Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-02-12
Colorado Union Organizer
Continues Testimony Before
Congressional Investigating
Committee,
ARMS BROUGHT INTO
FIELD By MINERS
Witness Asserts No Dynamite
Was Imported and Charges
Violence Was Begun by
Deputies.

lny sossna ioussA, ursciAl tsAssp ~ias
Denver Feb Ill told sheriff
Grisham of Las Animas county that
we didn't want amy Of his kind of
projections that we'd made mp our
minds @ protep, ourselves Ana we
Idil ID"
IhH was enc statement 20 John y.
Lawson, leader of The Colorado min
ors ia their strike whom on cross-ex.
animation late today before the con-
gressiunal strike investigating com.
mltlec he deserihed the stormy
events ln the southern coal camps be-
fore the arrival Of the state troops.
The labor leader had told of in-
stahees ln which he clulmed he had
nsked the sheriff for protection for
the strikers tent colonies, but in vain.
Finally he said, after one Of the hat
Ties between mine guards and strik
.cra protection was offered, but scorn-
tully rejected
Lawson wus ON the stand IN cross
examination the greater part of the
afternoon Judge Jesse O. NOrthcutt.
ot counsel FOR the mine operators.
asked the witness about the prepnra
iions made for the strike Lawson
told Of ordering tents from West VA.
einia. and OF buying other tents, as
Wcll as bedding, clothing and fuel.
Did you buy any euns2"
Not at that Time
Yeu hought gums at some time,
didn't youg'
some guns were bought 20 protest
lives and propwtN
Then The labor leader appcnled ~
the committee "A grand jury " now
in session Ia Lns Aulmas county. gem
temen, he said This grand iury
scems very dcsirous Of indictlng as
For this reason, unless this commit
tee insists, ia rather not go very far
into this gun business viii saS.
however that there were some guns
bought but not until after the opera
tors had imported machine guns"
Chairman Foster was not ready %
drop the inquiry Into tho purchase OK
arms The witness can refuse 90 am
swef any question that might ncrlmi.
nate him.. he ruled but the commit
Tee wants the facts
judge Northcutt Whom aid youe
buy the first guns2"
Ar Lawson Not until after tho
second battle az Ludlow
Counsel asked the witness regarding
alleged purchases Of dynamite ana
Lawson replied emphatieally thot no
dynamite had been bought for pun
posses OF violence either before or uftor
the strike was called
You say your men at Ludlow didn't
have firearms until after machine
gums were imported hy the opera
torHa
= said the union did not buy amy
hciieve a few OF tho men did have
gums of their own
Northcutt took new method or
attack Isn't your organization ur-
dcr obligations To- operators with
whom sou have contracts In neigh
harug stutrs 20 uulonign the mines
h Colorado
Not to my knowledge
eDidnl you, Ia 1910. promise Mr..
Baum when he signed contract for
hIs mine in northern Colorado, that
you would unlonIze the southern
nalds9"
did not replied the witness with
emphasis
After minutes % sparrlng the
attorney asked ibid you tel the
governor of the attack on Forbes"
eyes, replied the Witness "1 told
hm il wns thc most -hlooded
murder { over knew of 4 think 81,
yet
Didn't you ten General Chase he
coui1 have every gun IN the colony2'
don't remember"
.'laW many gums did You collect
FOR The state troops
y collected eleven guns ana one
popeun
"That wasn't all the guns the strIk-
ers had was ite"
= don't know Chat there WAS au-
other eun in Jhal COLONY at that
ilmeg
More were brought Ia hter2"
eYess
NaetneHtt brought aa the subject of
ihe killing of a. w. Beleher ON the
streets of Trinidad "po YOU know
that sam carter and A. D. Mccarv
disappeared after the murder Of
Bclcher and haven't BEEN seen sInce2"
" haven't seen nHr heard from