United labor bulletin., 1914-12-12
Continued from Page one.)

Chairman walsh
The recognition OF employers OF the
right OF working people to bargain col
lectively for the disposal OF their Ia
bor,'' replied McLennan.
Militia Assisted Strikebreakers.
In relating the causes which led up I
to the strike and later tyranny OF the 4
militia MeLennan said:
..fhe bad feeling started when it be-
came generally known that the militia |
was aiding in the importation of strike
breakers. The miners distrust for the
militia was increased when mine guards
were recruited.
"The operators have slurringiy re-
ferred to the strikers as foreigners, evil
IDENTIFY meaning that as term of re-
proach- / have been repeatedly told by
miners that they came to Colorado af-
ter reading glowing accounts of condi-
tions here which had been circulated in
European countries by the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company.
Union men We're commonly driven out
OF the coal camps. During II months
before the strike was called nearly 200
men were discharged from the southern
mines on suspicion that they belonged
to the union.
"one Montenegrin fraternal insurance
society was .disbanded by company gun
men in violation of the law giving men
the right to belong to organizations
One Colorado Fuel and Iron Company
superintendent. John Graham, made il
a practice to search applicants for work
for union cards One OF our organizers,
Mike Livoda. was numerically beaten,
and he claimed to recognize his assail-
ants a. company officials. They never
were prosecuted for the assault.
Before the strike was called we in
4
but they did not paw any attention TO
our invitation II they had granted a
conference with the union officials the
strike probably would not have been
called
.-No concerted. defiutc action was TAX
on toward arminE the miners for con-
flict when the strike began they had
no arms other than hunting guns and n
few revolver-. The total number OF
men who went on strike was II 232.
Mine Guards Given Commissions.
"ln my opinion the uon-enforcemeut
Of the state laws regulating the oper-
alton of coal mines and the hiring OF
inexperienced foreigu-bo miners is the
cause OF by far the major portion of
mine fatalities.
III the militia would enter a STRIKE
zone in the same spifit that a police
mau starts out on his beat. the rights
OF neither party to n strike controversy
would h. preiudiced. and / am con-
WINGED that no disorder would occur"
lie said the records in Huerfano and
las Animas counties showed that more
than LOCO commissions had been issued
in the past two or three years and these
included Officers and employees of the
operators.
MeI.ennhn said he believed Governor
Ammons made sincere efforts to settle
the strike in its early stages. but nc
always said he was unable TO DO any
thing with the operators.
while Secretary Wilson was her
the operators submitted a plan to Coy
ernur Ammons." said Mciennan. ~Th,
governor sand hc was ashamed to offer
It TO n, but that he would let rs read
il. The plan in substance was a SIM
pie statement by the operators that
they would chey the law. Ii was sub
miiied by the operators merely a a
courtesy to Secretary Wilson"
Patterson a Good Witness.
Former Senator Thomas NJ. Patterson
gave testimony that strongly supported
the contention Of the miners. He testi-
fled that he WAS convinced tnst within
six months after the calling of the
strike in the northern coal fields OF
Colombo IN 1910 the operators in the
southern fields made preparations .or
the calling of strike there.
A. last a. men were discovered 20
bc union men ! ann certain he said
they were discharged Neither have J
amy doubt that the national organiza- F.
tion g the mine workers made a CON
certed cfior; TO Organize the mines IN
the southern coal fields following the
calling OF the strike in the north. and
~ III
southern mines for that purpose
Patterson detailed his conference I
with the governor immediately before I
and after the state troops were sent I
into the southern fields to restore or
der.
president White of the United Mine .
Workers told me personally the wit
ness declared. that the strike could he
settled il the operators granted CON
ference. ! took this statement. couched
in such positive terms. to mean that
the question of'rccognition of the union
would be waved il the meeting could be
arranged.
The operators committee was In,
formed OF this statement aud replied
that they would quit any conferences
room in which officials of the United /.
Mine Workers appeared.
I'm my mind the responsibility Cor
the violence and whatever followed rest
cd right there" Patterson declared. IF
the conference had been granted. in my
opinion. the strike would have been set.
tied
Welborn Admits Responsibility
Jesse II Welborn. president OF the
Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. was
on the stand n part OF Friday, all of
Saturday and Monday forenoon as,r-
man Walsh subjected him TO severe
grilling and brought out many admis.
sions that hranded Rockefeller and his