New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-01

To describe the situation IN Colorado as
"Rockefellers War" is infamous. accord
ing to John D. Rockefeller 1r.. in a state
meut given out here last night.
He asserted that "the deplorable loss of
life in Colorado, especially that among
the women and children. which has so
aroused public feeling did not occur in
conflicts between tho owners Of the min
ing properties and the strikers, but in
conflicts between the strikers and troops
of the State Of Colorado.
Concerning the events in the Trinidad
district" he continues. "the Lieutenant
Governor Of Colorado said:
My Investigations Of the riots near
Trinidad have disclosed the most terrible
conditions which have never
been equalled in this or any other state.
Even granting all of the strikers claims
concerning the actions of the militia, 1t is
not justihable that the strikers them
selves should murder women and children
as they have done to-day and are doing,
nor for them To burn and destroy mum
dreds of thousands Of dollars worth of
property.
They have no Justification for muir
dering men, whose only offence is that
they are seeking TO earn living without
a permit from the United Mine Workers
Of America.
""The trouble was started by the strik-
ers killing a non-union man, whose only
offence was in walking 10 his work with
out their permission
fellers War rs has been done by certain
Of the sensational newspapers. and speak
ers. is Infamous Our interest is solely in
the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company.
which is simply one Of large number OF
coal operating companies in Colorado.
y. C.. Oscood. president OF the Victor
American Fuel Company, one Of the other
large coal companies in Colorado. gave
the following statement to-day The idea
that Mr. Rockefeller IS responsible for
the strike is absurd, for the other coal
companies would not have recognized the
unions regardless Of what action he took
with the Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany Tho latter company does only
b about 30 per cent Of the-coal business In
/ Colorado This shows that our interest
in the coal business in Colorado is only
b about = per cent Of the total.
. William T. Green. sccretary-treasureT
: of the United Mine Workers Of America
has issued a statement saying: Nor is
il true. as MI Rockefeller says, that tde
question in contention is the unionizing OF
the mines. This has not been and Is not
now the issue
tflvs 4 n
the following letter from the Governor OF
p Colorado. dated November q, 1913 and the
reply of the operators of the same date
showing that the recognition Of the union
was the only Issue that presented any
2 difficulty and that the operators accepted
in full the Governors suggestion:
-. T. Welborn, John c. Osgood. ID. w
, Brown. operators, and Z. X. Evans
Archie Allison. David Harmon, miners
Denver.
Gentlemen having listened TO your
conference and believing from representa-
tons made that there IS no material DIFF
ference between you sufficient 10 warrant
. n continuance OF the present difficulties,
7 I desire TO make a suggestion for the ter
mlnation OF the present industrial dispute
The one apparently insurmountaole
, obstacle TO a settlement was the recosni-
ton of the union. and almost every other
material difference between you hinged
about that question or is covered by exist
ing law
There is no law compelling the oper'
ators to recognize the union nor to permit
the employees to exact that recognition
The statute does provide. however. for the
right to join a union If the miners SC
} wish without coercion or interference
, This law has been read TO all the con-
! ferrees and its provisions agreed 20 by
D each conferred.
Bearing in mind the discussion on tho
other points involved. l suggest the fol-
lowing as a satisfactory solution:
The employment Of a checkweighmar
, as provided by law giving the miners
, themselves the right TO choose their OWL
r checkweigl man.
=. .--No cov-,.'r~ o''t ~ good fai'h M