Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-01-21

Denver, Colo, Jan. 2l.-The removal
of General John Chase as commander
Of the militia, either by his resigna-
tion or removal by executive order.
and the retirement of other officers
"as soon as possible are the first two
demands contained in the report of
the committee recently appointed by
John McLennan, president Of the Colo
RADIO State Federation of Labor, to
Investigate conditions in the strike
zone and report to Governor Ammons.
Other recommendation were:
The discharge from the militia of
"all mine guards and private detec-
tives.'
The issuance Of orders under which
the militia shall prevent workmen
being taken to the mines when these
workmen have 'been brought into the
state in violation Of the law Of 1911" I"
That the law be changed as soon as
possible so that members of the mill
tia shall not elect company officers.
The report is signed by John R,
Lawson chairman; Eli M. Gross,
James II. Brewster, Frank +. Miner
and James Kirwan.
The recommendations are prefaced
with lengthy statement of conditions
as viewed by the investigators, and
attached as supplementary matter are
760 pages Of typewritten statements
of witnesses.
"The committee began its investiga-
ton December %, 1918, and examined
1853 witnesses. about one-third Of whom
are not connected with the strike, nor
are they members OF the union" says
the report
The report, which was submitted to
the governor today, recites that the
committee was appointed, pursuant to
Governor Ammons suggestion, to in
vestigate certain charges against the
militia cntained in resolutions adopt
ed by the convention of the State
Federation Of Labor December H.,
1918.
MANY persons with knowledge Of
facts pertinent to the subject of our
inquiry" says the report, preferred
not to appear and disclose these facts
to the committee, for facts derogatory
to the militia were regarded by them
as injurious to that great body-the
company which practically controls,
socially financially and politically, the
destinies Of men in that part of our
state
Among witnesses, not directly or
personally interested in the strike,
were Mrs. Hall. Mr.. strombel, MT.
Bolton, Mrs. Hollearien (postmistress
at Ludlow, Mr.. Ralston. Mr.. Hem
drick, Jr, Rev. Mr.. Cook and Rev Mr..
Mcdonald. The report charges that,
despite the governors letter. General
Chase refused to aid the committee
in seeing militiamen personally con
nected with incidents in the strike
zone under investigation, and asserted
that we must in all cases get the
militia point Of view from him.
'That General Chase is laboring un-
der a grave misapprehension as to
his true functions in the strike dis
trict was disclosed to US during this
meetisg. He spoke Of the exist nee
Of a state Of war as iustifying his
total disregard Of the constitution.
he referred graldly to the honor cf
the soldiers and to the soldiers pa
tient endurance oe criticism Some
officers and men in other camps hav-
ing a more correct conception OF their
duties, are not ashamed to say that
they are simply policemen"
The report says this assumption by
General Chase that they are soldiers
engaged in war accounts for most
Of the errors Of the militia--errors