Denver labor bulletin., 1917-06-09
INSPIRED ATTACK PRINT
ED IN LAST SUNDAYS
DENVER POST.
Temporary District officials At
tempt to Read Him Out of I'm
ion So That He Cannot
Serve as President
When Charter Is
Restored.

Thru a decision handed down by the
Colorado supreme court Monday, John
r. Lawson, former member of the in
ternational board of the United Mine
Workers of America, Is found mot
guilty" of the charge of murder grow
ing out of the coal strike in southern
Colorado in 1913-l91a. Lawson's at
torneys had filed n writ of error based
on the refusal of Cranky Hillyer, trial
judge, TO grant n change of venue and
on the affidavit of several jurors that
they were coerced into rendering the
verdict Of guilty"
Attorney General Leslie Hubbard re-
Gently filed n confession Of error on
the part Of the state. lawson had
been convicted Of first degree mur-
der and sentenced 10 life imprison-
ment in the state penitentiary at
Canon City. Soon after the trial a
supcrsedeas, which prevented putting
the verdict into effect, was granted
by the supreme court and Lawson re-
leased on n $4,000 bond signed by the
late Senator Thomas NJ. Patterson and
Werner Il. Reed.
Zancannelli Gets New Trial
The opinion rendered Monday was
written by Justice Hill. with Justice
Garrigues specially concurring, and
the opinion was unanimous. lnasmuch
as the case is not remanded for re-
trial. IL means that Lawson goes free
and the cloud placed upon him by coal
operators and former state admins
trative officials is completely removed.
Nobody ever claimed That Lawson was
really guilty of murder. not even the
prosecuting attorney. He happened to
be in Ludlow when a mine guard was
killed and was indicted on the charge
of instigating the crime as m officer
Of the United Mine Workers.
Another decision rendered by the
state supreme court Monday grants
new trial TO Louis Zancannelli,. con-
victed of killing Detective Belchcr,
captain of the Baldwin-Felts gang in
Trinidad during the strike. II is not
likely that Zancannelli will ever be
tried again or that any other OF the
coal strike cases will be resurrcctcd.
Inspired Attack on lawson
In last Sunday mornings Denver
Post there appeared n news article,
evidently inspired by some OF the tenn
porary officers Of District No. 20. Unit
ed Mine Workers of America, making
n scurrilous attack upon John X. Law
son, former member of the interna-
tional board and whose election as
president of District No. 20. in Decem-
Der last. resulted in the charter being
withdrawn by the national officers.
The Post article was full Of inuendos
and SO written rs to leave the impress
sion upon readers that Lawson had
dropped his membership in the min
crs union and become affiliated with
the mine operators. A studied effort
was made to make it appear that John
Lawson. whom everybody respects Tor
his honesty, integrity and fight for the
uplift of coal miners. had rcnounced
his fealty to his fellow workers. Be it
said to the credit of other newspapers
in this city and state that none other
than the Post published the article
prepared for the sole purpose OF under
mining Lawson and his influence
among the coal miners of this state.
Animus Behind Article.
At the district election held last De-
ccmber Lawson was elected president
and Ed. L. Doyle member of the in
ternational board to represent Colo
RADIO. Both received large majorities.
Because Lawson and Doyle have not
been in complete harmony with the
international officers, their election by
the union miners of this state was
very displeasing to those in charge Mt
international headquarters. Then the
charter Of the district was withdrawn,
which automatically removed Lawson
and Doyle from office, and the powers
of the district taken over by the inter
national officers. An acting president
from Iowa and an acting secretary
from Kansas were sent here to take
charge. The great influence OF Law
son, especially with the miners OF the
state, was not to the liking of those
sent here ms temporary officers.
Being out Of employment, Lawson
sought work in the mines, and for n
time dug coal in the northern district
When the explosion killing 121 miners
occurred Mt Hastings No. 2, n property
of the Victor-American Fuel company
few weeks ago, Lawson went there
and volunteered his services in rescue
work. Night and day he was IN and
about the mine and visiting the fami'
lies of victims and lending encourage
ment md assistance wherever possible
Former Enemy Becomes Friend.
This humane conduct on the part Of
Lawson impressed the officials OF tht
Victor-American company. who hae
for several years fought him and tn
miners union. Voluntarily they OF
fered Lawson position as employ