Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-16
MAY DEFY THE COMMITTEE
CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATORS
DEMANDS MAY BE UTTERLY
IGNORED
STRIKERS RAISE QUESTION
THEY DECLARE THE WoMAN's
TESTIMONY WOULD PROVE
VALUABLE

Trinidad, Colo, Feb l6Late this
afternoon the conflict between the
military authorities and the congress
sional investigation committee over
the eligibility Of Mother Jones as d
witness in the hearings being conduct
ed here had not been settled
i a sharp clash over the right Of the
house coal mine strike investigation
committee to summon Mother Mary
Jones, now held incommunicado in
San Rafael hospital here by the Col
orado military authorities, came at
the opening Of the first Trinidad ses-
sion of the investigation today. With
an open prospect OF defiance Of its
powers by the commander Of the Col
orado National Guard, the committee
deferred its decision until the after
noon session when arguments OF at
torneys will be heard.
The conflict Of military and congress
sional authority arose when 3. r. Cos
tigan, for the strikers, asked the com
mittee I'd issue subpoena for
Mother Jones' declaring mat without.
- ald e aal eHa FER.
the strikers would Be unable to pro.
duce the prisoner as a witness. IN
stant protest was made by Major
Boughton, judge advocate of the Ma
tional Guard of Colorado. In the face
Of q hint that its authority might be
resisted by the state military officers,
the committee deferred its decision.
At the opening Of tne session today
the assembly room Of the city hall
was crowded to the doors, many Of
the spectators standing.
After the preliminaries were dis
posed Of, B. P. Costigan. Of counsel
for the strikers. addressed the com
mittee, asking that Mother Mary
Jones be produced at the hearing BY
order of the committee. Mother"
Jones Is now military prisoner, con
fined in san Rafael hospital without
2 charge having been lodged against
her.
We realize that we will not be
able to secure her release without tha
aid Of the committee" said Costigan.
Major Boughton was on his feet al
most bef6resadr Gostigan had finished
bis plBaEfB seas9
eThe military authorities would ike
70 request that the committee dsfer
action on this request until We have
IN opportunity to present argnmeias
. show that this Witness should noeb
be produced he said. eThs legal
questions involved IN her incarcesa.
sien are new befors the supreme court
# this state. Her. case is not a 10
per matter for this committee to con
5ider."
Chairman Foster rs this a formal
'equest upon the smmittee. Mr. Cos.
igan y
ar Costigan 1T Is. We realize fha
naposaihllity Of producing Mother
Fones without the aid OF the committee.
furthermore an application for a writ
i habeaa corpus is pending in the sa-
,reme court. aud Mother Jones soon
nay be called TO Denver"
The chairman then announced that
rauments Of counsel Tor and aeamst
ne issuance Of a subpoeaa for Molh-
srY Jones would be heard, br'efIy, at
er the luncheon recess.
Tho matter temporarily out Of the {
way. the attorneys for the mine work !
ms called Frank Lebamowsky. It ,
Ioon became evident that his know {
eyed Of the Elnelish language was ex-
remely limited After some discus
ion, during which the services or
Adolnh Germer Is Interpreter were 81 j
erred and declined. the committee
wore II MT u 1aAe tt own ser
.eant 81 arms IS Gasnan Interpreter