Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-03

fed to before the committee which might
be enumerated; men on slight provoca-
ton were thrown into jail and kept there
without the opportunity of proving their
innocence There were many good men
in the militia, both officers and privates.
and the strikers testifying said that GER
tain companies were composed Of kind
men and if their houses were to be
searched they asked that members of
these companies might be sent but il
others were sent to do the searching
they would be subjected to indiguities
and would probably be robbed of what
ever they might have that the militia
wanted"
The committee denounces John NJ.
Chase, adjutant general of the militia
of the state, for his refusal to testify ex-
cept upon condition that he would not be
questioned by representatives of the
miners, and declares that he was over
bearing 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
President Of the United States there was
series Of battles which seemed to be
fierce while they lasted and a number of
people were killed and wounded on both
Sides 1t condemns as irexcusable both
the attack on Berwind camp by men al
legged to have been strikers as well as the
assault upon Forbes tent colony by
armed guards using a maohine-gun,
thought necessary the committee here
comments. but wherever 1t exists sooner
or later trouble will occur, and proper
officers Of the law should be substituted.
who will be impartial in maintaining
peace and order"
Testimony Of present and former coun-
ty officials Is quoted to show efforts of
mine operators to control elections in Los
Animas and Huerfano counties and the
committee remarks that the manner of se-
lecting juries in those counties, where
according to witnesses in one case at
least. seven out Of L jurors were deputy
sheriffs, appears to be against the pro-
visions 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.
Concerning the charge that the opera
tors were guilty of peonage. the commit
tee reports:
We did not find it clearly proven that
a 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 train
load and were delivered to the mining
camps under guard Of the militia, many
Of them being foreigners, and unac-
Quainted with the work of mining coal.
We do not believe it was proven that the
operators forcibly kept men in camp I'M
til their debts were paid. but that they
rather endeavored to hold those who al
ready were in camp before the. strike
and to prevent those who had been TAX
en- in az strike breakers from going out
side"
Declaring that the mine troubles are
nationwide in scope. the committee
reached this conclusion:
1T should be the duty Of the govern
ment to assist any states in settling
dispute that is nationwide in its scope;
and II any federal law can be enacted