Denver labor bulletin., 1915-05-22

One war ha- passed since the cousum-
matior of the Ludlow massacre, The
smoking ruins OF the miners tent colony
constituted funeral pyrc Tor innocent
womou and children which sent a thrill
of horror throughout the United States.
At this time. however, the interest
and Indignation OF the general public has
waned and the forces OF greed and op-
precision which were responsible for the
indi-rriminate slaughter OF innocent
babes are still seeking prey amongst the
worksr,. and those who dare to espouse
the euise OF human rights.
~ colorado. at the present day. 1t i
ihe open season for the persecution of
uuion leaders John X. Lawson. one OF
God, nobiemeu. who served the Miners
I uuiun during the recent strike. has just
hcrU found guilty OF murder by a hand
Ilel sd Jury at Trinidad. Although not
actually accused OF the crime, or even
az having ever carried deadly weapon,
the Union leader-is To be made 4 victim
of The Rockefeller interests because he
Wa in command OF the miners tent col
ouv nj Ludlow when the miners killed 4
guard. To the observing. the conviction
ri lawson furnishes climax in an al
ready impossible situation. Lawson was
cnuyicted. first because he was a union
leader. and second. because he had dared
to asiiate for human rights in Colorado,
tide especial hunting preserves of the
no,seiellers The mining associations of
Colorado seem to I've able to control the
course of justice (~o-calledi in amy di-
rerton desired.
Tie farcical trial of the assassins hired
b. he mining companies. in which the
murlcrers were all acquitted. followed
clu-eIy by Iaw>oI's trial and conviction.
leaves little hope for justice at the hands
oi my court in Colorado. whether civil
or military.
The details OF the ludlow norror are
too harbarous Tor further repetition: but
"a rryiew of the report OF a sub-commit-
t.. ppointcd by the house OF representa-
tnc> at Washington. i timely and en-
tightening. Extracts from some 1000
paur- OF evidence taken follow:
ID seems the militia Vas on the side
of he operators in this controversy,
saw, ;he report. after citing the action
of lie governor in calling out the state
trpops. "and the evidence seems couclu-
snelv to prove such to have been the
case The sooner men armed in the ser
yicc 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 II
will be for all concerned. The recruit
ing Of mine guards as members of the
militia was condemned by the commit
tc, md it was further proven that some
of lie militiamcn seized the opportunity.
while, clothed with the authority of the
state. to engage in various lawless acts
That the mine operators flagrautlv Nio-
lated state laws and hired vicious thugs
aud lssassins. who afterwards committed
brutal crimes. has been proven to the
sati~faetion of every Investigator. or per
son at all acquainted with the Colorado
situation,
Nhy. then. are the mine operators,
from Rockefeller down. not placed on
trial as accessories to the brutal actiVi-
ties Of Adiutant John NJ. Chase and
butcher l.inderfelt. who with their hell
hounds consummated the most brutal
massacre OF historyy Is it because we in
America have reached the stage in juris-
prudence where there is one law for the
poor and another law for the rich
Careful study of court and criminal
procedure proves concmsivcly that it has
become almost impossible to bring the
rich or powerful to justice. With the
wealthy and influential. law = a mock
cry, only to be used against the poor or
working classes; while the fact that n
worker may belong to labor union Is
sufficient in many Instances to assure 4
conviction of any charge placed upon the
victims head.
II the working people of the United
States are TO maintain any respect for