Evening journal., 1914-07-01

In order that the people of Colorado
and the public generally might under
stand conditions with which the militia
and the mine operators were confronted
in the strike zone of Colorado, Brigadier
General John Chase, commanding the
military district of Colorado, has sub
mitted comprehensive report to the
governor, giving full account of the
military occupation OF the strike zone.
In that report, General Chase has this
to say with reference to his efforts to
disarm the strikers and the mine
guards;
"on the 3lst day of October, the third
day Of the occupation, when the es-
tablishment Of the military camps was
well under way, undertook, pursuant
to Your Exeellency's express directions.
to disarm both sides Of the conflict that
/ found raging upon my arrival.
Realizing that in the event OF the
eoncealment of their weapons ] would
have great difficulty in disarming the
combatants, / consulted the strike lead
ers, including John r. Lawson. and OBJ
tanned from them, and especially from
him, an assurance that if l first disarm-
ed the mine guards employed through
the Baldwin Felts Detective Agency to
guard the operators properties, the
strikers would then cheerfully surren-
der the arms in their possession.
1t must be remembered that upon
our first coming into the field, the Ma.
tional Guard had at least the ostensible
welcome and apparent cordial co-opera
tion Of the striking miners.
Relying upon the assurance given
me by Mr.. Lawson and the other strike
leaders. I proceeded to disarm the mine
guards upon the various properties
against whom the most bitter feeling OF
the strikers prevailed
In the disarmament of these guards
had no difficulty whatever. They were
assembled by their employers, the ope
rating companies. and promptly turned
over the high-power rifles with which
they had been supplied
This disarmament ! carried on with
respect to the mine guards and en-
ployes OF the operating companies in
every camp throughout the entire strike
zone, and speedily finished the complete
disarmament of that side OF the in
dustrial conflict.
at was arranged, upon the compile
tion of the disarmament of the opera
tors, that the military receive the arms
of the strikers. and accordingly. upon the
lst of November 1913 by an agreement
between myself and the strike leaders, u
parade OF the troops to the tent colony
a. u Tary1l - l.. 81
ers' colonies, was arranged.
From all appearances the very best
feeling prevailed between the troops and
the strikers. | paraded detachments Of
the troops OF various arms within Las
Animas county at the Ludlow tent col
ony including Mr.. Lawson.
Plans to Develop Good Feeling
My object was not only to receive
the arms OF the strikers. as promised
but to occupy peaceably and with good
feeling the strategic points in the eanons
about Ludlow. which the presence Of so
large a body Of armed men might have
made difficult Of accomplishment with
out bloodshed, had my entrance been
disputed.
"The parade Of the troops at the Lud-
law tent colony was remarkable. The
road Tor half mile or more between
the point Of detraining and the en-
trance to the colony was lined on either
side by men, women and children. Many
Of the men were in the strange cos
tunes of the Greek, Montencgrin, Serv-
inn and Bulgarian armies; for the col
ony numbered among its inhabitants
many returned veterans of the Balkan
wars.
"The little children were dressed in
white, as for a Sunday school picnic. All
carried small American flags and sang
continually the Union songs. Through
this line Of men, woHen and children
the troops paraded infantry. cavalry
and field artillery Flags were waved in
welcome, and an improvised band OF the
strikers hcralded our approach.
eve passed by Ludlow, occupied the
Berwind and Hastings canons. and then
returned to the colony to receive the
surrender of the hundreds Of high-power
rifles | knew the strikers 10 be pos
sessed OF.
First Instance of Bad Faith.
"At this point occurred the first in
stance OF bad faith on the part of the
striking people. Expecting to receive
hundreds, ii not thousands Of arms,
there were delivered into my possession