In Blood Passion, Scott Martelle argues that "in some ways the collision here in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains was inevitable" (3). Pick one of the following characters from the book who represents a major side in the struggle- Elias Ammons (representing state government), Lamont Montgomery Bowers (the mine owners), or John Lawson (the miners)- and examine the events surrounding the Ludlow Massacre from this figure's perspective. How did he view the strike? What did he believe was the proper relationship between business and labor? What were his feelings toward the other two constituents? What was at stake in this strike for the constituency your character represents? How did his (or his cohorts') actions shape the course of events? Overall, do you agree with Martelle that the conflict was inevitable, given the competing worldviews that were clashing in Colorado? Or do you think that your historical figure (and those he represents) could have done anything different to avoid the violent strike, given his understanding of the situation and what was at stake?