South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-04
SAYS BURNING OF
TENT CAMP WAS
NOT AN ACCIDENT
Thomas M. Patterson, Former
U. S. Senator, Puts Blame
For Trouble in Colorado on
the Mine Operators.

DENVER. colo, Dec. 4. - Thomas
NJ. Patterson, former United States
senator from Colorado testifying be-
fore the federal commission on in
dustrial relations Thursday revealed
himself as the power that stood be-
hind the throne of Gov. AmmOns in
the early stages OF the coal strike.
Patterson told inside facts about the
peace negotiations and placed the
blame for all blood shed directly upon
the shoulders Of the coal operators.
He in addition fatty contradict
ed Gov. AmmOnS' statement that the
duration Of the strike was due To the
stand Of the United Mine Workers for
recognition of the union. He testified
that within a month after the strike
was called the miners had expressed
a willingness to waive recognition OF
the union and meet the operators in
a conference. but the latter fatty re-
fused TO be in the same room with the
officials of the union.
To my mind, said Sen. Patterson,
"the responsibility for the violence
and all the results Of the calling out
Of the militia rests right herewith
the refusal Of the operators to meet
the representatives Of their employees
CritIcises AmmOns.
Mr.. Patterson indicated that he had
guided Gov. AmmOns in most of his
acts up to the present time of calling
out the troops and told of debating a
letter which Ammons submitted to the
operators for signature as a basis of
peace. He also criticized AmmOns for
giving Adjt. Gen. Charles +. Free the
rein in handling the troops.
I cannot believe" ne said, that
the burning of the tent colony was ac-
cidental. 1 think it was done with
deliberatiOn and reconciliation, but
1 wish also TO affirm my belief that
no individual member of the militia,
nor any mine guard nor coal company
emplOye knew there were any women
or children in the colony when it was
destroyed.
1T was the governors duty TO keep
the situation in southern Colorado well
within his own hands. / believe that
the delegation of so great a power in
TO the hands OF anyone except the
chief executive of the state, whom the
people hold directly responsible for
its exercise, could not result other than
in serious complications"
Death Rate Is High.
J. A. Dalrympie, state mine inspec-
tor, gave startling figures showing that
the mine death rate in Colorado is
higher than any place in the country;
that the companies are guilty in fail
ing to provide safeguards and that
ion could not make any gains for the
betterment OF their condition. When
Dalrymple said he did not think the
wOrkmen's compensation law would be
feasible here because it might bank
rupt some companies, Commissioners
Lennon asked:
us it possible that the people of
Colorado consider the continuation Of
a business o. more Importance that
human life and welfare?"
Dalrymple did not answer this
question, but he did say that failure Of
the state TO provide money and men TO
enforce its model mining laws has
been responsible for many of the
deaths in the mines.
Enforcement of the laws" he as
serted, has been largely a matter of
choice with the coal companies"
GOv.-elect Carlson, who testi-
fed Wednesday that ne believed in
the handling OF the industrial prob
lem through a central board, said
Thursday that this would be the chief
policy of his administration and that
he would urge the legislature to pass
a law based on the Wisconsin indus
trial act