The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-10-14
Miners TO STAND TRIAL
GOVERNOR cRE0iYo ciTIZEhS
WITH COCO FAITh IN CASE.
Executive Issues Statement Foiievsins
lawesN oail At t3s,oo0.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver.-Governor Carlson has is-
sued statement to the public in
which he announced that he would
take no action to end the prOsecu-
tions arising out of the recent coal
strike that are now pending in the
courts. The governors statement ts
as follows:
For a numbef of days certain citi-
Gems have conferred with me with q
view of having stopped the prosecution
OF All pending strike cases.
The unselfish motives of those who
have urged this action upon me and
the importance of the subject caused
me to give the most serious considera-
ton to their requests and during the
past two weeks those interested have
been in almost continuous conference
At this office.
Premature publication was given
these conferences and hence l feel 1t
fair to those directly interested and to
the people of the state to declare the
policy of this office in regard to the
matter and to set at rest any cOntro-
versy or speculation which may have
been caused by this premature pubiica-
ton.
"On my advent to office l found that
Governor Ammons had issued an exec
utive order to the attorney general or
derinK the investigation and prOsecu-
ton of all violations Of the law grow
ing out of the coal strike then in
progress.
Following that order the attorney
general. the grand turies of four diff
ferent counties and several district al,
torneys made Investigations. heard
complaints of all who had complaints
to make and would appear before
them. and as result the indictments
in question were presented.
Il know of no reason for disregard
ing or belittline the judgment of these
officials and grand Juries and contin-
Ned the order made by Governor Am
mons.
"The thought of this vexatious after
math of conditions. in no wise created
by this administration. continuing l."
take the time and energies of myself
and other state officials. was not IL
pleasant one and If continuing this or
der could have been avoided honorably
certainly it would have been done.
Events since that time have not
changed my opinion and | do not feel
that l can now order the annuiment of
these prosecutions. They We're instituted
ciently convincing to the attorney gem
eral. grand juries and the different
district attorneys to warrant bring
Ing these defendants to trial.
This is from legal standpoint.
However. these citizens. already re-
ferred to. have urged my Interference
upon what might be called extra-legal
grounds
Considerations of so-called peace.
mercy and business have been urged
as a justification for the action which
1t was hoped l would take. To find
answer to these arguments I do not
desire to review the history of the
strike and the terrible nature of the
crimes committed for which the de-
PENDANTS now stand under indictment
and trial.
1T will be sufficient to remind our
citizens that state sovereignty was lost
and that federal troops were sent here
to protect the state from organized
lawlessness
These indictments will be subject to
the double check Of Juries. troal and re
view courts. and any innocent among
vindication.
.The only question for me was to
decide whether or not those who were
legally charged with crime should be
extra legal reasons given.
1t has been asserted that such a
course would put an end to the agita-
ton that is going on in certain quar-
ters. and leave this state in more
peaceful condition.
Granting that such result would
group of persons can commit any crime
and receive immunity II they raise suf-
ficient agitation to disturb our peace of
mind. 1 do not believe that our citi-
| zens are willing to purchase mental
peace at such a price.
1T has been said that it would be
! the merciful thing to do-and yet as
| justice should be tempered with mercy
| so should mercy be tempered with jus
| tice. and what Justice has been done
| society II those charged with murder
| and arson are allowed to go free with
| out trial?
The wholesale character of these
| crimes does not deprive them of their
criminality: instead, it increases the
| offense because 1t increases the danger
| to society.
Il was elected upon platform
| which, among other things promised
| to restore the state sovereignty upon
| a firm basis.
I'm my belief. the only way this can
| be done is to punish any person or per-
| sons who attack that sovereignty.
Il cannot see any deterrent of fu-
ture crimes of the same nature il those
| of the past are to be condoned and for
gotten.
1T has been urged that so long as
these cases are pending business will
be stagnant and that foreign capital
will not come into the state.
I'm my opinion, capital never will in
vest in this state until it is demon
strated that attacks upon life and prop
erty will not be tolerated and this can
not be demonstrated by turning loose
persons charged with such crimes