Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-04
LEGISLATURE
TO CONSIDER STRIKE
Special Session Called to Provide Funds
for Militia In Coal
Fields.
IMPEACHMENT OF AMMoNs
NOT THOUGHT POSSIBLE
Mine Owners Threaten to Prosecute
Labor Leaders on Murder
Charge.

Denver, Colo, May The state leg.
islature met mere at noon today in spe-
cial session to consider an appropria-
tion to provide funds to meet the de-
ficit caused by maintaining militiament
in the strike-bound coal fiends. 1t
was also to consider compulsory ar
bitmtion measure, a bill providing for
the establishment of a state consta-
bulary, and still another measure reg
ulating the use of mine guards.
1t was also practically certain that
resolution would be introduced provid.
ing for the inpeachment of Governor
Ammons, but the chief executive was
confident it would fail.
j. H. Slattery conservative demo-
crat, was unanimously elected speaker
of the house to succeed Onias Skinner,
who resigned to accept federal posi-.
tion. Slattery's election was Believed
to mean that the attempt to impeach
| Governor Ammons will fail.
Governor Ammons then recited strike
conditions and asked for an appropria-
tiOn of 100000 to pay the expenses
of the militia sent into the strike dis
tricts
May Prefer Murder Charge.
Mine operators threatened today to
prosecute John White, president; Frank
Hayes, vice-president; John Lawson,
John McLennan and other internation-
al and district leaders of the United
Mine Workers of America on a charge
of murder or conspiracy to murder in
connection with the fatalities al
Forbes, where seven mine guards were
slain, and at Walsenburg, where Major
| p. p. Lester was killed. If such war.
rants are issued, Attorney Horace
Hawkins, for the miners, said he would
retaliate by swearing out warrant
for John D. Rockefeller, Jr., charging
him with murder and conspiracy in
connection with the deaths at Ludlow
and other places.
The Ludlow horror was certain of a
thorough overhauling by the legisla
ture. The finding of the military
board which investigated the tragedy
was still state wide sensation today
The board, indeed, blamed the Greeks
among the strikers colony for start
ing the battle, but for the militia Is
conduct subsequently it recommended
the court.martialing of every officer
and enlisted man who took part in the
fight
1t found that, after the first tent
took fire. the militiamen and mine
guards deliberately spread the conflag
ration by pouring oil upon tae flames
and upon other tents. 1t was charged
that the state 3 forces also looted the
tents.
Poured Oil On Flames.
The board declareG that, at the open.
ing of the battle, the militiamen train
ed machine gun among the tents
poured a volley upon them and that the
first ten was set on fire by the con-
contration of this cannonade.
The Denver News published today
statistics showing that 80 per cent OF
e troops members were employed by
the mine owners. Linderfelt himself
the military board discovered, had been
in Colorado only five months. 1t was
brought out also that his troop had
never elected officers and had never
held a drill.
Finally, it was found that the militia
shot Tikas and two other strikers who
had been made prisoners.