Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-01
"cL osED SHOP" MAIN OBJECT FOR
WHICH COLORADO MINERS
ARE STRIVING.
TROUBLE DATES BACK
TO TEN YEARS AGO
j intermittent Disturbances Since West
srn Federation Sought to Organize
Werksrs-vioIsnee and Loss Of Life
Bs1an Last October "Mothsr" Jones
blamed For lneitins Riots.

Denver, May 1.-Recognition of the
union and the CLOSED shop" which it
would imply is the great central stake
for which the striking coal miners of
Colorado are fighting. On this rock
every hope of peaceful settlement
thus far has been dashed. To this de-
mand all others advanced by the repre-
sentatives OF the strikers have been
subordinated. ssf
Potentially the trouble Is ten years
old. It had it's origin when the West
ern Federation of Miners sought to
organize the men lin the coal fields.
Since then there have been intermittent
disturbances. all tending more or less
directly toward the present upheaval.
The differences which have led finally
to the injection of federal troops into
the situation arose about eight months
ago, after the United Mine Workers of
America had succeeded in unionizing
many Of the men of district No. Is
and New Mexico.
Editors Efforts Fail.
Operators and miners themselves
first tried to effect an adjustment of
their differences and failed. After the
continuance Of violence for two months
a conference of editors of Colorado was
held here in an effort to suggest basis
of peace satisfactory to both sides. The
advice Of the editors, expressed in
formal resolutions, was not accepted.
Secretary Wilson of the department
of labor, then came to the disturbed
region in the hope he might be able to
point a way out. The secretary con-
ferred with Governor Ammons. and
after various suggestions for arbitra-
ton were considered the two addressed
a joint letter to operators and strikers
proposing termination Of the strike,
waving of the question of recognition
of the union and granting practically
all the other demands made by the
miners.
This proposition was dealt with by a
referendum vote of the miners in
southern Colorado. It was rejected
unanimously. Soon after Secretary
Wilson returned to Washington and
reported his findings Finally an appeal
was made by Representative Foster. of
the house committee, on mines and
mining to John D. Rockefeller, Jr..
principal stockholder OF the Colorado
Fuel and Iron Company. in the hope
that the New York capitalist might
agree to terms that would bring about
an amicable settlement. Mr.. Rookie
Teller said that the company he repre-
sents could not, with justice to UNI
organized labor, give its consent to the
closed shop.
Tells Of Concessions Made.
what would become of the great
majority OF its workers were surrender
made on this issue?" he asked. Before
asking this question he declared that
the eight-hour day. semi monthly pay
DAYS, employment of check weighmen
by the miners themselves instead OF by
the company, wage increase. and the
right of employees to trade at stores
other than those Of the company had
been granted to the miners.
Meantime civil war between miners
and mine guards and later between
strikers and Colorado state guards has
been going on with little cessation
since the middle of last September,
when a general strike Of the miners OF
district No Is was called to become
effective Sept. %.
Operators at once placed armed
guards at their property and the strik :
ers started a comprehensive system OF