Denver labor bulletin., 1915-09-11

have made protest against the un-
just conviction of Lawson.
In the eyes of the coal operators, to
demand that workingmen be given fair
treatment is the worst possible offense.
Precedent is on their side. A carpenter
demanded it in Galillee and Jerusalem
nineteen hundred years ago, and was
crucified. They pride themseles on their
mildness. John Lawson demanded it in
Colorado in the year 1913. and was con-
demned to life imprisonment only.
Lawson's work was hateful beyond
measure. He sought to have the labor
laws of Colorado obeyed, and that would
interfere with profits. He asked for an
increase in the wages of the miners, and
that would reduce profits still more.
Beyond this, he was stirring up the
miners and leading them to organize a
union. Should he succeed, collective bar
gaining would follow and the despotism
of the coal operators would be over.
thrown. In the eyes of Big Business,
the tables of the money changers are
sacred. To stir up the people is sedition.
But to destroy the life of working
man does not matter. Out of every thou
sand men in Colorado's coal mines in
1910, thirteen Were killed Operators so
accustomed to the shedding of human
surely go little farther John Law
son was not any better than Jesus Pre-
texts had been found for crucifying
Jesus. Why not restore confidence by
putting John Lawson out of the way.
An example might be made of Lawson's
folly that would silence all demands OF
the miners. at least for years to come.
In such manner the coal operators rea-
soned, and their fiendish plot was car
ried out John Lawson is under sem
tence of life imprisonment.
Ministers of Philadelphia if you release
John lawson you are no friends to Big
Business. The fact that he has done no
wrong does not count. He has been
guilty of demanding justice for Colo
radios coal miners. Such demands are
classed as dangerous agitation.
The Lawson protest at Philadelphia
will become itself historic. Ministers
who profess faith in Jesus have come to
parting of the ways. Some are going
to follow the pathway of golden oppor.
tunity and loosen up for themselves the
purse strings of Rockefeller. Others win
walk in the way of right, demanding JUS
tice. The Federal Council of Churches
of Christ in America is federation of
more than thirty denomina tions. II EN-
braces Presbyterians, Methodists, Bap-
lists, Disciples, Congregationalists. and
other branches of the Christian church
When such body conducts protest
meeting against the unjust conviction of
John Lawson. there is but one conclusion.
The better element in the ministry has
revolted against the savage cruelty of
those who oppress labor.
Many innocent men are now in prison.
Ford and Suhr in California. Quinlan in
New Jersey. are examples almost as well
known as John Lawson. Rev Dr. Gal
laway, formerly of Paterson. n. j.. but
now moderator of Cheyenne Presbytery.
in speaking short time ago of the Law
son case, said: "Tbey do imprison in
nocent men. know that Quinlan. sent
to prison from Paterson. is innocent
TheYsent him to prison when they knew
he had committed no crime. II was sim
ply that the men with money hated him
for stirring up the people," In ways
like this the eyes of multitudes are be-
ing turned TO the Lawson case. to dis
cover that Lawson. too. is innocent.
A great protest is growing. Ministers
and people who are true followers of
Jesus the Carpenter of Nazareth, will
be heard as never before. The age-lone
tyranny of criminal wealth is to be
broken. In that day, Lawson will he
released, Lawson and all other heroes of
the struggle for justice. If there must
be prison cells, we shall use them, as
Mr.. Pinchot advises, for Mr.. Rockefeller
and other rong-doers of his type.
To work for the liberation of John
Lawson is the duty of every Christian
How does your pastor stand? Ask him
about it.