The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-11-05

10 tne State mllltla, Nnen tne Att4ck
was made at Ludlow. 1t was evident
despite the state treasury and politi-
cal opposition the troops were needed
in the field and they were ordered out
On account OF the bitter feeling and the
vacillating policy of the state govern
ment, the militia was not able to cope
with the situation and the President
was appealed to for troops. With the
coming OF the Federals quiet reigned
They did not come too soon to save the
lives of many people.
The fight has never been a fight in
the interest of the miner 1t has been
fight of the official against the coal
operators for political reasons. The
operator had money and the Official
had to have money. There were no
women or children shot or burned up.
Some women and children were smOth
cred to death in little hole under
tent and came to their death long be-
fore the fire touched the tent above
them. 1t was an opportunity to draw
sympathy in the form of dollars After
a year Of the strike the officials Of the
Union finds himself beaten and the
condition OF the miner has not been
changed one iota. He Is worse off for
his position is filled by another man.
Much has been said about the rights of
the strikers. What is to be said Of the
rights Of the men who have remained
at work keeping alive the coal industry
and suffering many things at the hands
Of the strikers while 80 doing These
people numbering seven thousand are
mostly American. citizens while the
strikers numbering at the most three
thousand are in many instances not
naturalized
The coal companies have treated
their men fairly. The average wage
was before the strike $4S5 per day.
1t would have been more without the
saloon. Some of the men will work
until they get few dollars ahead and
then lie around until they drink it up.
Comfortable and sanitary homes at a
lominal rent are provided. Sotres, mar
vel in the value and variety of goods.
offer opportunities of trade at figures
as low as nearby towns. The school
houses are constructed modern and
sanitary in every way. The pattern of
the mining law now upon the statute
books Of Colorado was taken from q c.
F. & l. camp, the man drafting the law
first visiting the camp to see its prac-
tical working.
The taxes assessed against the coal
companies of Las Animas county for
1914 amount to $f34, 900 of which $5s,-
900 is against the c. +. G 1. The taxes
for the same year in the same county
assessed against the U. NJ. W. of A.
amount to $3.50
The miner has his rights and the
right to join a union and these should
be respected. The operator should have
the right to employ non-union labor,
If he wishes. According to the reportof
the State Mine Inspector for June 1914
the average production per employe
OF the union mines was 56 and SIS
tons and for the non-union mines was
80 and 2-10' tons
While we recognize the rights of the
miner and his rights to treat with the
operator in any difference that may
arise, the state shodld be freed from
the financial burden and economic
waste accruing from strike by the
elimination of the politician and walk
ing delegate whose best financial times
are during, a strike. If we can do awav
with these we shall have no mora
strikes