Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-03-03
ARRAIGN MILITIA
AND OPERATORS
Acts Of Colorado National Guard and
Absentee Owners of Mines
Are Condemned.
pEoNAeE CHARGE NOT PROVEN

WASHlNG1ON, March "a
scathing arraignment of the Colorado
militia for its treatment of striking
miners and their families is con-
tanned in a voluminous report sub
mitted to the house today by the
mines and mining subcommittee,
which investigated conditions in the
Colorado coal fields, under a resolu-
ton adopted year ago in January.
While scoring conditions generally
In the coal fields and criticising many
Of the acts of the mine operators, in
Guiding alleged violation of state
laws, the committee reports that no
evidence was found Of conspiracy
IN restraint OF trade to limit the out
put of the mines nor conclusive proof
OF the existence of peonage.
The strike was settled long before the
committee completed Its work, so no
specific recommendations are made. The
committee appeals. however. for arbitra-
ZION I'm such situations. 1t declares that
these disturbances are nationwide In
their Importance; that the federal govern
anent is the only power competent to deal
with them.
Absentee Owners Responsible.
AfteF referring to the testimony Of John
y. Rockefeller, jr., who disclaimed re-
sponsibiFty for Colorado conditions, the
report adds:
Absentee owners or directors by their
Rbsence from the scene Of such disturb
ances cannot escape their moral RESPONSE
ibility for conditions in and about proper
ties in which they are interested"
liberal extracts from the 2OoO pages
OF testimony taken by the committee are
embodied in the report with this COM
ment:
Considerable testimony on both sides
of the controversy, we believe. Is unre-
liable, and no confidence should be placed
In It. Colorado has had good mining laws
and such that ought TO afford protection
to the miner IL they arc enforced; yet in
this state the percentage Of fatalities is
larger than any, other, showing there is
undoubtedly something wrong in refer
ence to tho management OF it's coal mines
1t 10 contended by the miners as one Of
their grievances that the operators do not
obey the law. and however good the laws
may be. II not observed. they are Of no
protection"
The testimony Of James DaIrymple,
state mine inspector, calls attention to
the many violations of the law by the
operators, and the miners claim this as
one Of the causes leading. up 20 the strike
The report Of Mr.. Dalrymple also says he
found in some cases the operators had
put in operation new devices and systems
of an advantage TO the miners.
Militia sides with Operators,
cit seems the militia was on the side
of the operators In the controversy" SAYS
the report, after reciting the action OF
the governor in calling out the state mi
litia- land the evidence seems conclu-
sively to prove such to have been the
case. The sooner men armed in the serv-
ice Of the state learn that the men with
whom they may deal may DO poor and
Ignorant, and even violatoTs of the law,
but are still human, the better 1t will be
for all concerned
Testimony of present and former county
officials is quoted to show efforts of
mine operators TO control elections in
Las Anlmas county and Huerfano
counties and the committee remarks that
the manner of selecting jures in those
counties. where. according to witnesses
Jurors were deputy sheriffs. appears to
be against the provisions OF the law"
Some, Of the men brought into Colorado
by detective agencies, employed to guard
the mines. the committee finds, had been
in the same kind of service in West Vir-
ginia and they brought with them the
same machine gun which had been used
! in an armored car against strikers in
that state.
Peonage Charge Not Substantiated.
Concerning the charge that the op-
orators we're guilty Of peonage, the com
clttee reports
We did not find it clearly proven that
condition Of peonage existed in the
coal fields OF Colorado, but we found
that during the strike men were brought
In from other states by the car and
trainloads and were delivered to the min
ing camps under guard would probably
be robbed of whatever they might have
that the militia wanted"
The committee denounces John Chase.
ad1utant general of the militia of the state
Tor his refusal to testify except upon con-
dition that he would not be questioned
oy representatives of the miners ana de-
clares that he was overbearing to all
who came In contact with him.
Reviewing the testimony OF many wit
,nesses the report says from the time the
strike was called until the federal troops
were sent into the field by the presiden,
OF the United States, there was a series
of battles which seemed TO be fierce Will,
they lasted and a number of people wer.
Killed and wounded on both sides. II
condemns as inexcusable both the attack
on Berwind camp by men alleged TO hav,
oeen strikers as well as the assault upor
Foroes tent colony by armed guards US
= ing machine gun.
Private Guards Condemned.
private guard system NAV h,
thought necessary" the committee her,
comments, but wherever II exists. soone,
OF later trouble will occur and proper of
ilcers OF the law should be substituted
VINO VIII be impartial in maintainin,
peace and order"
The recruiting OF mine guards an man,
Oers OF the militia, In our Judgment W.
mistake. since fnfar.o -