Denver labor bulletin., 1915-11-13
CONTINUED from page u

ANNhAAhhSN nun HaEt ~
The one which attracted the widest at
tention WAS the trial Of John r. Lawson.
who was very Prominen; during the
strike Judge Granny c. Hillycr refused
Lawson a change OF venue The jury
which tried Mr. Lawson was chosen ac-
cordlng 10 the vicious system of open
vcrt~. CRANKY c. Hillyer was known
10 be hostile TO organized labor, and il
j. charged that he openly denounced or
gsnized labor and the striking miners,
and declared that the strikers were out
law(fr should be held in jail incom-
municndo and denied the. writ OF habeas
corpus.
~The miners charged That he had cr-
ployed by prosecuting attorney North
rutt TO help prepare strike cascs which
were afterwards brought into his court
Tor trial. The witnesses against John
r. Lawson included Lieut.. X. T.. Linder-
feldt. the man who killed Louis Tikas.
aud found guilty by n court martial
Of urisoldierly conduct. and rcprimanded.
mine guards. one Mexican boy. an
other a Wyoming cowboy and fuga-
tive from justice, and others who de-
ciared that they had been paid TO act
"a bodyguards for the Officers Of the
United Mine Workers.
"Tbe jury was under the charge and
the supervision of Baliff Frank Gooden,
also an ex-minc guard. II was before
this tribunal of justice" that lawson
was tried. found guilty. and sentenced
to imprisonment for life in connection
with the death of John Nimmo. No ef-
fort was made to show that Lawson
was present when Ncmmo was killed or
had any personal connection with the
death of that man. II was merely es-
tablishcd that strike eNY~tcd. and that
Lawson was one of the leaders of the
| strikc. The mine operators cndcavored
to establish the principle that strike
leader can be held responsible for all
,cts of violence arising in concnction
9th the strike. whether committed in
his presence or in his absence, with or
without his knowledge or sanction.
"A storm Of protest has gone up from
American workers and from all citizens
who have regard for justice and for in
stitutions Of freedom. The maintenance
Of the principle affirmed in the trial Of
John r. Lawson would render many ef-
forts OF workers TO resis, industrial in
iusticS and TO protect themselves. peril
TO their very existence and liberty.
American citizens can NOT afford to al
| low this decision to stand ms u precc-
dent in American law. II is principle
|subvcrsivc to industrial justice and free
dom. Organized workers. under the
| leadership OF the A. +. Of l.. and the
limited Mine Workers Of America, have
conducted protest campaign against
|thc Lawson decision.
Public protest meetings and various
other demonstrations have been held in
practically NIL Of the large cities and the
mining communities of the country.
THESE meetings have adopted resolutions
of protest. which have been forwarded
10 those officially responsible for tho
condition OF affairs in Colorado and to
those In a position TO influence the sit
nation there. There are similar charges
against other miners Of Colorado upon
which they will he tried.
"Thc trials of four miners have al>
Ready taken place. These are Louis
Eancnnelli. David Robb, Ben Richard
Ion. and John r. Lawson. After two
srinH Louis Zancnnelli was convicted.
kn appeal was taken in his case, and
ktay Of execution of his sentence has
IRA granted until the court acts upon
nc ltson for new trial. The attcn-
lon Of the Supreme Court of Colorado
ras called to the prejudice and manifest
ias Of Judge CRANKY Hillycr. and the
burt has summoned Judge Hillyer to
ppcar before Il and TO show why he
ksuld not be prohibited from hearing