New-York tribune., 1914-11-22
Visits Tribune in Mission
to End Coal Strike
in Colorado.
DOES 10000 MILES
IN TEN MONTHS
Declares Operators viii Never
Listen TO Reason and Must
BE Made 10 Do So.

Proudly Boosting she is champion
octogenarian traveller in the United
States, "Mother" Jones, leader of the
striking miners. visited The Tribune
Office last night Immediately before
leaving for Philadelphia. Since Janu-
ary Mother" Jones has covered
more than 10000 miles, in spite Of the
fact that for a Roodly part of the time
she was detained as prisoner in
Colorado.
Two weeks ago she arrived in Wash
ingtcn from Colorado, and was granted
an audience with President Wilson in
regard to the situation in the Colorado
coal fields Since then she has jour
neyed 10 Colorado and back East
again. Tonight she will leave Phlla-
delphia for Trinidad, Col, the centre
Of the strike zone.
"Mother" Jones is sweet faced,
motherly looking old lady, with sparse,
snow-white locks. There is nothing in
her appearance to suggest that she is
a fre-eater or agitator. She is some
what under medium height and rather
stout, and wears a widows bonnet and
gown Of rusty black.
an spite of the work Of the media
tion commission appointed by the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor at
Washington last April" she said,
conditions remain unchanged in Colo
RADIO. Under the protection of the fed
eral troops non-union labor has been
imported. but as soon as the regulars
are withdrawn there is likely to be
trouble
The mine operators. headed by the
Rockefeller interests, have refused TO
consider the terms of settlement sug-
gested by President Wilson. The aboli-
tion of the company stores, the cor
rection Of the short weight scales, the
abandonment Of assessments on the
miners for the maintenance of schools
on company property and the discon-
tnuance OF company saloons-none of
these reforms will be considered by
the employers.
1T is significant that the men en-
gagged in the present strike we're origi-
rally imported as strike breakers
themselves ten years ago. Conditions
became so intolerable that they were
forced 20 unite IN an effort TO secure
justice.
THE strikers are still living in tent
colonies, and with the approach Of
winter the condition of their families
becomes as pitiable as that of the
refugees in poor, stricken Belgium
Meanwhile the regular troops are saw
ing to the companies the cost OF hired
guards an economy Of some $4,000 a
day.
"The state has arranged for the ex-
rcndture Of Sl000.000 for the reha-
h'l;at;on of its militia. which will
take the place Of the regular troops
when the latter are Withdrawn. II the
personnel Of men and officers in the
militia is the same as last spring,
however, We can expect 10 see re-
enacted the same brutal crimes as
we're perpetrated then.
"Thc truth OF the matter is that
the coal operators own the courts and
civil officers Of Colorado, Gs we'll as
.he Governor and the Legislature. My
oyncricnce is typical"
Mother Jones said the European
war had aided the mine operators by
distracting the attention of the public
from the situation in Colorado.
My chief purpose in coming East"
she said, "has been 10 call notice to
the suffering wives and starving chill
dren Of the Colorado strikers and 10
remind the citizens that the strike has
not yet been settled. Public opinion
can end il and should end it. These
mine magnates should be forcibly
brought 10 time. John D. Rockefeller
should be made 20 feel the lash Of
popular Indignation