Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-12-19

ly. unused to American customs and
laws; large numUer Of them come
from countries where the individual
is in the habit of taking the law into
his own hands, anu oppression in Col
; orado was naturally met by the same
tactics. There were inexcusable out.
breaks, such as the shooting UP of an
automobile of a private party entering
the town of Trinidad. Foul language
used by some of the union men against
the strike breakers who attempted to
work, inf1amed hatred and brought
trouble. But the unions have sue
ceeded in q large measure in holding
these men In check. ~ III :.
Early in October of last year. the
strikers moved out of the company
houses and settled in colonies, which
we're established on ground leased by
the union. These tent colonies are
so located that the strikers have a
view Of the entrance to the most Inn
portant mines. Thus they are enabled
to keep watch on the strike breakers
who are being brought In by the COM
panies. ' Z -. =.
From the very first there was a
great deal of violence and disorder.
A number of black hand letters
were sent out to coal operators. The
strike breakers were tainted; :tcse
who were in sympathy with the CON-
panies were called ''seabs" and al.
together there was q great deal of net
ty disturbance and annoyance. On the
other hand the mine guards have wor-
ried and tormented the dwellers in
tent colonies, Boosting that they would
clean them up" An armored auto
mobile was built in the shops of the
Colorado Fuel & Iron Company, at the
suggestion and under the direction OF
A. C. Forbes of the Baldwin-Felts de-
tectiye agency. Armed with Hotch-
kiss rapid-firing gun and squad of
gun men, it came to be known as the
death special" 1t shot up the Forbes
colony and made other vicious ana
deadly attacks on strikers. Felts tes-
titled before the Congressional Com
mittee that he had ordered and paid
for machine guns under authority
from the operators. Il
After the destruction of the Forbes
colony the miners armed themselves
more generally and encounters be-
tween mine guards and strikers be.
came frequent. Those who were &C.
tually killed on both sides are esti-
mated all the way from Is to $50. Be-
cause of the inaccessibihty of the re.
gions in which the mines are located
and the general lack of communication
between the different settlements,
much Of the disorder and violence
that actually occurred did not find its
way to the papers. On the other hand,
the. violence and partisanship OF the
papers controlled by the operators, as
well as those controlled by the miners,
exaggerated and overestimated acts
Of violence. Whenever we find condi-
lions similar to those in Colorado, we
always find the same conditions Of dis
order and lawlessness.
The Militia
BY the last of October conditions
became so strained that the governor
ordered out the militia. The soldiers
were gladly received by the strikers,
for they expected they would have
some protection. but their hopes were
in vain. 1t soon became evident that
the militia was under the control of
the coal companies.
Me and women were thrown into
jail ~~~charge being lodged |
agaf Id incommuni-
cad
die was
nina nnnn,