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Show COAL MINERS MEET. Action of the Autocrat of Colorado Denounced. Trinidad, Colo., March 24. Delegates of the coal miners' unions- of southern ' Colorado held a convention here today1 to consider a proposition to return to M-ork, on the terms in effect when the strike was inaugurated last fall. William Howells, president of dis- I trict Xo. 15, United Mine Workers of America, made a strong statement in defense of his conduct of the strike. ' "The action of Governor Peabody in calling out the militia and declaring martial law." he said, "is absolutely ! unwarranted by the conditions. There : has been no violence nor any attempt! of it. The only disturbance that has , occurred since the strike began in November No-vember was occasioned by agents of the operators.' We have counselled moderation from the beginning, and we I shall adhere to our policy. Reports that j j strikers were gathering arms is absolutely abso-lutely untrue. ' They are peaceable and obey implicitly our directions." The delegates expect to reach a vote on me. proposition to return to work tomorrow. to-morrow. . The convention is being he'd I behind closed doors by permission of Major Ma-jor Hill, commanding the troops. : . Martial law. is in full force throughout La Animas county. Detachments of the military were sent to Segundo today. Charles Bent was assaulted and badly beaten by two Italians, -who were later J arrested by the troops and brought to jail. Bent wa.s deputy .sheriff at Segundo prior to martial law. The delegates expect ex-pect to reach a vote tomorrow afternoon. The convention- is being held by permission permis-sion of Major Hill behiud closed doors. Law-Abiding Citizens. The following notice wa.s issued by the jal Minerj union to the. members of the I pited Mine Workers of America today: to-day: "The declaration ff martial law in this county by Major Hill 0f the Colorado national na-tional guard makes it obligatory upon all law-abiding citizens to respect and obev the military authorities in every particular. particu-lar. I therefore call upon all the members mem-bers of our union to see that no violations of this law- are permitted within tur ranks. i "It is the boast of our organization that j ?'T ar5v',,a,V-lbihng American citizens,! no-j-ioiu tu no one in our devotion to! the principles of jaw ami orcjer. ji(.t us fee to it that our claims in this respect rt rnade.swd. l'our past conduct under ! great provocation from those In the em- ploy of the operators assures me that you can be depended upon in the future to wage a lawful contest until just.co pre-j. pre-j. vails and the rights of the mine workers tofair. treatment shah be recognized. 'Anyone having fireaims or ammunition ammuni-tion will turn thorn over to the proper authorities as prescribed. Fraternally yours. v ' 'Signed) v. R. BAIRLEY, "National Executive Board, U. M. of A." on |