COLLECTION NAME:
Colorado Coal Project
Record
Collection Name:
Colorado Coal Project
Title:
1980 interview with Mike Livoda (part 1 of 3)
Creator:
Margolis, Eric, 1947-
Creator:
McMahan, Ronald L.
Subject:
Strikes and lockouts--Coal mining--Colorado
Subject:
Lawson, John R., 1871-1945
Subject:
Coal miners--Personal narratives
Subject:
Coal mines and mining
Subject:
Coal mines and mining--Colorado--Huerfano County
Subject:
Coal mines and mining--Colorado--Las Animas County
Subject:
Interviews
Subject:
United Mine Workers of America
Subject:
Coal Strike (Colorado : 1913-1914)
Subject:
Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation
Subject:
Jones, Mother, 1837-1930
Subject:
Labor disputes--Colorado
Description:
At the time of this interview, Mike Livoda was 94 years old. He started work at steel mills in Steubenville, Ohio: 12 hours/day for $1.75. He left to prospect in Alaska, but only got as far as Butte, Montana. He began coal mining: liked the work and the people (many different nationalities who all got along). He moved to Colorado: despite state law limiting work day to 8 hours, coal companies demanded 10. The company wouldn't permit the miners to hire a checkweighman, to verify the weight of their coal. Also, the companies didn't pay miners for non-production work: for timbering, or "narrow work." In southern Colorado, Bob Ulich got Mike to work for U.M.W.A and to organize a miners' union; by 1912, there were ~ 8,000 miners working in the canyons near Ludlow. ML was chased out of mining camp due to organizing; he had to sneak in/out of camps. He was beaten up at Ravenwood -- thugs broke his nose. Miners could only use their "scrip" pay at company stores and had few rights until FDR was elected. Livoda discusses the 1913/1914 strike: on 23 Sept. 1913, the company kicked striking miners out of company housing and the snow began to fall. About 1500 people were living on $3/week strike pay in the tents at Ludlow, with others at Aguilar and Walsenburg. Lippiatt was killed in Trinidad by Belcher, who was in turn murdered in the street despite his steel vest. ML helped 2 union activists flee town after their role in Belcher's death. Zancanelli's trial for the Belcher murder ended in a hung jury. ML recalls Mother Jones, "a good old soul." More discussion of the Ludlow tent colony, organized by Louis Tikas and Bill Diamond. Tikas tried to keep the peace, but was killed by a militiaman. ML declares "Linderfelt was a son-of-a-bitch." Jeff Farr, sheriff of Huerfano County, called himself the "king of this county" and threw ML out of Walsenburg. After the 1913/1914 strike, Republicans hadn't elected a candidate from Huerfano County. Recalling Mother Jones, ML describes how she was seized from the train by authorities and detained in a Trinidad hospital. Women marched thru the streets to free her, but were blocked by mounted militiamen. Photos of the "death special" armored car, used against the strikers -- also photos of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., congressional investigator Welch, armed strikers, and Louis Tikas's funeral.
Description Type:
summary
Description:
00:05:00 -- Pete Grgich, Mike's friend; Livoda tries to organize 00:10:00 -- 1913 strike begins 00:15:00 -- murders of Lippiat and Belcher 00:20:00 -- Zancanelli trial for Belcher's murder 00:25:00 -- 23 Sept. 1913 at Ludlow, CO 00:30:00 -- Louis Tikas killed at Ludlow; actions of Linderfelt, Sheriff Jeff Farr 00:35:00 -- Huerfano County, after the strike; Mother Jones's efforts 00:40:00 -- Mother Jones detained in Trinidad; hard winter in the tents 00:45:00 -- photos of armed strikers; Louis Tikas's funeral 00:46:15 -- audio ends
Description Type:
timeline
Publisher:
University of Colorado Boulder Archives
Contributor:
Livoda, Mike, 1886-1984
Date:
1980-09-20
Type:
Audio
Format:
audio/mp3
Identifier:
15-97A Livoda.mp3
Language:
English
Relation:
Title: Interview with Mike Livoda (part 2 of 4), including his wife, Kate
Relation Type:
isFormatOf
Relation:
Title: 1980 interview with Mike Livoda (part 1 of 3)
Relation Type:
isPartOf
Relation:
Title: 1980 interview with Mike Livoda (part 2 of 3)
Relation Type:
isPartOf
Coverage (Spatial):
Las Animas County (Colorado, United States, North America) (civil)
Coverage (Temporal):
1907/1980
Coverage (Spatial):
Huerfano County (Colorado, United States, North America) (civil)
Coverage (Spatial):
Trinidad (Las Animas, Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Coverage (Spatial):
Ludlow (Las Animas, Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Coverage (Spatial):
Walsenburg (Huerfano, Colorado, United States, North America) (populated place)
Rights:
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