Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-03
AMMONS TELLS
OF NINE STRIKE
Governor Of Colorado Is First Wit
ness in Federal Inquiry Into
Labor Dispute.
RECOGNITION THE REAL ISSUE
lie says strike Could Have been
settled but for stand on Prop
osition--LawIessnes BE-
gan at Once.

DENVER. Col, Dec. a. In, December
1872 John r. Lawson of the Cnited Mine
Workers OF America notified +. NJ. Am
mons, then gbvernor-elect, that a coal
miners strike probably would be called
during his administration, the governor
testified today before the United States
Industrial relations commission.
The governor told Jf the enactment oe
new mining laws about two years ago.
which he understood were satisfactory
to operators and miners and hoped
would be useful I'm heading off a
strike. He told OF numerous conferences
with operators and union officials and
OF repeated efforts to adjust differences.
Replying 20 a question by Chairman
Frank p. Walsh. the governor stated
these efforts continued Long after the
miners convention ut Trinidad had
called a strike"
Governor Ammons recOunted the early
history Of the strike and the sending OF
the state militia TO southern Colorado
thirty days after the miners walked out,
on September % 1919.
RecoenntIon Real Issue.
THE lawlessneGs began almost i'm
mediately," said the gobernor. II was
urged to call out the troops right away.
Before the troops were called out the
county authorities in Las Animas
county had asked for them"
Reverting to the futile efforts for
peace, Governor Ammaus said.
There never was any question in my
mind but that the strike could have been
settled, but for the demand for recogni-
ton Of the union"
The future attitude Of Colorado's exc
cutive. outlined In a statement by Gov
ernor-elect George A. Carlson, followed.
with the exceptions of Mrs. ]. Borden
Hartman, James O'Connell and the sue
cessor to Frederick Delano, all OF the
commissioners were present when Chair
man Frank p Walsh formally opened
the session Of the hearing.
Chairman Walsh and John r. Com
mons, the former a lawyer and the latter
a professor OF economies at the Uni
versity OF Wisconsin, author of the law
under which the industrial commission
| OF Wisconsin is working, were appointed
to represent the general public; Harris
Weinstock and S. ThruSton Ballard To
represent the employers of labor, and
John b. Lennon. James O'Connell ant
A b. Garretson are the representative.
OF organized labor.
| To InvestfEaten Foundation.
The commission will undertake an in
| vestigation OF the Rockefeller foundation
In the near future. Chairman Walsh sal
this Is in accordance with plans formu
lated some time ago in the east. Tn
/ 49, 40 ia at.a a..
conclusion OF the investigation at Dallas
Texas, which will. follow the Denver in
qdlry. Testimony will be taken IN Wash
ington beginning December 2s, and
: further investigation win be held In Me-
York carly in January. Among the wit
nesses probably who will be summone
are John ID. Rockefeller. jr.; Il. H. Carr
]. p. Morgan, William Rockefeller. Kinl
don Gould and other prominent financler
Negotiations ReOPened in Ohio.
CLEVELAND, o., Dec, A-Efforts I
} settle the strike of 1900 eastern Obi
: coal miners. which was begun eigh
{ months ago, were to be made here toda
: at a conference between representative
OF the miners and operators. The mir
:. ers' representatives are said to be pre-
pared TO demand n cents a ton on tn
run Of mine" basis while the operator
are expected to offer "A cents tor
Prospects of q compromise. however. ar
said to be bright
1t is estimated that 1900 miners. IN
Guiding their families, are practically des
titute as a result OF the strike. John +
White. president of the United Min
Workers organization. and Ohio and dis
, trict officials are here to represent tn
miners at the conference.