Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-03
Arrangement OF COLORADO
MILITIA FOR TREATMENT OF
THE STRIKING MINERS

Washington, March "A scathng ar
raignment OF the Colorado militia for its
treatment Of striking miners and their
families is contained in a voluminous re-
por, submitted to the House today by the
Mines and Mining Subcommittee, which
investigated conditions in the Colorado
coal fields under a resolution adopted a
year ago in January. While scoring con-
ditions generally in the coal fields and
criticizing many of the acts OF the mine
operators, including alleged violation OF
State laws, the committee reports 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 it's report, so nc
specific recommendations are made. The
committee appeals. however, for arbitra-
ton in such situations. 1t declares that
these disturbances are nationwide in
their importance: that the federal gov
eminent is the only power competent to
deal with them, and, after referring to
the testimony of John D. Rockefeller. Jr.,
who disclaimed responsibility for Colora-
do conditions, adds:
Absentee owners or directors by their
ance from the scene of such disturb
ances cannot escape their moral respon-
sibili,y for conditions in and about prop
critics in which they are interested
Liberal extracts BIN the 600 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, unreliable,
and no confidence should be placed in 1t.
Colorado has good mining laws and such
that ought to afford protection to the
miner if they are enforced. yet in this
state the percentage of fatalities is larger
than any other, showing there is un-
doubtedly something wrong in reference
to the management Of it's coal mines. 1t
Is contended by the miners as one OF
their grievances that the operators do
not obey the law, and however good the
laws may be if not observed they are of
no protection.
THE testimony Of James Dalrymple,
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 to 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"
1T seemed the militia was on the side
Of the operators in this controversy"
says the report after reciting the action
of the governor in calling out the state
troops, land the evidence seems conclu-
sively to prove such to have been the
case. The sooner men armed in the SER
vice 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 it will be
for all concerned. THE re-
crliting of mine guards as members OF
the militia, in our judgment, was a mis-
take, since intense luminosity had existed
and the miners and it was difficult or
even impossible for the miners to feel
that these men were neutral conservators
Of the peace. Some Of the militiamen
seized the opportunity. while clothed with
the authority Of the state to engage in
various lawless acts.
In other instances the acts were OF
an immoral kind and of such a nature
as to be unfit for publication in this re-
port. There were acts Of brutality testi-