Ostensibly exploring the practice of law before the internet. Heck, before good highways for that matter.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, April 29, 1914. The Ten Days War ends and the Coalfield War with it.
With Federal troops arriving, John R. Lawson of the United Mine Workers ordered miners to lay down their arms, which they did on this day, but not before an additional fifteen Colorado minders were killed.
In Denver, not too surprisingly, the first several pages were dominated by the private war, as well as a looming potential one with Mexico.
Tuesday, April 28, 1914. President Wilson orders Federal troops into the Colorado Coalfield War.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Tuesday, April 28, 1914. President Wilson orders Federal troops into the Colorado Coalfield War.
On this day in 1914, President Wilson ordered Federal troops to Colorado at the request of Gov. Eliam M. Ammons following days of fighting (the Ten Day War) between miners, Colorado National Guardsmen and mine owners that had broken out with the April 20 Ludlow Massacre, which we should have covered but managed to omit, occured.
Tensions had been high since the summer of 1913 between miners of the United Mine Workers of America (UMW) and the Rockefeller-owned Colorado Fuel and Iron (CF&I) due to low pay and dangerous working conditions. Colorado's mine accident rate was much higher than elsewhere in the US at the time. The UMW had started making demands to address the situation without success and adopted demands on September 16, 1913, calling for a seven-step plan of improvements and recognition of the UMW.
Rise up and strike! If you are too cowardly, there are enough women in this country to come in here and beat the hell out of you.
The companies brought in strike-breaking forces, and law enforcement was generally aligned with the companies. They also had influence in the Colorado National Guard, which would soon be deployed, which was extremely unfortunate as the Guard had been working since the early 20th Century to escape this role specifically, and had made progress in that regard with the passage of the Dick Act, which made them the official reserve of the Army. In classic Western form, gunmen were recruited from Texas and New Mexico, some of whom became National Guard "recruits". Colorado's National Guard CO, Gen. John Chase, had, additionally, played a role in suppressing strikes at Cripple Creek in 1903-04, making him literally a pre Dict Act figure, as the Dick Act, which officially established the Guard system, came into effect in 1903.
In October 1913 the Colorado National Guard was called out, but six months later the financial drain on the state caused all but two companies to be withdrawn. When more fully deployed miners had welcomed it, as it was a neutral party, but the change, with quite a few of the Guardsmen deployed in that period being imported strikebreakers with no military experience, changed things considerably. Strikebreakers were additionally brought in by the mines in the form of Baltwin-Felts detectives, who had experience in the same from West Virginia.
Clashes occured all winter long, with the Guard sometimes acting as strikebreakers and sometimes acting as intervening parties between strikers and private strikebreakers. Things had largely calmed down by early 2014, but the death of a strikebreaker near Ludlow caused increased tension once again. Mother Jones returned in late March and was detained in dank conditions.
On Orthodox Easter, April 20, 1914, many of the miners were Greek immigrants, fighting broke out after early morning negotiations between the parties, the miner's UMW representative Louis Tikas being among those participating in discussion. The negotiations were brought about by rising tensions and threads the prior day. Perhaps ironically, Tikas, who had initially refused to meet, was encouraged to do so by Colorado National Guard Major Patrick J. Hamrock, who had been with the Army at Wounded Knee.
The two parties nonetheless began to move for position and fighting broke out.
The remaining Guard companies attacked the camp and fighting went on all day long. At some point Lt. Karl "Monte" Linderfelt, a notable figure in the actions locally, butt stroked Tikas in the head, although later examinations showed Tikas, who was a Cretan immigrant, to have multiple gunshot wounds. Linderfelt's unit had been kept some distance from Ludlow as he was so inclined to violence. Thirty-two strikers or their families, including women and children, were killed, and thirty-seven Guardsmen lost their lives. Four Hundred miners were arrested, and the camp was destroyed.
The violence at Ludlow led to a union call to arms throughout Colorado and a switch to miner sympathy on the part of the press. The Southwestern Mine Co.'s Empire Mine was laid under siege on April 22, with the miners yielding after 21 hours, a ceasefire being negotiated by a Protestant minister. An attempt to take Delagua, Colorado, was made by strikers who were republished, but three mine guards were killed in the assaults. A mine guard was killed at Tabasco and the Las Animas County Sheriff's Department cabled that it had been defeated and requested Federal troops.
While this was going on, the UMW briefly organized a truce, but at the same time the Governor attempt to deploy the National Guard to what had become a 175-mile-long front. Of the 600 Guardsmen who were expected to answer the call, only 362 men reported showing that the insurrection and public sympathy had passed to the miners, who now had the press's full support nationwide. One of the cavalry troops of the Colorado Guard, which included two of the Colorado Guard's commander's sons, mutinied and had to be removed from deployment. Artillery was deployed from Denver, but the miners also secured firearms.
The Chandler Mine near Cañon City was fired upon on April 25, breaking the truce. On the 26th, 1,000 armed miners attacked and took the town. Residents of Walsenburg's fled. Greek miners grew unhappy with union officials and began guerilla attacks on the town and attacked the McNally Mine. Communiques from both sides took on the nature of those from regular combatants.
The Women's Peace Association staged a sit in Denver starting on April 25, which forced Governor Ammons to act, sending his request on the 25th. On the 26th, protesters in Denver demanded the impeachment of Governor Ammons. One of the speakers was former Denver Police Commissioner George Creel.
The National Guard deployed in force on April 27 near Trinidad, where Tikas' funeral was scheduled to, and did, take place without incident. There had been plans to retake the town, which was in miner control, but the assault did not occur.
On this day, the Battle of Heclar Mine in Louisville took place, with that mine owned by the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company. This was considerably further north than the other mine attacks and fairly near Denver. National Guardsmen that had been rotated off of the southern front were sent to quell that attack.
The Army was on its way.
Ironically, perhaps, on the same day a mine explosion in Eccles, West Virginia, killed over 180 miners.
British suffragettes Hilda Burkitt and Florence Tunks burned down the Felixstow Bath Hotel in Suffolk as part of an ongoing suffragette terror campaign.
Last prior edition:
Sunday, April 26, 1914. No longer in doubt.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Mustang ROTC program turns 100
Postscript.
NC's JrROTC program is in the news again this morning, although this time it's for the fine performance of their air rifle team, which won a significant competition for the tenth year in a role.
I note that here, however, as this also illustrates the changing times. The article notes that the rifle team itself dates back to 1914, at which time they used M1903 rifles. That means they were shooting service rifle competition at the time.
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Standards of Dress. Attending school
Sunday, April 26, 1914. No longer in doubt.
The Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition completed its exploration of the River of Doubt by reuniting with a relief party led by Lt. Antonio Pyrineus. The meeting had been prearranged.
Three men died during the expedition, and Roosevelt had come very close to doing so. His health never recovered, although he'd very soon be agitating for an American entry into World War One, and seeking appointment to a volunteer division for that effort.
The Cheyenne paper was predicting that was going to break out at any moment, but I mostly put this issue up for the interesting cereal and flour advertisement.
It is interesting that "The Girl I Left Behind Me" was still a popular military tune, apparently, at the time.
Post Toasties getting in the war mood, however, is a classic.
Apparently Cheyenne had its own brand of flour at the time.
Last prior edition:
Friday, April 24, 1914. Occupying Vera Cruz.
Friday, April 25, 2014
NCHS 1945-1946 Swim Team
The newest NC team at the time, in its third season.
The pool they used is just about to come down, the last swim team to use it having practiced in it this academic year. Hopefully the voters will approve the bond that allows for a new pool to be built.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Friday, April 24, 1914. Occupying Vera Cruz.
Fighting in Veracruz ceased and the occupation of the city began.
35,000 obsolescent German, Austrian and Italian rifles and 5,000,000 rounds of ammunition were smuggled into Ulster from Germany and distributed by automobile in the Larne Gun Running incident to Ulster loyalists in anticipation of fighting over the issue of independence, with the Ulster Volunteers opposed to it.
Captain Robert Bartlett and Kataktovik reached Emma Town having traveled 700 miles in their effort to secure relief for his stranded party. They secured passage there to Emma Harbour, a weeks journey, so that he could travel to Alaska by ship from there.
The Brooklyn Federal League team was photographed.
Last prior edition:
Thursday, April 23, 1914. Wrigley Field Opens, War Panic.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Thursday, April 23, 1914. Wrigley Field Opens, War Panic.
April 23, 1914: Chicago Feds open Weeghman Park, later known as Wrigley Field
The first game was between the Chicago Whales and the Kansas City Packers.
The Casper paper may have been a bit off the mark:
Mexicans were not happy, however, about the massively heavy-handed overreaction of the United States at Veracruz.
Wednesday, April 22, 1914. Fighting in Veracruz
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Wednesday, April 22, 1914. Fighting in Veracruz
Street fighting was unusual for Americans at the time, and the sailors had trouble adapting to it, whereas the Marines quickly did.
The city center was taken by 11:00.
The Titanic Engineers' Memorial was unveiled at Southampton, UK.
Babe Ruth, age 19, pitched his first major league game for the Baltimore Orioles.
Last prior edition: