The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1915-10-16
EDITOR SAYS MINERS ARE
STILL In ROCKEFELLER'S
POWER

Trinidad, Col.-Editor O'Neill of
the Trinidad Free Press warns Trade
Unionists and sympathizers that even
though the State Supreme Court has
debarred Judge Hillyer from presiding
at future trials OF miners, the law evil
dent lly gives this jurist the power to
nominate the presiding Judge
The paper says:
Many OF the laboring people
throughout the country have been in
dulging in jubilation since the Su-
preme Court of the State OF Colorado
handed down its decision removing
Judge Hllyer from the strike cases in
the coal fields of southern Colorado.
While the decision of the Supreme
Court of Colorado is appreciated by
the members of the labor movement
from ocean to ocean, yet men who
have comprehensive grasp of the sit
uation will indulge in no hurrahs over
decision which has merely said that
Judge Hillyer shall not sit in the trials.
OF strikers.
ITO the mind of the man who is not
swept OFF his feet by his emotions, the
strike cases are about in the same po-
sition as when Judge Hillyer was spe-
cially appointed to preside in the hear
ing OF these cases.
I'm other words, the big fight in the
courts, to vindicatc strikers who are
charged with crime, is yet an issue,
and conronts not only the United
Mine Workers, but the whole labor
movement OF this country.
Under the law, Judge Hillyer
seems to be clothed with authority to
select the Judge who will preside in
his place, and it is only reasonable to
presume that a Judge who has been
disqualified by the order of a higher
court, will feel no thrill of fraternity
toward the forces that brought about
decision which questioned his COM
potency to preside, To have clear
grasp OF the situation, it must be un-
derstood that all the machinery of a
State administration is in the hands OF
the prosecution, and furthermore, it
must be understood that practically all
the functions OF a State government
are arraycd against the miners who re-
belled against their economic masters.
In the same issue, the Trinidad Free
Press submits the following questions
to Governor Carlson:
"FrSt-Is it not true, Mr.. Carlson,
that after you bcame Governor, the
coal companies were dissatisfied with
the fairness OF Judge Burke of Sterl-
ing, and Judge Butler of Denver. who
presided in some of the strike cases.
and that they fostered a law to create
a new judgeShip in this district
with the object in view of getting an
individual that they could call their
judge?"
"Second-Did YOU not know that the
Judge that you had the power to APP
point was to try the strike cases?
"Third-Iou did not appoint as
Judge one OF the attorneys who was
in the employment OF the United Mine
Workers. Why? Because that would
have been unfair, not alone to the al
| lied coal companies, but to the public
Then was it just that you appoint
Judge Hillyer, who had openly de.
nounccd the miners, and who was one
OF the attorneys for the coal com
panies, especially hired to prosecute
these miners whom he had denounced
You might call that law and order
but you cannot call ot Justice, either
to the miners or to the public This
action on your part is a matter that
strikes at the very foundation OF our
| government it is matter OF public
| concern that we have impartial judges
who sit in judgment on their fellow
men, or tyranny and anarchy will fol
] low"