The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-05-01
Strikers in Colorado Coal Field In
sist that Mine Guards Be Re-
quired to Surrender Their
Weapons
FRIENDLY FEELING
TOWARD REGULARS
Militiamen are Being Recalled and
Order is Rapidly Restored
by the Presence Of
Federal Troops


Trinidad, Colo, May lit is report
ed that the strikers are seriously con-
sidering refusing to disarm because Of
the demand OF Major Holbrook, com
manding the federal cavalrymen, that
the miners surrender their weapons,
while the mine guards are allowed to
retain theirs as long as they remain
on mining property.
A friendly feeling exists between
the regulars and the strikers in con-
trast with the bitterness against the
militiamen.
With federal troops on the ground,
conditions were quiet Thursday night
in the Colorado strike zone. State
troops are being relieved by the regu-
lars and the strikers are said to be dis
persing. The federal soldiers now are
patrolling the Fremont county district
and regular troops superseded the
militiamen at Walsenburg Thursday
night. Regulars will occupy the Lud-
low district today and the national
guardsmen from both Walsenburg and
Ludlow are expected to reach Denver
by tonight. The strikers have surren-
dered no arms, either to the militia or
the federal troops. Leaders Thursday
night We're going among the hills of
southern Colorado urging the men to
disperse and return to their homes,
but according to John Lawson, inter
national board member OF the United
Mine Workers of America, they have
not been told to give up their
weapons.
Men in all walks Of life fought with
the miners, said Lawson. "But they
will not oppose the federal troops.
They would not have opposed the mill
itia, but for the gunmen affiliated with
them. Now they are returning 70
their homes. The tent colonies at
Ludlow and Forbes will be rebuilt"
"The guns are the property of our
men, added the union leader, "and SO
far as know they will keep them
The immediate withdrawal of state
troops from the strike zone and the
speedy disarmament of mine guards
are among the conditions named BY
the union leaders.
Major Holbrook admitted that nego
tiations had been opened in connee-
ton with the disarmament of strikers.
He declined, however. to reveal the ex-
act nature of the negotiations. or the
success with which they had been at
tended:
Asked If the mine guards would be
he said:
The guards, Of course, cannot be dis
armed just at present with the prop
erty Of the companies under their pro
lection. The strikers. however. will
be assured that the use of arms by
the guards will be restricted. The
guards must confine their activities
strictly to protecting the property of
their employers They will not be
permitted to molest the miners or theif
tent colonies"
The major said he would visit the
site OF the burned Ludlow tent colony
in company with leaders of the min
ers to determine whether the strikers
should be allowed to rebuild it. Strik-
ers encamped near San Rafael hos
pital, on the edge of Trinidad, will not
be disturbed
Major Holbrook explained that mar
tial law had not been proclaimed but
that the civil authorities and the civil
ian courts were exercising their func-
tions.