Gunnison news-champion., 1921-12-09
wALsENBURG EDITOR WRITES
OF COAL STRIKE CONDITIONS
Continued from First Paee)

and questioned, women are frightened
by rangers breaking in their doors at
the dead hours of the night. Military
pomp and war-like manners are TO be
seen on every hand. The general"
drives through the streets in q big car
at speeds putting the city ordinances
to shame. Prominent business men
are ignored or insulted as occasion
suggests. The Commanding officers"
sit in state in the jury room and is
sue their "orders" just like field mar
shnls in time of real war. Officers Of
lodges and orders are forbidden to
speak at their meetings. Men are
forbidden to walk upon certain proper
ty, and armed guards patrol certain
parts Of the county interfering with
citizens who are on everyday business.
Petitions and prayers Of the citizens
are given the horse laugh and appli-
cations for redress or consideration
are turned down with abruptness.
This is a partial pen picture Of con-
ditions existing at this very moment
in Huerfano county, Colorado. And
the picture is not overdrawn, or even
complete. More could be added, but
details are tiresome.
MARTIAL law was proclaimed by the
BONSAuOh VI Ooh SS0tG ~ . bAilC WIbCih
there was not even q strike going on,
but in anticipation Of a strike. No
blood had been shed; no revolutionary
move had been made or threatened.
No disorder had taken place and none
was threatened. Absolute peace, ex-
ccpt shooting scrape, which had oc-
CURED in an isolated coal camp some
time prior, reigned throughout the
county. No excuse for the military
invasion of the county can be given,
except that sheriff. who had had no
occasion to try, wired the governor
that he was unable to cope with con-
diti0ns.n
"This autocratic usurpati0n of the
rights and privileges Of o peaceable
citixenry has advertised this county
the country over as revolutionary,
'bloody," "irresponsive to law re-
straints." Much of the usual busi-
ness Of the city Of Walsenburg has
been ruthlessly driven away; real es-
tate has suffered depreciation never
before known in ten times the length
Of time, and one Of the high command
ers is reported to have announced to-
day that he expected ITO eat Christ
mas dinner right here in 1922"
Sounds like the Kaiser's threat to
eat Christmas dinner in Peris.
"Petitions, messages and appeals
have been made tot he governor. but
q sterotyped reply Is all the "relief
We get. Our governor says be s'has
perfect confidence in Col. Patrick J..
Hamrock and the whole matter has
been left win him." An appeal to
Congressman Hardy elicits the infor-
nation that "as martial law was pro-
claimed by the state, the Department
Of Justice can do nothing"
"This people are absolutely helpless.
No defen se seems to be present. Their
patience has been, and is being, forced
10 the limit. Yet they are yielding
implicit obedience to these strange
and un-American restrictions. Il
would seem that the perpetrators Of
this black shame are determined to
provoke forcible resistance in order
TO prove their statements that this is
. dangerous part Of the country.
~The only disturbance that has
taken place in the county in the past
two months was . quarrel and shoot
ing between two men. The friends Of
the man shot, considered the attack ~
being the result Of conspiracy, and
they shot mp the shanty Of the man
who did the shooting. This occurred
at 0akyiew, mining camp twenty
five miles from Walssnburg and seven
miles from the nearest town. Thii
and an expected walk-out Of the mer
working ia the C. =. & L mtnes m
the ~rsaeons* Tor pFoclaiming marital
| 1aw IN tki6 county.
Tor over two months tie @. F. Z
L have attempted TO reduee Ii
wages of TIER msn. A prejudicel
de3sidn by tie stats industria1 com