Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-24

New York, Nov. 23.-In a report to the commission on the church and sO- CiaI service, of the federal council Of the Churches of Christ in America. made public here today, Rev. Henry A. Atkinson, associate secretary, as investigator arraigTs the Colorado Coal companies for their attitude i. the recent labor troubles in that state.
 Rev. Atkinson was sent to Colorado and also to the copper mining d-s- tricts of Michigan, where there were recent industrial difficulties, by the So- cial Service Commission of the Con- gregational churches and the commis sion of the council of churches, and empowered to represent both bodies iIl his investigations into the labor con ditions.
 After reviewing the trouble in Col orado his report says:
 Companies Dominate Politics.
 The coal companies dominate the politics in those countries where the mines are located. They have brought l sheriffs, coronors and assessors. They can do about as they please so far as the law is concerted. A mass of evidence was brought out to show that they control the political, social and economic situation. Jefferson Farr, sheriff of Huerfano county has been in office for 15 years. He is known as the king of Huerfano coun- 1 ty.' What he says goes-as one of his admirers put it to me. It is not what he says, however but what the coal companies say. These companies have secured his election as well as l that of other officers and they control l them"
 Impossible to Enforce the Law.
 Further, the report says: "It is inn possible to enforce the law. and the courts are practically closed to those who in any way incur the enmity of the coal companies; thus economic jus tice is denied the men through the manipulation of political affairs. Thirty years of such oppression, industrial, i social and political. have taught the miners that their only hope is in the | rn'ons. An individual counts for nothing; if he protests he loses his | job; if he makes too much trouble he | is dealt with by hired gunmen, who are kept at the mines to do the will of the companies and help enforce | the law against the workers !. Of the actions of the militia, Rev. Atkinson informed the commission as : follows:
 Soldiers Gladly Received by Strikers
 '"The soldiers were gladly received ! by the strikers. for they expected they i would have some protection, but their 1 hopes were in vain. It soon became 1 evident that the militia was under the control of the coal companies. '4Men and women were thrown into | jail without any charge being lodg- | ed against them and held incommuni- 1 cado.
 | Constitdtion of State Violated. 1 '"The constitution of the state. was 1 set aside. The militia met and es- Scorted strikebreakers who were | instead of aiming to maintain order and secure justice, was used to break | the strike Special attack was made | upon the Ludlow colony, it being the | largest in the district There were nine hundred people living there; two hundred and seventy-two of them chil- dren,, twenty-one having been born durir~ the winter. There were 29 na- tfonalities and yet they lived in peace It was this colony against which the
 militia. including the mine guards
 directed their fire on April 20.
 A. number of the inhabitants were killed and the tents were destroyed by
 fire
 Militia in Employ of Companies.
 'In the investigation following the | Ludlow battle. 1t was shown that many of the militia who were receiving pay in the employ of the coal companies as | guards, thus they were receiving double pay. They were really employees l of the companies acting fin the name ot
 the state"
 N+~~ -~--'-vuire the conditions as they prevailed in Michigan several cor
 :ils ions are stated in the report. IT
 mentioning welfare work that has beer l conducted by the companies the re- port says:
 Lack Fair Wage and Right Condition | No amount of welfare work how
 ever admirable 1t may be, will take the
 place of fair wages and right condi- | tions of labor"
 As to violence 1t is stated that the
 churches are opposed to violence. nc l matter what the provocation. Such tactics reflect upon the workers them i -elves''
 In regard to unions the report has 1 this to say:
 "The right of workmen to organize
 has been and is being denied by the | unsAmerican and >un- Christian attf-