The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-21
BEG FOR PEACE
IN COLORADO
Judge Lindsey Asked Presi-
dent Wilson to Compel
Mediation of
Strike.
VICTIMS WERE PRESENT
Mr.. Wilson Listens to COMMITTEES
While He Carries One Of
Children In HIS
Arms.

limited Press Leased Wire Serv1ce.J
WASHINGTON, May 21.-Presi-
dent Wilson was asked today by
Judge Lindsey to use the military
forces Of the United States to compel
mine operators. in Colorado to submit
to arbitration In the strike contro-
versy.
Judge Lindsey was accompanied to
the white house by delegation OF
women and two child victims Of the
horrors Of the recent civil war" in
Colorado. Clothed in black, some Of
these women were there to speak
Of husbands and children shot down
or burned by tho militia and mine
guards.
Secretary Of Labor Wilson said to-
day that Hywell Davies and VIM. Fair
ley are quietly progressing In their
Investigations Of the Colorado strike
under the labor commission. Under
the broad scope of their inquiry and
the large number of witnesses they ex-
pect to interview, Wilson was unable
to say when they will begin actual
mediation proceedings. Judge Lind
sey was bitter in his denunciation OF
mine operators and condemned John
D. Rockefeller Jr., for his refusal to
agree to arbitration. He asked the
president to do what President Roose-
velt had done in the Pennsylvania
coal strike when the executive.
backed by public opinion. forced the
operators and miners to como -
gether and agree to terms OF peacs.
While expressing great interest IN
the miners plight and giving assur-
ances that he would use every means
in his power to bring about settle
ment, the president indicated some
doubt as to his constitutional powers
to compel arbitration. AS ~ talked
to the delegation. the pretGfent car
ried one of the Colorado strikers
children in his arms and held the
hand Of the other. Seated about him
were Judge and Mrs. Lindsey. Mrs.
Mary Petrucci, who had seen her
three small children burned to death
by the fire Of the state. militia. Mrs.
Lee Champion, wife of former Colo
RADIO Judge and Mrs Pearl Jolly. the
heroine Of Ludlow" SO called be-
cause of the part she played in car
ing for other women and children dur
ing the fighting.
The delegation did not spare Gov
ernor Ammons or members Of the
state legislature. They fatty told the
president that the Rockefeller inter
ests which own mines, control state
officials in southern Colorado and
were responsible for the failure Of
the state legislature to pass legfsla-
ton requiring the operators to submit
to arbitration. They declared state
of feudalism existed in southern Colo
RADIO. Magistrates and other public
officials and even the schools. they
said, were controlled by the coal COM
panies.
There is no republican govern
ment in Colorado" declared Judge
Lindsey. The governor is incompet-
ent. If the governor has any right to
retain troops in the district as we
want him to- he has equal rights to
compel .he operators to agree to
arbitration He could close down
every mine, until such an agreement
was made.
Judge Lindsey declared he and mem
bers of his party would proceed to
New York in an effort to see Rookie
feller. Jr. He said they had no inten-
ton Of appealing to the elder Rookie
feller but thought that .he younger
man could see things in better
light. r.
If" said Judge Lindsey, "the presi-
dent consents to see us, certainly Mr..
Rockefeller should. We do not think
the public is ready to admi. that Mr..
Rockefeller is more powerful than the
president