Denver labor bulletin., 1918-04-27
JOHN R. LAWSON DELIV-
ERS THE PRINCIPAL
ADDRESS.
Great Change Has Come Over
the Industrial Situation of
Colorado Since the Massa-
ere at the Black Hole,
April 20, 1914.
Especial CorrespondenceJ


fourth anniversary of the Ludlow mas
sacre was commemorated here yester-
day by the miners of Huerfano and
Las @Animas counties who attended the
memorial ceremony in large numbers.
Bert Mcclure of Aguilar, of the local
Independent Union of Mine Workers
of America, acted as chairman and
master of ceremonies. A speakers
platform had been constructed along
side the famous BLACK hole" which
still remains as gruesome testimony
of the awful crime committed against
the miners of Southern Colorado,
April 20, 1914.
Forty acres of this ground is now
owned by the miners and it is ex-
pected that monument will event.
ually be erected here to commemor-
ate labor's great sacrifice. A wooden
cross made of timber supports used
in the tent colony now marks the
spot where the marble shaft is to be
crested.
The principal addresses were deliv-
cred by John R. Lawson and Ed L.
Doyle, while other speakers addressed
the assemblage in the Italian, MeI-
can, Slavonic and Greek languages.
Address of John r. Lawson.
The twentieth day of April, 1914,
will live in history as a monument to
the heroism of such men as James
Fyler, John Bartoloti, Charles Costo
and Louis Tikas, men who gave up
their lives that the great principle of
human brotherhood might live and
endure. With them into the great be-
yond went Mrs. Costo, Mrs. Valdez
and the thirteen children whose
charred bodies were taken from the
black hole at Ludlow, laid upon the
altar of corporate greed by the gun
men of industry. And saddest of all
was the sight of that wee morsel of
humanity, Charles Costo's little son,
which was placed upon the bosom of
the mother in the undertaking parlors
at Trinidad.
They were shown no mercy, no
pity, none of the Christ spirit of the
Eastertide which had been commem-
GRATED on that very spot the day be-
fore by the Greeks and a week be-
fore by the other residents of the
tent colony, happy in the celebration
of the day upon which the lowly
Nazarene rose from the dead that
others might live-happy because of
spirit was abroad in the land about
Ludlow-most hopeful that soon after
the Eastertide settlement of the long
industrial struggle would be reached
that the strike would end-that the
coal miners of Colorado and their
families would be able to enjoy the
social and political freedom
which had so long been denied them
by the coal companies of our state.
Like Bolt From the Sky.
'In the early morning, while the
Colorado sun shone down in its won-
drous glory upon the snow-capped
peaks in the distance and upon the
tented city of Ludlow. the mothers
were bathing the younger children for
the day. These mothers of so many
1ationalities We're happy, their hearts
filled with the Easter spirit, joyous in
over might, that justice and the long
desired freedom were near at hand,
that after all the hardship, privation
and suffering of those long winter
months in the tents, spring was here
and with it had come n clearer and
better understanding of the brother
hood of man and the fatherhood of
God, that the morning of a new day
had dawned when peace would reign
on earth and good will toward men.
Suddenly. like bolt from clear'
sky, came the explosion of the three
the signal for the gunmen, then
the rattle of machine guns, and rifle
fire began to rain upon the Ludlow
colony. Mothers and children ran in
frantic haste seeking places of safety,
men rushed to the protection of their
homes and loved ones. The battle of
Ludlow was on and the darkest chap
ter in the history of America begun,
ending with a blot being placed upon
the fair name of Colorado, that
neither the elements nor time can
ever erase.
Three Victims of Gunmen.
''It is matter of public record that
Louis Tikas, the Greek leader, was
murdered by sMontey' Linderfelt, the
gunman militiaman, who struck Tikas
over the head with the stock Of his
Springfield rifle. Tikas. the martyred
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