The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-02
And Recommends Use of Fed
eral Troops in Big La
Dor Disturbance
CONGRESSIONAL COM.
MAKES REPORT
Did Not Find Conspiracy to
Limit Output of
Mines

Washington, March "a scathing ar
lraignment of the Colorado militia for its
treatment of striking miners and their
families IL contained in yoluminous re-
port submitted to the House to-day
by the mines and mining subcommittee,
which investigated conditions in the Col
orado coal fields under resolution adop.
ted year ago in January. While scor-
ing conditions generally in the coal fields
and criticising many of the acts OF the
mine operators, including alleged viola
ton of state laws, the committee re-
ports that no evidence was found of a
conspiracy in restraint OF trade to limit
the output of the mines, nor conclusive
proof OF the existence of peonage.
The strike was settled long before
the committee completed its report, so
no specific recommendations are made.
The committee appeals, however, for ar
bitration in such situations. 1t declares
that these disturbances are nationwide
in their Importance; that the federal
government is the only power compe-
tent to deal with them, and, after referr-
ing to the testimony of John D. Rookie
Teller, ir.. who diselaimed responsibility
for Colorado conditions, adds:
absentee owners or directors by their
absence from the scene of such disturb
ances cannot escape their moral response
bility for conditions in and about prop
critics in which they are interested"
Liberal extracts from the 1000 pages
of testimony taken by this committee
are embodied in the report, with this
comment:
Considerable testimony on both sides
of the controversy, we believe unreli-
able. and no confidence should be placed
in it. Colorado had good mining laws
and such that ought to afford protection
to the miner il they are enforced, yet
in this state the percentage of fatalities
is larger than any other, showing there
is undoubtedly something wrong in ref
erence to the management of its coal
mines. II i contendcd by the miners
as one Of their grievances that the oper-
ators do not obey the law and however
good the laws may be if not observed
they are OF no protection.
y
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 zap to the
strike. The report OF MIR, Dalrympie
also says he found in some cases the
operators had put in operations new de-
vices and systems Of an advantage to
the miners
1T seemed the militia was on the side
Of the operators IN this controversy,
saws the report after reciting the action
o. the governor IN calling out the state
troops. "and tie evidence seems con-
elusiyely to prove such 10 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 be poor and
ignorant and even violators Of the law,
but are still human. the better il will
BE- for all concerned
"The recruiting Of mine guards a.
members Of the militia. In our iudg
ment. was a mistake, since intense ami
mostly had existed for some time be-
tween the mine guards and the miners
and Il was difficult or even impossible
for the miners % feel that these men
were neutral couservators Of the peace.
some 81 the militamcn seized the oppor-
tunity. while clothed with the authori-
~ OF the state 20 engage in various law
less acts
"ln other instances the acts were 81 an
immoral kind and 81 such = nature ~
to b. unit Tor publication in this re
port There were acts Of brutality ties.
titled 10 before The committee which
might ~ enumerated, men on slight pro
vocation were thrown into jail and kept
there without the opportunity Of prov
ing their innocence There we're many
good men 81 the militia. both officers
and puvates. and the strikers testify
ING said that certain companies were
composed 81 Kind men and II their
house. were 10 b. searched they asked
that members Of these COMPANIES might
b. sent. bat II others were sent % De
the searching they would b. subjected
r. indignities and would probably b
robbed II whatever they might have
ttat the militia wanted
The committee tleuounees John =.
Chsse. ndimtant gouerals ~ the militia
81 fhe state for be- refusal e. testify
erert upon condition. that b. would
MT i. Questioned - representative 81
tle MINERS. aud declares that Dr. was