and private Industries. the COL
oradu coal trikr has been one of the
greatest Iu the history OF American
mining
Th, strike ln thc northern coal
fields. of which the statc-Wld strike
is l continuation was called on Apr
-. 1910. The statewide strike was
called ON September -3. 1913. and
VIRTUALLY paralyzcd the industry oi
Colorado. threw the commonwealth
into turmoil and finally led Ca the
calling out OF the state militia and
the importation of federal stroups
successfully. into the strike territory
TO preserve order.
The toll 81 approximately $4,000.
000 expended during the strike is
shared hy mincrs operators. the uu-
ION. railroads, state and federal su'-
ornments. as we'll as private indus
Itries According 10 union officials
more than $4,000. 600 mas been paid
Ia strike benefits alone. Loss Of
wages TO miners Is estimated at over
50. 600. 900.
The strike has been characterized
by an unusually large number of acts
of violence. and a. least siNty-six per
sons arc known Co have been killed
and about dfty injured as "a result oi
disorders incident to tho labor war
Tho battle between striking min
crs. mine guards and mlit.ameu 20
Ludlow ou April 20. which ended IN
the destruction of the tent colony
was responsible, FOR the death of
twelve children % two omc
whose bodies We're found an "a pic Boo
thc ruins of the site. subsequent
warfare. which included attacks upon
various mining camps 100 Las Anil
mas. Huerfanu. Fremont and Eoul-
ldcr counties marked the elimination
of strike outbreaks. The arrival ui
! federal troops ON April 80. 1914 re-
:. stored peace
stat, troops were sent into the
strike zone October %. 1888, when
local authorities declared they were
| unable Co preserve order Win the
exception 81 n company station 90
Ludlow and another az Walsou1urs
the state troops were Withdrawn on
April Is of the %following year The
next week. however they were re-
/, turned. remaining until the arrival oi
the federal troops.
More than 300 defendant are I'M
VOWED in civil and criminal suits Dn
the dockcts of federal. stEte and dis.
trict courts. as "a result of strike dis
orders Tweuty-seven official and In.
diyiduHI inquiries into tho cause ul
=. tine strike and rs results have neer
made. with varying conclusions The
inquiry Dos a Subcommittee ot ih'
lcOmmlttee ON mines and mining cd
the house of representative. con.
Quoted bon February. n tho iuFcsti
cations OF the federal commission "i
Industrial relations now iu progres.
; boz Denver, are among the most 100
/. portaut. Representative Of the de
purtment Of commerce and labor. O
committee or the state leslslatur"
various social political labor re-
uRious and fraternal organization
have az different times issued report
concerning the situation
a special session 81 the state legis
lature was called ln May last to con
. slider the strike particularly to pro
4 vide funds for meeting expenses iu
.|curred by the STATE troops on strik
duty A measure providing Tor IN
issuance OF strike bonds in the sun
n uf a million dollars was passed som
OF these bonds have been disposed OF
The original demands Of the sirik
n ers included recognition Of the un
Jon. "a 10 per cent advance in wages
AN eight-hour day. miners 90 choos
their check weighraen. pay for mar
. row ana dead work. the rlghi {
trade nt stores other than those ii
the company. and "a strict enforce
ment Of the state mining laws tn
demand FOR recognition of the unto.
p was recently waived. in accordanc
= with e suggestion 81 President Wi
, son ln Il proposed three-year truce
= which was accepted hy the miner
but rejected by the operators. tn
conduct of the strike during the pas
sixteen months has heen under "a
personal direction OF Frank g. HpyeI
international vice precedent 81 IN
Tinted Mir Workers of America
John r.. Lawson, International eS
ecutive board member. and John NJ
Lehman. president 81 District no q
the miners union. J. p Welbori
presldsr, 81 the Colorado Fuel A. Iro
Il aud g. G. Osgood, chairma
81 81 Na.-l - IfFanfurn - fHU AIf