United labor bulletin., 1914-06-13


OF the nation, partly, perhaps, because
Americans forgive much in a "self-made"
man. They may ardently wish that some
wiser man had undertaken the Job of
making him, but they respect his ability
to do things.
Rockefeller H., the King.
But Rockefeller H., who did not make
but inherited the family millions, and
with them inherited his fathers impervi-
GUS preoccupation, unheeding indeffer-
ence to the call of the human and his
imperturbable imperviousness to all that
does not further his own interests, stirs
to its very depths that sense of Justice
necessary for self-respect. Men would
be less than human if they could calmly
acquiesce in the words in which Rocke.
teller III. projected his will and defied
the representatives of the highest con.
stituted authority Of the nations:
I'VE stand ready to lose every cent we
have invested in that company rather
than that the workingmen of this coun-
try should lose their right to work for
whom they please"
Later he amplified that assertion by
the following statement:
The impression has been created that
II we would agree to submit to the
unionizing of the camps of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company the entire trou-
bic would be ended. The public generally
does not seem to consider whether or
not this is right or fair demand and
in the interests of the employees of the
company. What would become of the
great majority of its workers We're such
a surrender to be made? All of its Ioyal
non-union employees. numbering several
thousands, more than 90 per cent of the
total number employed in the mines,
who have been faithful and true to its
interests, would be thrown out OF em-
ployment unless willing to submit as
individuals to union dctation. Is il the
spirit of American fair play which is
asking such ruthless disregard, or is it
the spirit OF partisanship and self-seek-
ingf"
Miners Are Indignant.
VIII Rockefeller III. explain why his
ideal of freedom has aroused such resent
ment among the men who worked in his
mines; why they have struggled so long
and made tremendous sacrifices to de.
feat it; why efforts to foist this free
DOM upon workers have engendered
such bitterness and such violence; why
gunner and artillery are necessary to
secure its establishment; why all the
agents of force belonging to the state
have been employed to help Rockefeller
convince these miners of the blessednes.
of this liberty that he says is so dear to
them. and why these have failedi II 90
per cent of the employees of the Colorado
Fuel and Iron company endorse his ideal
of freedom. how can he explain the civil
war that has devastated and disgraced
Colorado?
When the president sent a representa-
tive to Rockefeller II. he erred. for he
should have invited Rockefeller to
come to the White House But DIR. Fos-
ter. the chairman of the House of Repre-
sentatives committee on mines and min
solutely refused all offers of mediation
and issued the following overbcaringly
audacious statement:
"In reply to his request for some sug-
gestion as to how the strike could b.
terminated, we said to DIR. Foster that II
the president would make a public state
rhent that the federal troops were being
sent to Colorado for the purpose of en-
forcing obedience to the law and secur-
ing to every citizen the right guaranteed
by the constitution to be protected in
life and liberty. whether he chooses to
work as member of union or not. it
would go far to terminate the deplorable
conditions which now exist
Are Arbitrary Still.
''Since that issue of resistance to con-
stituted authority is raised it is unthink.
able that the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company. or any of the companies OPP
Grating in the state. should be asked to
yield its position on a preliminary and
now extraneois matter of dispute. as the
price of securing the withdrawal Of forces
armed to combat their own government"
But Rockefeller II. has presumed too
much Justice and sclf-respect are not
dead in the United States.
King Canute of old ordered his throne
to be placed at the waters edge when
the tide was out, and forbade the rising
tide to trouble him. But each swell of
ocean rose higher and bigher-the grim
power of the sea cares not for the arbi-
trary will OF man. Canute learned,
moved. and lived.
Rockefeller III. has commanded the on
ward tide of human progress to stay.
He has defied the will OF the people. He
has violated their public institutions
and has corrupted governmental honesty
and efficiency To enforce a conception
of liberty conceived in the narrow lin
itations of his knowledge of men. cold
and devitalized from isolation from the
lives and hearts of men, he has relent
Icssly followed policy that could only
result in violence and bloodshed. Because
he wished 70 impose his will upon thou
sands of resisting men. whom experience
had convinced that they were right, men.
women and children have been hungry,
cold and sick; men, women and children
have died from exposure and violence;
they have been shot to death; they have
been burned alive.
Look Out for the Delugel
Will nothing rouse this man? Has the
milk of human feeling been transmitted
by the poison of greed for yellow gold
Is his senes Of moral responsibility ut
terly dead? Cannot the fragments OF
u. L e L..