Las Vegas optic., 1914-12-10
GUARD OFFICER TESTIFIED
TELLS HOW LARoRERs, WIVES
sHRlEKED PROFANITY AND
MEN USED CLUBS
MRS.HAVRINAN INVESTIGATES
WOMEN MEMBER OF INDUSTRIAL
COMMISSION VISITS LUD-
Low COLONY


Denver, Dec. 1O.-The United States
Industrial relations commission today
announced that the hearings at Dalfas.
Texas, scheduled for next week, will
be postponed until the conclusion Of
the investigation into the Colorado
coal strike. The hearing here was or
dered to end Saturday, but win be
continued as long as is believed nee
essary.
End of Good Feeling
The first witness at today's session
of the strike investigation was Captain
Harold G. Garwood, commanding a
militia cavalry troop. He said that at
Isopris, Lieutenant Gary Lawrence Of
his troop enlisted from is TO 20 mine
guards. He had not been instructed
to secure guard recruits, the witress
said.
Captain Philip S. Van else OF Com
pany X, First infantry, Colorado Na-
tional Guard, testified regarding the
ending Of the era Of good feeling be-
tween the strikers and the militin.
This occurred he said. upon ne
arrival Of a party Of strikehreakers at
Ludlow about the end Of the Noycm
bsf 1853 before the train arrivssi the
strikers from the Ludlow e0a
swarmed on the railroad track. armed
with rocks and spiked baseball ears
The men were si.ent. but the women
shrieked profanity at the advance ALL
itiamen, who, with fixed bayonets,
cleared the place.
A few days earlier the strikers had
been peacefully disarmed Before the
strikebreakers were imported the
strikers and the militiamen had play
ed baseball together Captain Van
else testified that two mine guards
had been enlisted in his company, but
that he had not known OF their pre-
vious occupation.
Every Charge Investigated
Van else said member OF his com
pany had been fined $50 and sentenc-
ed to 80 days in confinemants forainu7
sulting the wife Ludlow striker
Every charge made by strikers
against his men was investigated and
satisfaction given the complainant.
He testified that Louis Tikas had CO.
operated in maintaining friendly re-
lations between Company K and the
strikers. TilSas was killed in the bat
tie Of Ludlow on April 20, 1914 Com
pany X was not at the Ludlow battle
having previously been withdrawn
from the strike region. Van cise tes-
titled.
Referring to the battle Of Ludlow
Van else said that when ne heard
that Tikas and other strikers had been
killed, and that it was charged that
Tikas had been a prisoner at the time
OF his death, he brought the matter
to the attention Of Adiutant General
John Chase. on the following day
(Aprii 25) van else and Captain W.
G. Danks took the matter up with
Governor Ammons. me governor was
exceedingly worried. the witness said.
Major E. j. Boughton. Judge advo-
cate, asked Van Clse and DanlEs 20
serve On commission to investigate
the killings. and the governor ordered
the commission to go to ludlow
secrecy Is Maintained
Captain Van else said the inquiry
was conducted under oath Of secrecy
He refused TO testify as to what oc
CURED at the inquiry until released
from his oath by General Chase and
Governor Ammons Chase, who was
IN the chamber where the hearEn 81
are conducted. Immediately gave tie
release, but Captain Van gise insisted
upon 4 release from the governor The
commission took recess wllis Var
/, Cise accompanied by a sergeant As