davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Says Officials
Are Owned

Washington, May 21.-Representa-
Of the Congressional Labor Group,
threw new light on conditions in the
strike zone of his state, where he de
clared that every official in Huerfano
and Las Animas counties has been
the personal property of the Rookie
Teller interests for the past ten years,
and that it has been impossible for
worker in the mines to secure a Judg
ment for damages because of injury.
Mr.. Heating said in part:
SO far as law enforcement is con
cerned, in my judgment, the law is
enforced as impartially and as con-
sistently in every county in Colorado
with the exception of two counties
as it is in any county in any state
of the Union In the counties of HUI
erfano and Las Animas, the two coun-
ties whee Mr. Rockefeller and his as
socates dominate the situation, they
have owned. every public official for
the last ten years as absolutely as the
members of the House own their coats
and 1t has been impossible in those
counties to secure an enforcement Of
the law: AS a result of that fact Twill
say that While in those two counties
We killed twenty-six times as many
men in our coal mines in proportion to
the number employed as. were killed
IN Austria in 1910, not a single cor
oners jury during ten years brought
IN verdict holding a coal mine COM
pany responsible.
In ten years, in Huerfano county,
despite the great number of deaths
and great number of men injured, not
single damage suit has been filed
against a coal-nf1ninfi company, and in
Las Animas county a judge has not
permitted a single damage suit to go
10 jury in ten years. According to
Inc evidence now on file with the sec
secretary Of state in Denver, last year
We killed 106 men in our coal mines,
and We seriously injured 356. Under
our law, coal-mining companies are
compelled to make sworn statement
OF their operations, and, among other
lnmgs, they have to show how much
they pay in damages to the men injur-
q IN their mines. Now, We killed 1O6
ana We seriously injured S56, and &C
eordlng to the sworn tatement filed by
The coal companies the killing and
manning of these men cost them IN
manages only $50, 900. Now, submit
10 this House, if there were no Other
evidence, if we did not have this re
port of the grand jury, if we did moi
nave the testimony of your own com
mlttee sent out. for the purpose of In
s,eestlgation, if we had nothing to In
olcate TO us the situation in this
&ate, nothing with which to answer
Mr. Rockefeller's statement of this
morning except those naked figures
lAey would be sufficient to convince
any reasonable man that conditions II
southern dorado we're not what they
should be-"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Mass Meeting Brings
Out Solidarity Message
Troops Killed
: Prisoners

Denver, May 21.-Testimony was SO
overwhelming against the Ludlow mil
tia and mine guards, that even a mil
itary commission composed of three
officers appointed by Gen. Chase, of
the State militia, to investigate the
Ludlow tragedy, reported that three
prisoners were deliberately killed by
militiamen after being taken prisoners
in the battle
: The coroner's verdict suppo1N<d the
charge of miners, as it held that the
deaths of two women and eleven chill
dren who were smothered and burned
to death by the burning of the tents
Of the Ludlow tent colony were caus-
ed by fire started by militiamen,,
mine guards, or both. Startling evil
dence was brought out at the inquest.
R. ]. Mcdonald, stenographer for the
military commission, made the direct
charge that an officer of the Colorado
Naional Guard gave an order to
clean out" the Ludlow tent colony
and burn the tents. This order, the
witness said, was given either by
Maj. Hammock or Capt. Carson, he was
not certain which. Mcdonald was
questioned about the capture and
death of Louis Tikas, Greek leader of
the strikers. He said that while near
the scene of the battle he heard
commotion behind some box cars, and
was told that Tikas was prisoner
and probably would be hanged. Later
he asked Lieut.. Linderfelt if Tikas had
been hanged The witness swore that
Linderfelt was carrying his rifle over
his shoulder, stock to the rear, and
holding itAby the barrel. The physi-
Clans autopsy showed that Tikas'
skull had been fractured. G. A. Hall,
that he had heard militia officer give
the order to "clean out" the tent col
ony and burn the tents
Trainmen on a Colorado and South
ern railroad freight train that pulled
into Ludlow station about the time
the fire started corroborated previous
testimony that the soldiers were res
ponsible. Brakeman Riley said:
while militiamen maintained rifle
fire at one angle, l saw militiaman
enter the colony with a blazing torch
and touch off a third tent. Women
and children were then crawling along
the railroad cut under cover of the
train to the safety of an arroyo, many
of them screaming in terror. One
hundred of the militia and mine guards
were then strung out along the rail
road train for $50 feet, stalking among
the frightened women and children. y
Riley wa riding in the engine, and he
swore that ten soldiers approached
the cab, thrust their guns in my face
and the engineers, ordered the train
to move on, and linked their order
with a threat of death" Conductor
Hartman, verified his brakeman's
Testimony. He sWore that he jumped
from the train to see the cause of the
fire. After a bullet sang by his head,
he said, he blew out the caboose
lights and was able to discern the
flashes from the militiamen's rifles as
they fired upon the burning tents.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Words from Behind the Bars
CONTINUED, ON Page -

the feeling of liberty, free speech and
love of all that these things stand for.
1 came to this country because l felt
that here as well as at home would
be guaranteed the blessings that a
free country gives one and besides
partake Of the greatest opportunities
offered to labor in this country. l
am an American citizen and still proud
of it and ever, if from one in author
ity in this country, have been moved
to feel how injutice can triumph over
Justice, feel it is my fault as well as
the fault of a good many of our broth
ers who vote to put incapable and
prejudiced men in such offices. There
fore though it is easy to feel better
when thinking over our situation, l
am coGling out a good American, a
strong ami loyal Union Man, and If
/ have TO suffer more in the cause
of labor will not shirk my response
bility or euty.
Long live Union Labor and greet.
ings to my brothers and sisters in Jail
and courage to their hearts.
FraternaIly yours.
EARNEST HOWARD.
lMorrantoWn. ", We.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
ASK PRESIDENT TO KEEP
ALL +SCAB MINES CLOSED

Fairmont, May 21-(special. 1.-The
following resolution was passed by the
Federation convention, following the
receipt of a telegram from the policy
committee of the miners in Colorado:
Whereas, The Colorado legislature
has adjourned after doing nothing ex-
cept to appropriate one million dollars
to pay part debts of the militia who
murdered and cremated men, women
and children at Ludlow and other
places in the strike zone, and provid-
ing approximately 100000 to send the
militia back to the field to complete
their work of carnage against the
striking coal miners, and
Whereas, Governor Ammons has
openly said that as soon. as the Fed
eral troops leave he will send the mill
tia to the strike zone; and this Ma
tional Guard, made up largely of bar
rel house buns and Baldwin-Fel
assassins, intimidated the miners, rob-
bed and plundered homes, insulted
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Peter ". Co ||lns
Defends CAPT tafsIn

Peter W. Collins defended capital
ism in speech delivered Friday
night at the Carroll Club under the
auspices Of the local knights of Col
Hmbu, before a large audience. He
made the took argument against So
cialism, carefully refraining from quot
ing the Socialist platform, which, in
itself, would have refuted every
charge he made. He continually drag
ged God into his speech, as though
he feared that the destroying of cap
italist robbery would dethrone God
1t reminded one Of Ingersolls re-
marks to a similar God and my
party" speech. Il have been accused
Of saying some pretty mean things
about God,'' said Ingersoll, but never
vt accused him of mixing in American
politics"
At the conclusion of his attacks he
asked for questions, but accompanied
the invitation with the threat that
the fireworks would now begin He
would not permit a question to ex-
plain question, but would cut him
off with the yell: Don't make a
speech" H.
hail." Look at his necktie, y 81 never
heard of you before, ~Sit down,
"Be quiet" I'll come down and throw
you, out, ETC., soon discouraged the
few i'll advised ones who began ask
ing questions mistakingly imagining
that he would answer them in court
eous and gentlemanly manner.
Among his assertions were these:
That no Socialist was a Trades I'm
ionist, that Walter Johnson was "a
wrecker of the International Assoc
iation of Machinists, that the United
Mine Workers were hoodwinked in
their paasge of Socialist resolutions,
and that Eugene v. Debs was a trait
or to the working class!
NJ His answer to the challenge of the
local Socialists that he meet in de-
bate Rev. Fred G. Strickland, nation
al organizer of the Socialist Party,
and elected by the National Executive
Committee as the party's representa-
tive to debate with him was that he
I"could not meet every cheap piker
who come along!"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

The convention of the West Vir-
ginia State Federation of Labor came
to an end in blaze of unionism that
Illuminated Fairmont last night. The
event was an open air meeting held in
front OF the court house.
Though Fairmont has Russion or
dinance prohibiting street meetings or
dinarily, permit was granted by the
mayor for this.
A band helped to attract the crowd,
and when the speakers addressed the
assemblage it numbered, perhaps, 1000
The meeting was opened by Ned
Sims, retiring president of the Fedora
ton, who introduced H. P. Corcoran,
the incoming executive, who, in turn,
surprised the former by presenting to
him handsome travelling bag, a tri-
butte from the delegates. Later the
local Flints presented former Presi-
denut Sims with some beautiful \cut
glass pieces.
President Corcoran talked for about
twenty minutes on the value of or
ganization to both the employer and
employee, urging the workers to fed
crate and the employers to treat with
them.
Jack Nightingale, the new commits
sioner Of Labor for West Virginia, fol
lowed with an appeal on behalf of the
organization Of Labor, and the declara.
ton that he would do his duty as an
official. eff any of you have children
working under age in this state you
had better take them out of the fac
tory, or Jack Nightingale will take
them out for you," he said.
He was followed by A. McAndrews
president of the Tobacco Workers In
lternational Union, who pleaded fol
\ organization in general, and the union
label in particular.
The last speaker was Walter B. Hill
ton, Of Wheeling, who talked fol
three quarters of an hour in behalf o.
the workers, urging them to band
themselves together for their owl
advancement.
The meeting attracted much atten
ton in Fairmont, and, it is believed
will result in much and lasting good
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

womanhood and finally destroyed
Forbes and Ludlow, killing six men,
numbering and cremating thirteen wo-
men and children, and no one knows
how many more, whom, witnesses
say, "were sacrificed to John D. Rookie
feller4on large funeral pyre saturat-
ed with Standard Oil; and
Whereas, If the militia returns to
the field further massacre of men, wo-
men and children are certain to fol-
low; Therefore, be it
= Resolved, BY the West Virginia
Federation of Labor, that we register
our strongest protest to the president
of the United States against any fur
Their slaughter of the innocent, and de-
mand that he keep the Federal troops
in Colorado to preserve the peace,
and that he close down the mines
where there is any controversy
W. B. HILTON.
H P. CORCORAN.
FRANK W. SNYDER
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
UNION SCALE
ON HIGHWAYS

Joliet, H., May 21-The highway
commissioners of this city have voted
to accept the new union wage scale
in effect May 1, providing for the pay
ment Of $3.50 per day to laborers
working nine hours. Last year the
rate was 1925 for nine hours. The
new schedule also includes teamsters,
who viii receive Sc for nine hours
against $3.50 last year. Nine hours
constitutes a days work within TWEEN
ty-four hours; overtime, 81 per hour;
teamsters working by day for wages
or taking Jobs by contract shah not
haul ever ths spsctasd ioada,
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

The convention also thanked Miss
Leila Mercer for her work as steno-
grapher, and voted a substantial pres
ent to the panitress.
L license Foremen.
A resolution was passed calling for
law licensing railroad foremen and
foremen of construction work on rail-
roads.
Another was passed recommending
the licensing of moving picture opera
tors, and resolutions were also passed
demanding the improvement of the
workmen's compensation act, Mothers
pension law, the conservation of wa
ter powers by the state, the initiative,
referendum, imperative mandate and
right of recall, law making it mis-
demeanor to operate an employment
agency for securing strike breakers,
compulsory publication of candidates
campaign expenses (both before and
after election), the legal establish
ment of an ight-hour working day,
and six day week in all lines Of in
dustrial labor, model license law
upon which public health and safety
parks, Fairgrounds, public baths and
convenience stations. The delegates
also adopted a resolution protesting
against armed Intervention on the part
of the United States in the present
Mexican troubles Resolutions were
also adopted condemning the injunc-
ton decisions Of Judge A. G. Dayton
CONTINUED ON Page ~
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Rockefeller
Responsible

washington, May 21.-"Mr. Rookie
eo,,or cannot evade responsibility. He
p ae, nreYent loss of life by yielding to
orhitrat>on,' declared Chairman Fost-
or Of The House Mines and Mining
con,mittee. in making public the cor
eosnondence between him and John
pockefeller, Jr., in Whic hthe latter
daclined 10 arbitrate the western strike
CONSERVATIVE Fosters statement fol
lows:
follar at his office in New York
urged on him the Importance of SUBJ
mitting the differences existing be-
tween the striking miners and the OPP
orators to a fair and neutral board of
orbitration. believing that the troubles
ayisting in. the state of Colorado could
he peacefully settled.
a .snent the month of February in
Colorado. at the direction of the House
.of Representatives investigating con-
ditions. Mr.. Rockefeller has not been
there in ten years. l have been over
the property and have conferred with
ond examined men on both sides of
Tho controversy. l understand the is
sues on both sides. There is nothing
in the differences which cannot be
settled by arbitration. The demand
that the union be recognized has been
Withdrawn. The great question now
confronting the trikers and owners is,
viii YOU agree to submit the matter
to adjustment by arbitration
"Mr. Rockefeller cannot evade his
responsibility. He cannot set forth
the excuse that he will not arbitrate4
the recognition of the union. He-can
prevent loss of life and property. by
Welding to arbitration. The great
Pennsylvania strike and also the re-
cent West Virginia strike was settled
by men on both sides agreeing to
abide by the decision of umpires.' 70
National sentiment and every. in
stinct Of humanity demand the prompt
settlement of the Colorado strike.
Nothing should prevent both strikers
and Mr.. Rockefeller from placing the
case before a neutral board"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

Fairmont, May 21.-(SpeciaD--With
The unanimous passage of resolu-
ton demanding that Governor Hat
field appoint a commission to revise
the mining laws of the state, the West
Virginia State Federation of Labor
closed it's session here today.
This action followed the unannounc-
ed appearance of Sam B. Montgomery
before the convention, who, upon be-
ing asked to address the gathering,
told of the conditions surrounding the
Eccles horror, where 1870 men lost
their lives in the mine explosion.
He brought out the fact that the
mining laws of this state, ancient as
they are, were even originally written
by attorneys for the coal companies
and never reflected the desire to pro-
tect the lives of the underground
workers. The resolution was intro
duced by Delegate Patrick Gatens and
unanimously passed.
Choose Charleston
Charleston was chosen as the next
meeting place, for next February.
Resolutions thanking the local com
mittee, w. H. Gerhard, e. w. Wrasse,
J. H.. Simmons, W. H. Warner and
kG. H. Smith. of the Monongahela
Tradeso Council for their untiring eff
forts to make the convention sue.
cess, and for their splendid efforts to
make Miss Fannie Sellins as comfort.
able as possible in Jail, and to other
firms and individuals who had contri
buted to making pleasant the stay OF
the delegates.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Editor of Wheeling Majority:
Wheeling, W. Va, May IL, 1914.

Wheeling, w. Va, May II, 1914.
Dear Sir:
One of the rays of light that pene-
trates this Jail is your valued paper
which we get weekly. We-Tony,
Dabo and myself-are trying to get
accustomed to Jail life but it is borne
upon us more every day the injustice
of our sentence and Imprisonment.
But much as we suffer, we mind and
feel Inundated by being faced to as
sociate with criminals, our hearts are
full of pity for those of our brothers
who are IN jail and separated from
their wives and children. l wonder
if the Judge who sent us here is I'M
der the impression that by finging us
in iail he can bring us to his and his
friends way of thinking and cause us
to be less loyal Union men than we
|are?
He who is so apt, in quoting his
tory as see he has done lately to
Justify his persecution of Union Labor
should also know that all great eaus
es have been prosecuted and in this
persecution gained their greatest
strength. am . native born Swiss
land imbihed With my mothers mitk
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Federation Passes
Strong Resolutions

Fairmont, May 49, Especial Fol
lowing are some of the strong resolu-
lions passed by the present convention
of the. West Virginia State Federation
of Labor, proving the live and militant
character of the conceptions of the
delegates:
Judge Dayton.
Whereas, Thousands of our fellow
citizens have protested, by mass meet
ing, through the press, by appeals
from their organizations, by public
petition, anu by sending representa-
tlves ito the President Of the United
States, that the judicial acts of Judge
A. e. Dayton of the United States
Court for the Northern District of
West Virginia, have been and are do
minated by unreasoning prejudice and
calculated to work great and irrepar-
able injury to the defenceless people,
and that he is temperamentally unfit
to sit as Judge; and
Whereas, That as a result of these
continued protestations, a resolution
has been introduced in Congress di-
recting the Judiciary Committee to
conduct an investigation of the. judi
cial conduct of Judge Dayton, be it
Resolved, That this Federation here
by condemns these judicial acts Of
Judge Dayton and eclares itself to be
in full accord with the efforts, re-
counted above, of a legally free people
to rid themselves Of tyranny that
has become unbearable and subver-
sive of the public good; and that we
earnestly urge all who are friendly to
to the cause of Labor and Humanity to
lend all possible assistance that this
Investigation may come about and
bring out the many facts of which we
are fully justified in complaining.
WALTER B. HILTON,
Federal Labor Union No. l.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
Organizing UnskiIIed Labor.

~ SoiiAHIS OHSNlIICO LABOR
Whereas, The progress of organic
ed Labor is retarded only by the IN
organized workers; and
Whereas, The vast majority of un-
organized workers come under the
head # unskilled, or common labor;
therefore, be it. ~l
Resolved, That the West Virginia
Federation Of Labor calls upon all
local unions in the state to make
every possible effort to bring about
the organization Of all workers at
|present unorganized, in their respec-
tive localities, and that the secretary
|of-this Federation write all of the To-
Gals in the state, both affiliated and
unaff1liated. embodying the substance
Of this resolution and asking each To-
cal to send to this Federation the
number and other facts, of die un-
skilled workers employed in the in
dustry of which the members of said
local union is engaged, in order that
all possible data be compiled to aid
IN this work, which, we believe has,
by reason of the rapidly and continu-
ally changing industrial conditions,
has become absolutely necessary to
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
West Virginia Federation Holds
Greatest Session In It's History
Clear Cut Demands For
Righting Of Labor Wrongs
The New Office rs

Presdent-H. P. corcoran sogie Makers /, Wheeling
First Armstrong
Wheeling.
Second Vice PresdentP United Mine
Betsy
Taylor, Railway
Vice H. Gerhard, Flnts Fairmont.
Lloyd, Poters No. go Huntington.
Secretary Pauey
A. r. L.. Deegate-H p. corcoran
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
TRANSFERS AGAINST
CONTRACT SYSTEM

Trenton, N. J., May 21.-The team
sIers union has gone on record in OPP
position to the contract system, prac-
.leed by team owners In this city. The
unloniSts say their daily wage aver
sges between 81 and 81 under the
sGneme The local is now comforting
~ m.'a the Team Owners' Association
we question pt . standard rats
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
CARPENTERS

Danville, ILL.,, May 21.-The carpen-
ters' strike which has been on for
nearly three weeks, has been settled
by the contractors agreeing to pay the
scent hourly increase. By the terms
of the agreement these workers will
now receive so cents an hour instead
of As. About 900 carpenters were in
yoIyed.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21
ELECTRICIANS
RAISE WAGES

Boston, May 21.-Numerous confer
ences between Electrical Workers, No.
1903, and their employers over the
three-year agreement which calls for
$3.50 day until July /, 1915, when
S. will be the rate for one year, and
$40 for the third year. The contract
takes effect the first of next July.
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

every thing possible under the prison.
rules to mitigate fhe misery of her
imprisonment here.
She is bearing up well, and,
through Majority man, sends the
message:
Keep up the fight for Labor
everywhere"
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

Cont nued On Page 81
Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1914-05-21

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