The 19th Governor of Colorado, a businessman and politician, served from 1913 to 1917 and is most known for his progressive reforms and efforts to improve labor conditions. He also played a key role in the Colorado Coalfield War.
Elias M. Ammons, the 19th governor of Colorado, is widely remembered for his role in the Colorado Coalfield War, which culminated in the infamous Ludlow Massacre. His decision to deploy National Guard troops to Ludlow, Colorado, in 1914, would forever etch his name in the annals of American labor history.
Ammons was born on July 28, 1860, in Macon County, North Carolina, to Jehu R. and Margaret Ammons. His father, a Baptist minister, and his mother, of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, instilled in him the values of hard work and perseverance. In 1871, the Ammons family relocated to Denver, Colorado, where Elias would later attend East Denver High School.
In 1886, Ammons started a successful cattle business in Colorado, which laid the foundation for his future political career. He entered politics in 1890, winning an election to the Colorado House of Representatives from Douglas County as a Republican. Ammons would go on to serve in the state legislature for several years, eventually switching to the Democratic Party and becoming a member of the Colorado State Senate.
On November 5, 1912, Ammons was elected as the Democratic Governor of Colorado, defeating his opponents in a closely contested election. As governor, Ammons focused on issues such as labor rights, conservation, and education. However, it was his handling of the Colorado Coalfield War that would define his tenure.
In 1914, tensions between coal miners and the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company (CF&I) reached a boiling point. Miners, many of whom were immigrants, demanded better wages, working conditions, and recognition of their union. The situation escalated when the CF&I brought in strikebreakers, leading to violence and the eventual deployment of National Guard troops to Ludlow.
On April 20, 1914, the National Guard, under Ammons' orders, fired on a tent colony of striking miners and their families, killing 20 people, including women and children. The event, known as the Ludlow Massacre, shocked the nation and cemented Ammons' reputation as a fierce opponent of labor unions.
Ammons' role in the Ludlow Massacre has been the subject of much controversy and debate. While his supporters argue that he was trying to maintain order and protect the state's economy, critics accuse him of being beholden to corporate interests and suppressing workers' rights.
In addition to his legacy surrounding the Ludlow Massacre, Ammons is also remembered for his role in establishing the National Western Stock Show, a prominent event that continues to this day.
Ammons was married and had two children, including Teller Ammons, who would later become governor of Colorado. His sister, Theodosia Grace Ammons, was a prominent figure in Colorado's women's suffrage movement and a faculty member at Colorado State University.
Elias M. Ammons passed away on May 20, 1925, leaving behind a complex and contested legacy that continues to be debated by historians and scholars today.
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