What is the use of an alibi when the coal companies
want to persecute or crucify a man who has been
loyal to the cause of labor.
-Frank J Hayes
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Friday May 7, 1915
From the Chicago Day Book: Mrs. Lawson Predicts Verdict Will Be Set Aside
From The Day Book of May 5th:
MRS. LAWSON CALLS HUSBAND'S VERDICT AN OUT RAGE-
"IT WILL BE PUT ASIDE."
Los Angeles, Cal., May 5.-"We'll return to him now," said Mrs. John R. Lawson today, speaking for her invalid self and her young daughter Fern, who were sent by the labor leader to friends here to escape the strain of the murder trial at Trinidad.
I have not slept since I received John's telegram stating that he was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
My daughter and I have not lost confidence. They never will send him to the penitentiary This verdict will be put aside.
Why, I am entirely familiar with every side of the case and the verdict is an outrage. My husband was 12 miles from where the deputy was killed that day. I am astounded over the verdict.
Ten million laboring men are crying for justice for my husband. I am proud to say that the workingmen by whom he stood when they needed a leader and friend are returning his friendship by their loyalty to him in this crisis.
Mrs. Lawson suffered a complete nervous collapse at the time of the Ludlow massacre, a year ago last month. The suffocation of innocent women and children in the "death hole" so unnerved her that she has never recovered her former health. Despite her weakened condition she insisted upon remaining at her husband's side throughout the remainder of the famous strike, until his trial for murder was scheduled. Fearing a verdict of guilty returned under her very eyes might again prostrate her, Lawson prevailed upon her to come here for comparative peace and quiet.
[Photograph added.]
From the same edition of
The Day Book, we are pleased to be able to republish a photograph of two heroines from the Ludlow Tent Colony who testified at the trial on behalf of John Lawson:
From the United Mine Workers Journal of May 6, 1915:
John R. Lawson, International Board Member, Convicted
-----
Hired Judge "Delivers the Goods"
-----
Evidence of Baldwin-Feltz Detectives Admitted.
Linderfelt, the "Baby Butcher,"
a Witness for the State.
Trinidad, Colo., May 3.
In the court of Granby C. Hillyer, the mine owners' attorney, who was appointed special judge to try the miners' representatives against whom the mine owners desire convictions. John R. Lawson, International Board member of District 15, was found guilty and sentenced to the State prison for life.
The charge against John Lawson is based on the fact that a mine guard, John Nimmo, was killed in an attack upon the camp of the striking miners, at Ludlow. That time the mine owners' army was driven back, and the tent homes of the miners were saved for the time.
There is no doubt but that the destruction of the tent colony was intended, at that time; but because the miners resisted, defended their homes from the hireling band of murderers, John R. Lawson, the strike leader, was marked for the vengeance of the mine owners. What their hired gunmen had failed to accomplish was left in the hands of their hired judge. The records of the case against Lawson are unique. Never in the history of American jurisprudence was such open bias shown from the bench in a supposed court of justice. Hillyer, the coal companies' attorney on the bench, was absolutely shameless. He was there to convict; he delivered the goods.
Monte Linderfelt, who afterwards accomplished the deed intended when Nimmo was killed, the destruction of the tent colony, and the murder of the women and babies in the colony, Linderfelt, "the butcher," was one of the witnesses for the State.
He, the known murderer of men, women and children, a witness against John R. Lawson, the gentle, big-hearted leader of the Colorado miners! Linderfelt unmolested! Lawson convicted! Can Justice be further prostituted by Wealth?
The witnesses for the prosecution were known as detectives in the employ of the Rockefeller corporation. At that, the only thing they could prove was that Lawson was in charge of the tent colony at the time the attempt was made to rush the camp. There was absolutely no evidence that he ever shot; nor did the prosecution attempt to prove he was directly the cause of mine guard Nimmo's death. The intent was, in part, to set aside the verdict of "Public Opinion," before which court the mine owners stand convicted of the unspeakable outrages perpetrated during the strike.
To this end, Company Attorney Hillyer was appointed special judge. To this end the detectives, mine guards, were trained in their evidence. Many of these mine guards admitted on the witness stand that their evidence was paid for. Nevertheless, it was admitted.
Notice of appeal has been given, and Mr. Lawson has been released on bonds pending this appeal.
Lawson talked philosophically of the verdict.
He said:
They may get me, but they can't defeat the cause of labor. I'm not worrying about myself—it's the fight I have been making for the workingmen that I am interested in—and that will go ahead. Even for me, it's a long way to the penitentiary. My attorneys will not give up until every thing possible has been done to save me.
Commenting on the verdict, Horace N. Hawkins, chief counsel for the defense, said:
I do not believe the verdict ever will be sustained. It is contrary to the evidence. I shall fight this case as long as there are courts in which to fight.
Late tonight Attorney Hawkins issued an additional statement, in which he said: Rockefeller's lawyers worked up the evidence against Lawson, and Rockefeller's detectives testified in the case to secure conviction. The verdict is an unspeakable out rage. The conviction is stirring the nation. Telegrams are pouring in on us from all over the country.
A JUDICIAL OUTRAGE.
-----
Possible Only in Colorado's Corporation-Owned Courts.
(By Frank J. Hayes.)
Strikers Policy Committee, United Mine Workers of America
John McLennan, President District 15; E. L. Doyle, Secretary-Treasurer District 15;
John R. Lawson, International Board Member from District 15; Frank J. Hayes, International Vice-President.
The verdict in the John R. Lawson case in Colorado is a disgrace to American jurisprudence. This infamous verdict proves conclusively that there is no law in the coal fields of Colorado, and that the coal companies absolutely dominate every phase of life in that region. For instance, although thirty-eight of our men, women and children were brutally murdered during the progress of the strike by imported thugs in the employ of the coal companies, not a single indictment was ever returned against these professional murderers—they were not even brought to trial.
Although 1,000 men have been killed in the coal mines of Colorado in the last several years, due to the neglect of the coal companies in disregarding the mining laws of the State, not a single cent of damages was ever given by a jury to the dependents of those so killed; proving, conclusively, that the coal companies dictate the civil as well as the criminal verdicts in that territory.
What about the massacre of the women and children at Ludlow by the subsidized militia and gunmen, the majority of whom were proven to be in the employ of the coal companies? Not a single one of these murderers was ever brought to trial, and, furthermore, they never will be because the coal companies will not permit it. It is hard to believe that such a state of affairs could exist anywhere in America, and it is difficult to get the average American to understand such a condition. The procedure in the courts of Southern Colorado can not be equalled anywhere in the civilized world. Darkest Russia is a haven of refuge compared to the conditions that prevail in that region. I cannot believe that the American people will stand by and see an innocent man sentenced to the penitentiary for life.
I know Lawson intimately, and was associated with him during the greater part of the Colorado strike. I know him to be a man of gentle nature, of superb character and the last man in the world who would advocate violence as a means to an end. It was proven beyond peradventure of doubt in the trial that Lawson was not within miles of the place where Nimmo, the armed guard of the coal companies, was killed, but what is the use of an alibi when the coal companies want to persecute or crucify a man who has been loyal to the cause of labor.
The United Mine Workers of America will not submit to this diabolical conspiracy to railroad Lawson to the penitentiary, and unless he is accorded fair treatment and vindicated, the mine workers will most assuredly call another strike in Colorado as a protest against the tyrannical conditions that prevail in that State. We have evidence that agents of the coal companies offered large sums of money to get people to testify against Lawson. Two detectives in the trial testified that they were paid to assist in the persecution of Lawson and others. This whole rotten chapter will be fully exposed if we secure a new trial, and some of the people who have tried to railroad Lawson to prison will go there themselves if there is any justice in the United States.
The United Mine Workers of America will make an issue out of this case, and we are going to find out once and for all whether Colorado is in the United States or in Mexico.
A bill of exception will be immediately filed by our attorneys, and we feel hopeful that the Supreme Court will reverse this infamous verdict.
[Photographs added.]
From the Journal's Italian language section:
Lawson Condannato
John Lawson and Mother Jones
``````````
John R. Lawson, membro del consiglio nazionale dell'Unione dei minatori per il distretto No. 15, venne trovato colpevole da una mandra di giurati di Trinidad, Colo., di aver cooperate all'uccisione di una guardia mineraria durante il passato sciopero, e condannato all'ergastolo in vita. A nulla valsero le testimonianze di persone rispettabili comprovanti luminosamente l'innocenza dell'accusato; le menzogne degli abirri ebbero più peso sulla bilancia della giustizia.
Questa feroce condanna che segue a pochi giorni di distanza l'altra altrettanto feroce inflitta a Luigi Zuncanelli, accusato di avere purgato questo mondo da una carogna di spia, dimostra da quali sentimenti di rancore e di vendetta siano animate le omnipossenti compagnie minerarie del Colorado contro i membri dell'Unione, di cui vorrebbero vedere soppresso Pultimo vestigio. Agli unionisti il capestro e l'ergastolo, agli assassini degli innocenti le ricompense e le medaglie al valore!
Ma ci vuol ben altro per frenare ed arrestare il movimento di redenzione nei campi della schiavitù industríale. Il grosso dell'esercito non si ferma a guardare i colpiti, ma procede baldo e fiducioso verso la vittoria.
La sentenza sarà appellate, e speriamo che in un aere più sereno, la giustizia si liberi dalle bende del pregiudizio e dell'ignoranza.
* * *
Commentando in termini non equivoci la sentenza, il nostro Vice-Presidente Frank J. Hayes, dopo avere constatato la differenza di trattamento usata dai giudici del Colorado verso le compagnie minerarie e i membri della nostra unione, la proclama una vergogna infame, e dichiara che l'Unione dei minatori è pronta ad adoperare tutti i mezzi a sua disposizione per ottenere la revisione del processo e l'annullamento del verdetto.
[Photograph added.]
From the Journal's Slovak language section:
Coloradská Spravedlivost
John R Lawson
``````````
Ze Coloradská vláda je v rukach bohatych uhelnych majitefov musíme to uznat za skutocnú pravdu. Dñes doslá zpráva z tohoto státu, ze John R. Lawson, ktory je clenom Národného Vykonného Vyboru nasej unie, bol posúdeny na zivot do vazenia. On bol obzalovany z vrazdy jedného najatca napornej strany pol menom Nimmo, a bez predlozenia direktnych dokazov bol posúdeny.
Kazdomu je znamo, ze vo Colorado jestvovalá civilná válka pocas nedávnej stávky. Vskutku nakedy stávka vypuklá uhel'né spolocnosti pocalí dovazat deputov, a puskárov, ktorí za tridsát striebornych, tie najukrutnejsie nasílstva prevádzali. Na strajkerov strielali bez priciny, ich manzelky urazovalí, a posledne, spalili ku zemy Ludlowskú osadu. Nuz pamätame, ako ked' by sa to bolo stálo iba vcera, jakym ukrutnym prostriedkom povrazdilí dvadsiat osob, z ktorych viacsina boly malé nevinné dietky. Potom tito nestedomiti najatci podpalili siatry ponad hlavami ich obetov, 6o bolo najhorsím zlocinom spachanym nad spojenym robotníctvom od prehlásenia neodvislosti Spojenych. Státov.
Co mali tito ubohy, prenasledovaní strajkeri ro- bit? Ich vykoristovatelia nielen ze ich prenasledovali, ale ich aj vrazdili. Za jaku prícinu. Nuz za jaku? Len zato, ze prestali pracovat. V tomto prenasledovaní a vrazdení, strajkujúci majneri obratilí sa na vrchnosti státu, ale prekvapení boly, ked sbadalí, ze panujúca trieda vladnilá vrchnosti státu, a tieto vrchnosti schválovali vrazdenie zenov a dietkov. Ochrany pre strajkerov nebolo, keó? ich manzelky a dietky nepriatelia vrazdili. Nuz museli sa bránit. Zakonnitym spôsobom branili sa, a aj svojich milovanych od predcasnej smrti. Ale predsa mnoho s nych stali sa obetami na oltare mamony.
Vrahovia tychto dietkov Ludlowskych zijú teraz. Sú medzi nami. Ziadon trest ich neohrozuje. A precoze. Preto bo sluzilí panujúcej triede. Ajhl'a, sluzilí bohatym spolocnosfiam, a ich sluzba pozostavalá z vrazdenia zotrocench robotníkov, ktorí domáhali sa svobody priemyselnej.
Lawson je nevinny. On bol vodcom strajkerov. To je jeho jediny zloáin, zaco kapitál chce ho popravit. Pred súdom naporná strana nemohla dokazat', ze Lawson zavrazdil Nimmoho. Pravda, Nimmo bol streleny do nohy, od ktorej rany pozdejsi zomrel. Ale staré porekadlo hovorí, ze kto vladuje z mecom, ten zomre mecom. Nimmo bol puskárom. On bol ozbrojeny do zubov. Na strajke rov strielal, a nieni pochybnosti, ze on bol jeden z tych diablov, ktorí strielali a vrazdili nevinné dietky.
Stát Colorado je hanbou pre národ Americky. V tomto státe tie najhorsie zlociny boly spachané nad robotníctvom. Od rokov kapitál tu panuje s bicom, mecom, puskou a vazením, a robotníci su obetami.
V roku 1913 rudové baníci zastrajkovali, pocom povstalo prenasledovanie vodcov unie. Pettibona, Moyera a Haywooda uhel'né spolocnosti dali uvaznic, pocom usilovali sa ich popravic. Ale nepo- dárilo sa im doeiahnuf tohoto zlocinu nad robot níctvom. Odstrasení boly od ich pekeFného umyslu. Spojené robotníctvo po celej krajine hrozilo ich povstaním, a pre tu prícinu prepustilí robotníckych vodcov z vazenia.
V Colorade nieni spravedlivosti. Tam panuje to najhorsie otroctvo industrialne. Nuz prisiel ëas, ze zlocinné pokracovanie otrokarov musí byC za stavené. Povinnostou vlády Spojenych Státovzakrocit a ukoncif prenasledovanie obéanov tejto krajiny.
Lawson musí byf prepusteny, aj Robb a Rich ardson, ktorí taktiez nedávno boli posúdení bez ziadnej priciny.
Prezident Spojenych Státov mal by zakrocitf, abo Congress, a zabezpecit' tymto prenasledovanym obcanom ich zarucené práva pod konstituciu tejze krajiny.
[Photograph added.]
"To Our Martyrs"
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~~~~~~~~~~
SOURCES
Illinois » Chicago » The Day Book
-May 5, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
The United Mine Workers Journal, Volume 23
Executive Board of the
United Mine Workers of America,
Dec 3, 1914-May 6, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
UMWJ May 6, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
UMWJ on Lawson Verdict, English
http://books.google.com/...
UMWJ Italian section
http://books.google.com/...
UMWF Slovak section
http://books.google.com/...
IMAGES
John Lawson with Olive and Fern from Day Book
of April 23, 1915, Last Edition
http://www.newspapers.com/...
John R Lawson with Pearl Jolly & Maggie Dominiske,
Day Book, May 5, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
UMWJ banner
http://books.google.com/...
1914 Strikers Policy Committee,
United Mine Workers of America
https://archive.org/...
UMWJ, Italian Section
http://books.google.com/...
John Lawson & Mother Jones,
Wichita Beacon, Kansas, Apr 22, 1915
http://www.newspapers.com/...
UMWJ, Slovak Section, Apr 15, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
John R Lawson, 1915
http://www.loc.gov/...
Ludlow, To Our Martyrs, UMWJ, Apr 15, 1915
http://books.google.com/...
See also:
Testimony of Pearl Jolly before CIR
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Testimony of Maggie Dominiski before CIR
http://www.dailykos.com/...
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GOOGLE TRANSLATES
Google detects Italian and translates:
Lawson Sentenced
John R Lawson with Louie Tikas
during the strike.
``````````
John R. Lawson, a board member of the National Union of miners for the District No. 15, was found guilty by a flock of jurors in Trinidad, Colo., Have cooperated in the killing of a guard during the past mining strike, and sentenced to life imprisonment in life. A time ignoring the testimony of respectable brightly proving the innocence of the accused; the lies of abirri had more weight on the scales of justice.
This fierce condemnation following a few days of each other equally fierce inflicted on Louis Zuncanelli, accused of having purged the world from a carcass of light, shows by such feelings of resentment and revenge are the animated omnipossenti mining companies against Colorado Union members, which would like to see abolished Pultimo vestige. Unionists to the halter and a life sentence, in this killing of innocent rewards and medals for bravery!
But it takes more than that to slow down and stop the movement of redemption in the fields of the industrial slavery. The bulk of the army does not stop to look at the hit, but proceeds bold and confident towards victory.
The ruling will be appealed, and we hope that in a aere calmer, justice is free from the bandages of prejudice and ignorance.
Commenting in unequivocal terms the judgment, our Vice-President Frank J. Hayes, having found the difference of treatment used by the judges of Colorado to the mining companies and the members of our union, proclaims an infamous shame, and declares that the 'Miners' Union is ready to use all means at its disposal to obtain a new trial and the conviction being quashed.
[Photograph added.]
Google detects Slovak and translates:
Colorado Righteousness
John Lawson, years later,
at the Ludlow Monument.
``````````
Of Colorado government is in the hands of rich uhelnych majitefov we must recognize as the real truth. Today news came from the State of John R. Lawson, a member of the National Executive Committee of our Union, it has been judged to life in prison. He was charged with murder one najatca napornej Party pol named Nimmo, and without submitting evidence direktno been assessed.
Kazdomu is known that the Colorado civil war existed during the recent strike. Indeed naked strike convex uhel'né company began to import Depute, a gunsmith who for thirty pieces of silver, the najukrutnejsie nasílstva to transfer. On strajkerov they fired without cause, their wives urazovalí and the last burned to zemy Ludlowskú settlement. Knife remembers how when this would have happened only yesterday how atrocious means massacred twenty persons, of which viacsina Boly small innocent little children. Then these nestedomiti najatci Šiatrom set fire over the heads of their victims, 6o was the worst crimes committed by the working class of the United declarations neodvislosti connection. Stat.
What have these poor, persecuted strajkeri ro- bit? Not only from their exploiters they pursued them, but they also murdered. For Jake cause. Knife for Jake? Only deemed to have stopped working. The persecution and murder, striking Majner turned the country nobility, but Boly surprised when sbadalí, the ruling class government suzerain state, and these landlords condoned murder Zenov and little children. Protection for strajkerov not, Keo? their wives and little children murdered enemies. Knife had to defend. Zakonnitym way to prevent to their loved ones and even from premature death. But still many of NYCHA become the sacrifices made mammon.
The murderers of these little ones Ludlowskych live now. They are among us. Ziadon sentence does not threaten. Wherefore then. Therefore it will serve the ruling class. Ajhl'a, served the Company can wealthy, and their services consisted of murdering zotrocench workers who demanded the freedom of industry.
Lawson's innocent. He was a leader strajkerov. This is his only crime; zaco capital wants to execute him. Naporná party before the court could not prove 'that murdered Lawson Nimmoho. True, Nimmo was shot in the leg, a wound from which the later died. But the old adage says that who governs from the sword, die by the sword that. Nimmo was a gunsmith. He was armed to the teeth. To strike ROV shoot, and Nien doubt that he was one of those devils who shot and murdered innocent little children.
State of Colorado is a disgrace to the nation of America. In this state, Boly the worst crimes committed by the working class. Since years there is capital there with a whip, by the sword, guns and weighing, and workers are victims.
In 1913, Ruda miners zastrajkovali, whereupon persecution arose union leaders. Pettibon, Moyer and Haywood uhel'né company gave uvaznic, whereupon pursue their popravic. But ANY THIRD prospered doeiahnuf the crime means of the robot. Boly deter them from pekeFného intentions. United working class throughout the country threatened their revolt, and for this cause workers' leaders released from prison.
Colorado Nien righteousness. There exists the worst slavery Industriale. It came EAS knife that crime continued slavers must be of a sealed. Obligations of the Governments of the United Státovzakrocit ukoncif and persecution of citizens of this country.
Lawson has released byf, and Robb and Richardson who has also recently been assessing for no cause.
President of the United States should zakrocitf, abo Congress and ensure "this persecution of all its citizens under the Constitution guaranteed the right tejze country.
[Photograph added.]
IMAGES
John R Lawson with Louie Tikas during the strike.
http://ludlowsymposium.wordpress.com/...
John Lawson, years later, at the Ludlow Monument
https://ludlowsymposium.wordpress.com/...
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Which Side Are You On? - Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
Across this great old nation
Tell me whatcha gonna do
When there's one law for the rulers
And one law for the ruled?
-Florence Reese/Tom Morello
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